I was made one of three captains of my school's mock trial team at the beginning of the year. I was so excited because mock has always been my favorite extracurricular and I have been very devoted to the team. This year has not been the same. I was put on a sub team with newer members not interested in doing well. I am not on a sub team with any of my good friends I made in previous years, meaning they will likely be the team that goes to state and I will not get to go. I also have personal drama with several members on the other team and seeing them is emotionally difficult for me. But I love the competitions, and don't want to simply forfeit this leadership position. My academics are great and I have plenty of other extracurriculars but I feel this captain spot really rounds out my applications. But four AP classes, debate, robotics, speech, and an internship is a lot and I feel like my dread of mock trial is affecting how well I do in the rest of my life.
My dream schools are Northwestern, Caltech, Rensselaer, and Columbia, likely Chemical Engineering major (my classes and other things are in more of a science direction). My end goal in all of these extracurriculars is to have fun, but college is always on my mind.
Do I quit? Is this leadership position worth the stress? Help!
Follow your gut. Try not to live for college, but for yourself. If you feel that you don't like mock trial anymore because of your situation, either take a break from it or quit.
Quit - more time, more fun?, less continuity in your ECs
Stay - less time, opportunity to solve a challenge (get the newer members motivated, maybe try to get to regionals -> leadership, could be a great essay/personal growth), also more continuity (3+ years of one EC is really good)
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