Linking Student Success to Co-Curricular Activities

Some of the best time that students spend is participating in co-curricular activities. I use CO-curricular, because the things that students can be involved in supplement what they learn in the classroom.

My own leadership experiences in clubs and organizations as a student were some of the best times of my life. I had fun, I learned so much, and I got to try things and even make mistakes when the stakes were not that high. My leadership development was through these experiences and interactions with other people. I learned about conflict resolution, motivation techniques, team leadership development, and got to travel all over the country attending educational leadership conferences. Then I would come back to the classroom and apply my experiences to the material being taught.

One particular professor that I liked, Dr. Zillur Khan, taught classes on leadership, dynamics in organizations, and group behaviors. He and I would get into dialogues in class about topics that I could relate to my activities and the rest of the class had a hard time keeping up! I remember one time he said to me, “Why don’t you and I go and talk about this in the hallway while the rest of them read about it and try to catch up?” You bet I got an “A” in that class!

When I speak at leadership retreats, educational leadership conferences, or just present workshops, I am always aware that the involvements that students have are directly related to student retention. If they have fun, enjoy the activity, and grow as a result, then their education experience is enhanced and they are more likely to remain in school at the college or university they are attending. Student motivation is easier when they are having fun!

The students that I have worked with in clubs and organizations are typically more energetic, motivated, and goal-oriented. They are used to getting things done! That carries over to their class work and, hopefully, to all aspects of their life, for the rest of their life! Get them involved and they will create their own success story.