I’m about to be a freshman and am unsure if dropping band is a good idea. I enjoyed middle school band, but high school band (have completed 3 weeks of summer camp and have the schedule/idea for how the school year will be) is not as enjoyable for me. I find myself looking for excuses to avoid going to rehearsals, football games, and such. I think I would have a better time in high school if I did drop this elective, but I know how important it is to “have a life”, focus on things other than academics, etc… Is it a good idea to grit my teeth and bear through band so that I have an extracurricular?
No, if you don’t enjoy it you should do something else. Try a few activities this year and see what you like.
I dropped and took up extracurriculars as late as the 11th/12th grade. I was in track in the 11th grade, and dropped it. It won’t really impact you because not many schools ask for a resume.
I would drop now if you hate it and find something else to do in its place. Band is pretty time consuming (marching) so you find time for another thing easily.
Don’t hesitate to drop band if you don’t like it. It’s better to drop it now than to waste two or three years on it and hate yourself for not utilizing your time for a more enjoyable extracurricular. There are always more extracurriculars to explore, such as clubs, sports, volunteering, and music.
Don’t do an extracurricular that you don’t enjoy! Having a major role in a club would appear better than a “member” to colleges. This would be much more fun in a club that you enjoy.
If you don’t like it, now is a good time to drop it.
Drop it. If you try to stick it out just for colleges, you’ll have 4 more years of it.
Definitely drop. With an attitude like that the band doesn’t want you, anyway.
Drop it. Time is one of your most valuable resources, and you’re wasting it on band if you continue. There’s so much you can do in high school and it’s much easier to start as a freshman than later on. For what it’s worth, I quit one of my main extracurricular activities going into Grade 12 and I don’t regret it a single bit.
If you’ve already completed three weeks of band camp and have a spot in the show, it’s very rude to quit now. That will leave a hole on the field that either a) everyone else has to learn new dots to fix or b) looks wrong all season.
Thank you for all the advice given. I am going to drop band. Also I am a shadow for a spot in this years show so it will not be a problem if I leave.
" Is it a good idea to grit my teeth and bear through band so that I have an extracurricular? "
Is band your ONLY extracurricular?
You have bigger problems than whether to drop band or not, if band is your only EC.
Well that is the only thing I do through school. I play tennis for pleasure and dance out of school. I participated in a few clubs last year and want to do that this year too, but band was just kinda the solid thing I had.
Maybe its a misconception I have, but are ECs in school more “valid” or just better than those out of school?
You should find an EC you enjoy at your high school. Model UN, drama, tech theater if you like building things, robotics, choir, yearbook, etc…high school is a good time to try new experiences. Unless you are very involved in an EC outside of school, then you should try a school based EC.
Okay thanks…I’m actually really interested in taking yearbook, but the class is only for 10-12 so is it okay to really be a part of that team for those 3 years instead all 4 years?
Yes, it’s okay to only do yearbook for 3 years, especially since that’s all you’re allowed to do it at your school. 3 years of an activity in high school is a long time.