While mastering one thing works for some, exploring different activities is also beneficial. 

I was homeschooled until fifth grade. My mom was my teacher, and homeschooling taught me to appreciate learning and trying new things. This led to my love of pursuing different activities. When I was eight, I joined my town’s local summer swim team, which sparked my love for swimming. I also joined Girl Scouts in fifth grade.

When I first began attending public school in sixth grade, I wanted to join the band. My mom is very musically gifted. So, naturally, I wanted to learn how to play music. I also started taking piano lessons that year. 

Then, in high school, I continued pursuing my love of new things. I auditioned for the fall musical and ended up loving theater. I joined the jazz band in my sophomore year even though I had never played jazz. 

Finally, as a junior, I joined the school newspaper. I left my Girl Scout troop in the eighth grade because I moved here to Shawnee and started to have too many activities. Other than that, I still cherish all these interests to this day. 

There is a term for a person like this. A Polymath, or Polymanthan, is a Greek term. A polymath is a person who, according to Merriam-Webster, is a “person of encyclopedic learning.” Some well-known polymaths include Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and Isaac Newton. 

Leonardo da Vinci was mostly known for painting the infamous “Mona Lisa.” However, according to Leonardo Da Vinci Inventions, he created blueprints of machines such as the helicopter, scuba gear and many more. 

I am not disregarding specialists. I look up to them, I wish I could be like them. However, I am  not. Specializing in one thing sounds unheard of to me. I enjoy trying new things because it is exhilarating to learn something new. I think it is important for students to expand their horizons and find out what they love to do and what they find interesting. Students should allow themselves the freedom to wonder about the world and its endless possibilities instead of being restrained to specializing in one field of practice. 

However, there are some downsides to having multiple interests. One can get very busy, very quickly. This can lead to burnout, anxiety, and stress. If someone isn’t careful with time management, they can fall behind in their classes. If a student does a sport or afterschool activity, that will impact their time with their family or friends. Personally, I sometimes even have to put time aside specifically just to watch a movie with my mom because I’m so busy. My weekends can become busy with rehearsals, swim meets, and band competitions. Having multiple activities requires patience, self-discipline, and time management skills. 

These activities have helped me step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I have created many friendships from all of these extracurriculars and have met so many amazing people. I have learned how to manage my time and use a planner as well. My activities usually are spread throughout the year, but a few can overlap at times. This is a great motivator to keep up grades as well. Clubs and extracurriculars look great on college applications as well. Therefore, having multiple interests and activities isn’t bad, but rather useful. There are many benefits that come with expanding your interests.