Versed Editors's blog

It is easy for students to overcommit early in their high school career. Understandably, your child may have enthusiastically signed up for a number of activities at the clubs fare or accumulated them over the course of their freshman year. In the beginning, it’s relatively easy to continue showing up for these activities without questioning their purpose. However as the semesters ware on, it’s important to stop and evaluate. Encourage your student to take time and determine which of their groups are of value and which they want to focus on as high school progresses. 

This may mean dropping a club membership or sports team. Despite common belief, doing this doesn’t damage resumes or chances in the way some parents and students may think. Quitting or stepping back from an activity actually shows maturity and self-awareness. Taking stock in this way proves that a student is cognizant of the value of each commitment and is able to judge whether they’re getting the most out of a sport or club. By consolidating their activities, students can also create time to expand the activities they’re passionate about, pursue leadership positions, or simply be able to participate with a bit of a clearer head. 

Knowing this, how can a high schooler figure out which teams and clubs are worth sticking with and which are worth quitting? Have you child assess their schedules by asking themselves the following questions in order to determine where they should focus their energy: 

 

Are they enthusiastic or are they just involved? 

A student that is spread thin over a dozen activities appears more busy than they do multifaceted. It’s better, both professionally and personally, to cut back on activities that your child doesn’t have their heart in. There is no shame in losing interest in something or not finding it as thrilling as you once did. It is better to cut back and create space for what you really want to do and be able to pour energy into that. 

Additionally, a packed schedule can suggests that that a student hasn’t specialized or taken further interest in anything. While a student may truly be interested in a lot of things, it’s better to have illustratable interests. A student may really like piano, musical theatre, dance group, and art club, but ask them if they feel that they’re able to give the required time and energy to commit to everything fully. Ask not just what your student likes, but what do they love? What can they see themselves studying or pursuing in the future? 

 

Are they able to balance their commitments, school and otherwise? 

Consider whether your child has enough time to complete their schoolwork as well as attend to their other commitments. If they're already balancing soccer practice, youth group, and a myriad of other activities, it may be time to parr back their schedule. Not just for the sake of specializing, but more so for the sake of their own sanity. 

High school is increasingly time consuming. Students will need time to study AND destress. Being half-asleep during play practice or unprepared for robotics club doesn’t make for productive use of time. It isn't worth letting your child’s academics or their mental state stuffer out of fear that quitting something may reflect badly on them. 

 

Are they growing or learning in their activity? 

Sometimes an activity may be what your child what to pursue, but the organization or the other participants fail to meet their needs. If an environment is unnecessarily stressful or otherwise toxic, don’t be afraid to step away and explore other opportunities. If your child enjoys sailing, but the coach is in effective, allow them to evaluate whether the trade-off is worth their time. Are there other ways that they can stay involved. 

Similarly, ask your child where they see the activity going in the future. Are there leadership possibilities? Mentorship? Can they stay where they are and expand their commitment or does involvement stagnate? If your child is involved in a sport, do they need to be at a different level? Are there opportunities, like travel teams, that better meet their needs?

The most important thing to remember about extracurricular activities as well as high school in general is that your student should also be having fun. They don’t have to be in the top mathletes team or play shortstop. Allow your child to thrive on their own terms. Respond to their needs as students as well as individuals and communicate with them about your own expectations. No team or student group is worth sacrificing your child’s happiness and well-being. 

 

If you are interested in speaking with one of our Advisors about extracurricular activities, you can schedule a free consultation here.

 

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For additional information and insights, check out our blog: 

Meaningful Summer Activities that Enhance College Applications

High School Extracurriculars Simplified

Intro to Science Research

Inside Scoop on Gap Year Programs: Stories from Parents Whose Children Took Time Off Before College

 

 

 

By Virginia Young

Back when my oldest child was...well...a child, I had a hard time finding good academic and extracurricular activities for him. I’d find resources online, including lists of programs which looked promising at first but did not appear to be curated. When I did find something that might work, I’d search for reviews of the program but most of the time there weren’t very many or there were none at all. I have several memories of throwing caution to the wind and hoping for the best as I entered my credit card information to register for some of those programs. But to be honest, I was going about this process without a map or a guide. 

