Extracurricular inspiration in a pandemic

Extracurricular inspiration in a pandemic

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Published: Wed 24 Feb 2021, 1:46 PM

Last updated: Thu 25 Feb 2021, 12:03 PM

Inside the café, I observe a teenager shift between typing furiously and scrolling through Google. I overhear her mention volunteering. Her friend clasps and unclasps her hands with a furrowed brow. "I can't find anything!" she exclaims. They ignore their frappuccinos. Their blended coffee drinks can wait.

With the shock of Covid-19, I have witnessed my students face similar struggles within and beyond classroom instruction and exams. As an admissions consultant here in Dubai, advising students on applying to the Ivy League and other top universities in the United States, I have observed how they have faced either adapting their extracurricular activities online or putting them on hold indefinitely. Many students are studying their SAT and ACT prep virtually, while others hunt for future scholarships and other financial aid remotely as well.

However, the potential remains to discover virtual extracurricular activities, ranging from creating a personal art project to gaining clinical exposure to healthcare in a developing country. I asked some of my students to offer a sneak peek of the exciting, virtual opportunities they have pursued during this tumultuous time. Below are some of their responses

Volunteer Work: Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children"Over the summer, I participated in the Virtual Global Health Volunteer Experience, organised by the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC). As someone who seeks to pursue medicine in the future, I was drawn to FIMRC because of its dedication to providing healthcare to underprivileged families in third-world countries. I chose to focus on FIMRC's work in Uganda, volunteering for their project titled, 'Project Bududa.' I completed a research project through which I designed a visually-appealing graphic addressing a health issue in Uganda; my work will be used in the education of young children and even adults in the country. I felt that I was able to offer a tangible impact in the Ugandan community, despite being stuck at home behind my computer." - Karen, Class of 2022

Learning: UC Berkeley Extension"During the summer, I chose to further explore my intended major, economics, in order to prepare me for university-level work while deepening my interest in the subject. I am particularly interested in finance; therefore, I decided to participate in an online credit course titled 'Intro to Corporate Finance' offered by an American university's outreach program, UC Berkeley Extension. Through this course, I was able to gain educational insight into what a university major in economics with a concentration in finance would entail. I gained a plethora of essential skills, such as calculating a firm's weighted cost of capital and evaluating the capital structure of a firm through a combination of lectures, tests, and one-on-one phone calls with the professor. This eventually led to me achieving an A grade in the course along with credits applicable to university, while also confirming my ambition to pursue finance - all from the comfort of my bedroom." - Zunaira, Class of 2020

f the engaging virtual extracurricular activities out there. At Hale, we aim to keep our students informed as they approach every aspect of their profile development and provide them with support as they tackle innovative, independent projects and continue to grow as students and thinkers. Hopefully, these ideas serve as a launchpad to discovering an opportunity that is right for you - without having to worry about your frappuccino melting

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Published: Wed 24 Feb 2021, 1:46 PM

Last updated: Thu 25 Feb 2021, 12:03 PM