<p>In my mind, high school should be a time to develop and explore. At my daughter’s competitive public high school this is very difficult. Sports compete with art which competes with music which competes with clubs. This is one reason why my daughter wishes to go to boarding school, as she wants an education that entails ALL of these interests. Looking ahead, at college application time, I see having so many interests can be perceived as a lack of passion for anything in particular. My daughter is not only passionate in these areas, but talented and skillful. I am interested in others thoughts, and in particular, personal experiences.</p>
<p>Sadie, I like this question, but I need to think about it some more. I agree, our public high school also encourages students to specialize. It’s not coincidence that a student can play in the band, or sing in the choir–but not both. Of course, the musical student can’t take an art class, because the classes are scheduled for the same block. You can’t play a varsity sport and participate in a regional music group, and so on. </p>
<p>I agree that high school students are still developing and exploring. Yes, not having a “burning passion” for flower arranging, or whatnot, will probably count against my kids when they apply to college. On the other hand, how many of the college applicants who have a “burning passion” have been managed by their parents from the age of 5? Someone has to transport the kids to activities, pay for the same, and negotiate the adult politics. What happens when the ice skater breaks her foot? When the singer develops nodules on her vocal chords? Or if the teenager says, “you can’t make me,” and leaves fencing for anime?</p>
<p>As a practical matter, at the high school level, students need to spend more time on an interest if they wish to develop their skills. It’s not possible to become an Olympic swimmer AND a famous violinist AND a published author. Some schools focus on certain sports, such as tennis or skiing, which I suppose is wonderful for the students who know they don’t want to do anything else.</p>
<p>I heard a pretty interesting perspective on BS vs. PHS related to this topic recently. She noted that BS gives kids a great opportunity to be well rounded and participate in lots of things, but it also limits kids who are interested in making a difference with local/community activity. BS all require community service, but it tends to be mass-organized stuff run/sponsored by the school and the kids don’t have much free time (or parent chaffeurs) to get involved in a local cause. So, depending on what your kid is interested in/motivated about, this is another factor to consider.</p>
<p>At my son’s Boarding School, kids were able to get involved in and create their own community service projects. There is a faculty member whose job is student activities and community service. He co-ordinates the mass events as well as the smaller more personal projects. On a free weekend my son could spend time building a porch on a Habitat for Humanity house or any number of things. Faculty members are involved in these projects and able to drive the kids. He did go to classes and crew 6 days a week and there is study hall 6 nights a week. He was always busy.</p>
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<p>Not all boarding schools require community service. St. Mark’s doesn’t require it. From the website, I found,
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<p>Looking at their websites, it looks to me as if Andover and Exeter both offer their students many opportunities to perform community service, but they don’t require it.</p>
<p>Our local public high school, though, does require community service. It also gives students who do more than a specified number of hours of community service special privileges. I’m not in favor of obligatory community service which confers special privileges. That conflicts with the ethos of selflessness. Also, to judge from the parents I can observe in our little town, the parents do much of the planning.</p>
<p>Although my D is in a public magnet for music and a member of a regional orchestra, it was never her intention to devote all of her time in high school to her music. This year as a freshman, she has participated in two sports along with the activities of two clubs. It has been harrowing at times dividing her time between the sports and the music, but she was able to make it work. Unfortunately, she may have to give up the regional orchestra next year because of too may conflicts with the sports that she loves. She is torn about this and wishes she could do it all, but conflicting schedules and manditory practices and rehearsals make it all but impossible. I have read that college admissions like to see a demonstrated passion as part of your application and have wondered if giving up the regional orchestra will hurt her with admissions, but I want her to follow her interests as well which include a multitude of activities. It used to be that a well rounded student was sought after, but now it seems they look for the individual with focus in one area. That is not who she wants to be, and I fully support her choices of activities regardless of the consequences.</p>
<p>here is a similar discussion </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/13827-well-rounded.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/13827-well-rounded.html</a></p>
<p>Blueshoe, this sounds so much like my daughters situation with music and sports. She is also a new member of NAHS ( National Art Honor Society), which she is equally excited about, and which involves some community service. </p>
<p>Now I am going to go read the link 2010 hopeful has posted.</p>