Fast forward several years and I find the Versed Opportunity Guide (“The OG”) for the first time and smile. My initial thought was, “Why didn’t I have something like this back when I was struggling to find programs for my son?” To this day, I still regret spending thousands of dollars on a couple of programs that I know weren’t the best use of our time and money. With the publication of The OG, you’ll at least be spared the agony ;-)

Here’s why you’re lucky to have the Versed Opportunity Guide (which is FREE!):

1. Saves time and money. The OG is a curated list with many programs that have been tested and recommended by Versed Parent Advisors. You’ll find quality programs that fit your child’s needs with less chance of wasting your time and money.
2. Introduces you and your child to different areas of interest. The OG is a great place to explore different areas of interest. Each category begins with an introduction, followed by the various programs offered in that category. You may discover new and exciting categories of activities.
3. Educates you. The OG is a fantastic place to start planning your child’s extramural journey. Using our platform and its multiple search functionalities, you can get a feel for the location, content, structure, and duration of programs that would fit your child’s needs, schedule, and family lifestyle.

Fortunately, I have two more kids who are in high school and who are still eligible for pre-college programs. They’re applying to a couple of programs (one of them is free!) that I found in The OG. I’m grateful for the time it spared me from those exhausting, often futile Google searches. I have no doubt The OG has freed up precious resources while allowing me to make smart decisions that will benefit my children’s academic and extracurricular journeys. Check it out for yourself for FREE by clicking this link: The OG. You’re welcome!

 

 

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By Virginia Young

As a parent of three competitive fencers, I’ve watched my kids struggle with balancing sports and academics. The one concept that I drilled into my kids’ heads early on was that school ALWAYS comes first. Solid academics will increase a teen’s chances of being admitted to competitive schools and finding a spot on an NCAA fencing (or any other sport) team. Likewise, poor grades will limit a teen’s choices for college, regardless of how good of an athlete she may be.

So, how can a teen keep her grades up while performing at her peak in a sport? I asked my kids and their teammates for tips on how they successfully balanced school and fencing. Since most of the fencers that I consulted are college graduates who joined NCAA teams at top colleges, I would take their advice to heart.  

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8 Tips for Keeping Up Your Grades While Participating in Sports

1. Maintain excellent communication with your teachers. Keep them updated on your schedule so that they can best prepare you for your absences. Show them that you are serious about your academics by making up assignments and tests in a timely manner, and spending lunches or after school hours in the classroom to catch up. Respect and communication are key to getting the support you need.
2. Keep a calendar of all assignment due dates and test dates. There are a number of great online scheduling apps (ex: Google Calendar),  or you can simply use a physical planner. You will have a much easier time organizing your life if you schedule your practice and competition dates and times alongside assignment due dates and test dates.
3. Use your time wisely. Those chunks of time you spend waiting for or riding in a car, train or airplane to practice or tournaments can be used for studying. Bring along headphones or earbuds to create a focused mental space. Get motion sickness? Try audio books!
4. Procrastination is a bad word. Don’t put off assignments and projects. Get them done and out of the way while keeping ahead of due dates and deadlines. If you have to make up work, especially a test, be sure to do it as soon as possible while the information is still fresh in your head.
5. Consider using a tutor. Whether you need some help in a class or preparing for standardized tests, a tutor can be an efficient way to get the help you need and on your schedule.
6. Have the right attitude. There are only 24 hours in the day to do everything you need to do. Be prepared to sacrifice some leisure time to catch up on school work or to squeeze in extra practice before a competition or game day.
7. Work with your academic counselor. She can give you insight on selecting the right classes for your academic track while avoiding ones that overload your schedule and do not align with your goals.
8. Ask your friends for help. Your friends can be your greatest assets in keeping you on track at school. Ask them to share notes and information on assignments you missed. Consider having study sessions with them so that you can learn from each other. Bring candy. :-)

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So there you have it! The secrets to success as shared by student-athletes who have successfully balanced school and sports. Sports are a great way to develop valuable skills outside of the classroom. In fact, studies have shown that kids who participate in sports do better in school. But balancing the two is not easy, though rest assured your teen will benefit from the valuable tools gained for the rest of her life.

 

If you are interested in speaking with one of our Advisors about a strong athlete's path to college, you can schedule an introductory free consultation here.

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

Receive inside track information on college admissions process, High School and Middle School planning, general pre-college guidance, and be the first to know about our events and announcements.

 

For additional information and insights, check out our blog: 

Do High School Students Need a Focus? 

Meaningful Summer Activities that Enhance College Applications

How to Help Your Teens Manage Their Time

When Students Should Quit Activities

 

By Donna Meyer, Editor at Fencing Parents 

Finding one’s passion is not easy. If we are lucky, we find it through experimentation, trying out different activities that appeal to us until we find that one thing that holds our attention, and inspires a deep interest. For children and teenagers, it is even harder to find a passion. Like the adults, they are most likely to find their passion through trial and error, albeit with adult supervision. 

When my 2 sons started fencing at ages 8 and 10 in Singapore, I crossed my fingers that they would stick with the sport. They had cycled through all the usual team sports plus tennis and gymnastics. None of these sports held their interest for long. 

