Being an Involved Rough Rider: What Does it Mean and Why it is Important?

Ever since my freshman year I've tried to fill up my schedule with a number of extracurriculars in order to build up my resume for college. I had somehow gotten the idea that I needed to involve myself in every activity at Roosevelt. At first, this meant saying yes to everything, from sports to clubs to volunteering. Over time, however, I've been able to get more deeply involved in only a few things. This is something colleges are looking for: in depth involvement and leadership positions.

I think being a well-rounded student means being involved in a variety of activites and being open to exposing yourself to different experiences. Involvement in school outside of academic classes only serves to further broaden your education. It's a way to gain multiple perspectives. For example, I've been on the swim team for all four years and have learned things about leadership and teamwork nonexistent in the classroom. I've also been a member of Young Feminists club and have learned about the struggles of those who identify differently from me.

Gifted learners have a natural "diversity of interests and abilities" and "insatiable curiousity" according to nagc.org. Being an involved student nutures these learning characteristics and helps with college prep!