Co-curricular activities give a lot of benefits to the students.

It consists of indoor and outdoor

activities. Everything can be activities but not all is a healthy. It depends on what type of an activity
that students choose. These are some of the benefits of co-curricular activities.
Firstly, co-curricular activities can improve our health mentally, psychologically, and
emotionally. It is good for our mental health because if we do exercise regularly, it regulates blood to
the brain. Furthermore, it can encourage the body to generate and also for our heart to pump the blood
actively, not only to the related organs but especially the brain. The brain needs more energy when
focusing on a specific task. Additional activities stimulate work for both sides of the brains. Each side
of the brain is responsible for processing different types of thoughts. Students in general are exposed
to logical thinking during their studies, which is processed by the left side of the brain. By doing
outdoor activities, the brain will be stimulated to creative thinking, which is processed by the right
side of the brain (Zimmer C., 2005). Healthy body leads to a healthy environment. The students will
be more comfortable working in a clean, fresh and hygienic environment, and students will take it to
the state of mind subconsciously. A healthy physique leads to higher endurance. A well known fact is
that muscle is built with vigorous activities. These activities can build the potential for the body to
sustain longer periods of work and the end result is higher endurance. It can lead to a healthier mind.
For example, outdoor activities expose the mind to a different environment. In other words, it may
improve the state of mind to multiple scenarios and also broaden the scope of thinking because
various activities may expose mind. As a result, it can help them to prevent a dull state of thinking.
Exercise teaches students to channel emotions into productive activities. With stressful conditions and
pressure arising from studies, students need a healthy way of discharging these emotions. For example
problems faced by students such as in studies, it can be overcome by the activities that they have
experienced and learned from curriculum. More over, emotionally it may help students releasing their
tension by making new friends. They also can share their problems, learn how to overcome it, learn
how to socialize and learn to be more confident. Activities that they joined do not serve as a
temporary distraction for emotional problems. Conversely, it gives a total solution for emotional
problems because curriculum can help divert a student from this harmful state.
Secondly, it can help to raise self motivation, such as self expression, self confidence and self esteem.
Self expression is a kind of motivation that can encourage students to express their thoughts. Students
are in an environment to openly convey their opinion generally. Co-curricular activities also
encourage students to speak up and contribute to an existing idea or topic. Students can revise, rethink
and add to an existing subject on hand. It also creates self confidence among students because it can
teach students to differentiate between right or wrong.
Thirdly, it can build the skills such as social skills, leading skills, and teamwork skills. In social skills,
it gives students the opportunity to socialize with other peoples. For example, in outdoor activities,
students are exposed to a larger crowd. Here they can mingle with their peers. Besides, it teaches
students the basics of communication skills. Communication skills can teach student about
networking and building contacts.
In conclusion, co-curricular activities have been proven to have much positive benefits for students in
various aspects. Students not only gain benefits through these activities, but also amplify their self
enthusiasm. Furthermore, it may also increase their range of lifelong skills, hence it is a definite must
in a students life.

PREPARED BY
GANTHIMATHI PANIRSELVAM