Fencing appealed to their imagination in a way no other sport could. They were Jedi knights, they were Zorro, they were action heroes in an imaginary world. They finger fenced each other at home incessantly. They brought their imagination with them to the rather large novice competitions organized by their fencing club, and they each excelled as beginners. They were hooked! 

They embraced the footwork drills that opened every training session, so long as they could hold a sword in their hand at the end of it and engage in some sword fighting! The “coolness” of the white uniform and the mask were a bonus for them. 

And, that’s how we became a fencing family! 

While we were vaguely aware of a need to help our sons find their X-factor for college admissions eventually, it wasn’t a priority for their father and I when we got the boys started in fencing. It was much more important that the boys loved the sport, and that they were enthusiastic about showing up for training. 

With the other sports the boys tried out, the lack of enthusiasm, followed by the lack of performance was painful to watch, and even harder to justify spending time and money on. We recognized that passion for any activity couldn’t be forced. 

We were very fortunate that the 1^st fencing club the boys joined was run by a former Olympian who brought on other former Olympians from around the world as coaches. Their collective passion, fencing skill and infinite patience in coaching a pair of enthusiastic, fun-loving boys was inspiring for all of us. 

Fencing has captivated and inspired generations of boys and girls, and men and women. For those who love fencing, there can be no other sport. While fencing is a small sport in terms of total number of fencers worldwide, it has been an Olympic sport since the birth of the modern Olympics in 1896. 

Fencing is a sport for a lifetime, and anyone can start at any age. 

For example, becoming a mother has not stopped US Olympic saber fencer and 2 times Olympic gold medalist (2004 and 2008), Mariel Zagunis from chasing her dreams and continuing her winning. Ju Jie 

Luan, Chinese Olympic gold medalist in foil in 1984, qualified for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 representing Canada at age 50. In 2018, Ju Jie won the gold medal in foil at the Veteran’s World Championships in Italy, and she took the silver medal in epee at the same tournament. I was amazed when I discovered that Ju Jie only started fencing as an adult! 

The sport of fencing encompasses 3 weapons, epee, foil and sabre. The target areas and rules of engagement vary between the 3 weapons, so do the skills required of the fencer. If you’re contemplating which weapon to start your child with, you can read more about it HERE. 

Fencing has been described as physical chess by fencing enthusiasts, it is a sport that engages the physical and the intellectual. Success in fencing comes from developing physical skills, quick thinking skills, extreme focus and emotional control. The challenge to simultaneously develop these skills is character building in and of itself! 

Fencing remains a remarkably polite sport despite its combative elements. While emotions can run high, strictly enforced rules ensure that athletes, coaches and spectators stay respectful throughout. As a parent, I am deeply appreciative of this aspect of the sport, where civility still holds. 

Teenagers who rise to the top of the sport by the end of their Junior year in high school find themselves in the very privileged position of potentially becoming fencing athlete recruits to some of the best colleges in the country. 

7 of the 8 Ivy League colleges have NCAA Division 1 fencing teams, so do academically elite colleges like Stanford University, Duke University, Northwestern University (women only) and the University of Notre Dame. Colleges like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University, along with several more academically elite colleges host NCAA Division 2 and Division 3 fencing teams. You can see the complete list of 46 colleges with NCAA fencing teams HERE. 

The diversity of academic requirements amongst the 46 colleges means that there is a place somewhere for a teenage fencer determined to fence on an NCAA fencing team in college. While the total number of athlete recruits is capped, many fencers still walk-on to fencing teams after they are accepted on their academic merits. You can read more about the process of fencing athlete recruitment HERE. 

While some parents deliberately place their child in fencing hoping that it will lead to athlete recruitment at the right college eventually, it is important to realize that only those fencers who are truly passionate about the sport will rise to the top. 

Recall that extreme focus and emotional control are necessary elements to success in fencing. It is very difficult to engage focus or control if the dominant thought while competing is something like “I’m only doing this because my parents want me to, I’d much rather be doing something else.” 

Figuring out if your child really loves fencing may be an hour’s endeavor, or it could be a several year endeavor. You won’t know until you try. 

If I have piqued your interest about fencing as an activity for your child, you can find out more about how to get started at the Fencing Parents website (www.fencingparents.org). 

 

About the Writer Donna is the founder and editor of Fencing Parents (www.fencingparents.org), a comprehensive guide for parents on the sport of fencing. From how to get started in fencing, to selecting coaches and clubs, developing mental toughness, managing fencing competition schedules, buying and maintaining fencing equipment , how the athlete recruitment process and college admissions for fencers works plus everything else a parent should know to be a fencer's best support. She lives in Los Angeles with her 2 sons.