Trying new things can be scary. Especially in high school, when you’re potentially looking at the next four years of your life.

Maybe you’re scared of the outcome. Maybe you’re stuck in a constant cycle of “What if?” scenarios. Maybe you’re unsure of what you want to do after graduation, and you’re stuck not knowing what to choose. Maybe you do want to try something new, but you don’t know where to start. And that’s okay.

What’s not okay, in my opinion, is to be held back by that fear and watch opportunities slip through your fingers. I understand that branching out of your comfort zone and jumping into something new can be scary. Heck, according to VeryWellMind.org 30% of Americans experience the fear of new things. But do you want to know where I think the best place to start is?

Extracurricular activities.

With an infinite supply of activities to choose from at H-F, there’s no doubt in my mind that there’s something for everyone. So why waste the next two, three or four years of your life never branching out?

Now, before you sharpen your pitchforks and light your torches and claim that I have no idea what I’m talking about, let me explain. Because I do know what I’m talking about. I’ve experienced this exact situation first-hand.

All of middle school, I was terrified of the idea of trying new things. I’d hear all my friends talk about all of the clubs or teams they were in, and I dreamed of having that too. I mean, an entire space where no matter what, you all have something in common? What socially awkward middle schooler wouldn’t want that?

But because I was scared of what would happen if I ended up hating what I chose, I chose nothing. Trust and believe, the second I came to H-F, I knew something had to change. With 105 options in front of me, I knew that if I didn’t take the initiative when it was staring me in the face, I never would.

So, freshman year, I joined technical theater. By sophomore year, I had added the speech team and The Voyager to my plate. I’ve never felt so confident and validated.

I know that joining an extracurricular can be scary. Especially if you’ve never tried it before. At the same time, it can also be what breaks you out of your shell of uncertainty. It’ll give you something consistent throughout your school year, and more likely than not, you’ll meet amazing people who you may never have met otherwise.

Extracurriculars can also prepare you for the future, when you’ll have to balance work, social, and family lives. Yes, it can and does get difficult balancing homework and other responsibilities, but it’s so worth it.

So in my opinion, the best part of high school isn’t the parties. It isn’t the freedom or the community, and especially not the workload or homework. In my opinion, the best part of high school is the extracurriculars.