Whether you’re in middle school, high school, university, or college, getting involved with extracurricular activities is a great way to engage yourself outside of the classroom. It also serves as a great way to network, makes some new friends, and explore any interests you may have. On top of all of this, extracurriculars often make for some great resume and application material. If you’re overwhelmed with all of the choices offered at your school, check out some of the tips listed below:

•If you’re unsure about where to start, why not try an interest-based club? This could be something fun, religious, artistic, or perhaps something you’ve always been curious about exploring. These types of clubs and organizations serve as great stress-relievers when work starts to pile-up.

•Career-based extracurricular are those that relate to whatever field of work you intend to purse in the future. It could be anything from the Pre-Medicine Students’ Society to the Model UN. Joining these types of clubs is a great way to network with like-minded students and access helpful resources that the club-coordinators may have. There are often many upper year students involved in these career-based clubs and they’re usually willing to offer up advice on how to succeed in your classes, which courses to take, and those that should be avoided at all costs. These extracurriculars definitely have their academic merits but they can also help you rediscover your passion for the career path that you’ve chosen.

•Joining clubs that have humanitarian agendas is a great way to make use of your spare time. These clubs may be part of a larger, global organization or they may be focused on community outreach. Simple choose an issue that you`re passionate about out (i.e. poverty, homophobia, human trafficking) and find a club that works closely with that issue. If it just so happens that you`re passionate about various issues, don’t be afraid to join more than one!

There are likely to be dozens of clubs operating at your school so be sure to have a look at all of them. However, it’s important to pay attention to how much time you’re devoting to these extracurriculars. Before you officially join anything, be sure to ask about the time commitment. Find out how long meeting usually run and how often you meet. Depending on the nature of the club, you may also want to ask if you’ll be required to do anything that will add to your work load. This is especially crucial if you intend to join several clubs.

Keep in mind that you’re not limited to the clubs offered at your school. There are dozens of youth organizations within your city that may serve your interests. Stepping outside of your school is an excellent way to get involved with your community and perhaps gain some leadership experience in the process. If you still can’t find anything that suits your interest, don’t be afraid to start your own club! The process might be tedious but it’ll definitely be worth it when you’re doing what you love with people that share your passion.