Most students have experienced those school nights when they try to stay awake while doing homework. However, is homework the only reason why students stay up too late? For many, the answer may be factors(因素)such as electronics and technology, yet for others, the reply focuses on the balance
between schoolwork and extracurricular(课外的)activities.
Most students grow up developing some type of hobby. Whether it is playing baseball on the weekends, or joining a chess club after school, taking part in extracurricular activities is a large part of students' daily routines. However, as schoolwork and pressure increase in high school, many students argue that extracurricular activities must fall by the wayside because they are not needed, or not so important." High school is a time when you're supposed to explore what you love, "Samantha Luk, a high school student, said. When it comes to setting a timetable, however, Luk said she was often under pressure to give more importance to study. This thought of giving up personal interests for study is common among many students. They find it challenging to prove whether developing the interests is advantageous.
As a cross-country runner, journalism fan and violin lover, I disagree with those who decrease the importance of after-school activities. There are many reasons why involvement in after-school activities is beneficial. The most important point is that sports, clubs and regular meetings give students time to
enjoy each other's company（陪伴）and start up friendships. These activities also allow teenagers to follow their interests and to reduce stress. So in spite of (尽管)heavy schoolwork, students should keep on following their hobbies although it is very hard.
Some students, on the other hand, choose the opposite way. They spend too much time on their hobbies that they are passionate(狂热的)about. Sometimes this passion helps students get recognition or prizes for their surprising talents, but generally speaking, it just makes one student different from the other.
Schoolwork and interests are of different values, so one should never have to choose between study and extracurricular activities, unless he or she wants to. Each student should try to balance them, and your balance may differ from others'. Achieving this kind of balance is to find out what is important for you.
It completely depends on your personal preference.
