Cookie-Cutter Extracurriculars

somemom
Fri, 02 May 2008 20:44:29 +0000

I agree with whomever said it is difficult to do HIGH level sports AND HIGH level music. A big part of even being able to participate depends on your HS and how they set things up and support the kids.

Several of my Ds friends had to decide between going the varsity bball track (including bball training class period) OR music…impossible to do both because of the way the school allowed things to be set up.

My DD went to a school that wanted every one to do some level of sports and some level of arts, no need to be on a travel team to do varsity, though the strongest teams always had an elite athelete or two. My D is truly an athlete, but she got to dance all through HS. She did not have the dedication and outside lessons of the gifted, serious girls, but she worked her way up to their group for school performances and she had fun. Those same girls were no where near her level at their sport, but they played on varsity, were important members of the team and they had fun.

It was a very small school and it was the schools philosophy; every time I hear about schools that are less open-minded in their thinking I am glad my sporty DD has dances, potted, photographed, acted, etc. all whilst being a three sport athlete on high performing teams, varsity captain, and played at a elite level herself.

Not only does she still play her sport, she has also done some artsy classes and kept going with those hobbies, it seems a healthy way to approach things.