If you plan to go to college and/or enter the workplace in your future, it is important that you begin to develop a well-rounded skill set and the qualities that go along with that. Here are the Top 5 Ways to Be a Well-Rounded Student:

1. Volunteer.  
   Volunteering has a myriad of benefits. You are not only helping someone who might be in need or requires assistance in order to carry out daily tasks, but you also grow as a person through volunteering. Volunteering helps you develop responsibility and maturity because you are looking after an individual, a group of people, or an animal, which requires attention to detail, time management skills, and sacrificing your own desires to ensure they are looked after well. Their livelihood is in your hands. Also, volunteering creates a better world, not only for the present, but also for the future. Your service in the community today will make a better tomorrow for generations to come. If you want to volunteer, but have no idea where to begin, start by thinking: Where can I make a difference? What do I see that I want to change to better my community? Then find a place in your community that offers volunteering in that area. There are so many opportunities to get involved, from helping out at the Special Olympics, to cleaning up a park with a local environmental organization, to walking dogs at a shelter near you!

2. Hone your skills. 
   Your future career path will hopefully follow your passion. It's never too early to get extra practice and challenge yourself in the areas you potentially see yourself pursuing in the future. Colleges and employers look for someone who has gone the extra mile to master their craft. Don't just practice singing in your bedroom; take some vocal lessons and sign up for choir in school to integrate singing into your life in a serious way. Don't feel satisfied doing well on your math tests? Why not sign up for Math Olympiad? If you want to participate in this extra-curricular activity that strengthens problem-solving skills (a crucial skill in life) and stretches your creative muscles, but your school does not offer Math Olympiad, or their team is full, we have some good news. Select SpiderSmart centers are now Math Olympiad institution teams! Sign up today at: https://moemsatspidersmartofashburn.eventbrite.com

3. Try something new.  
    If you come across an internship or a volunteer position in a field that's always interested you but which you've never worked in before, it's your chance to try it and see if it sparks your interest. Also, doing things that are difficult help strengthen your problem-solving skills, resourcefulness, and adaptability.

4. Reflect on your experience.   
   Reflection is a tool that you will use the rest of your school and university career, as well as your adult life. It helps you acquire mental focus and discipline. It also encourages you to see what you do well, and highlights areas of improvement for the future.

5. Be selective.  
   Remember that colleges are looking for well-rounded, but focused individuals. If your extracurriculars are all over the map, it doesn't always come across as well-rounded, but instead scattered. Keeping your interests and your extracurriculars aligned to fields you are thinking about utilizing in the future will make you more attractive to college admissions committees, as well as prospective employers. Ask yourself these questions before getting involved in something: Why should I invest my time in doing this? Is this an exploratory step that will contribute toward my future and my community at large, or is it just something else to add to my already busy schedule?