"Nothing worth having comes easy." | A Duke Student's Advice on High School Extracurriculars

We had the privilege of interviewing Catherine McMillan and asked advice on: Extracurriculars Catherine's accolades include: a student at Duke University a former student at the North Carolina Governor's School her documentaries were featured in a screening at the National Museum of African American History and Culture She share's some thoughtful words: "...it doesn’t really matter what you do so long as you are passionate about it" "You won’t get something right on a cold first sight reading" Q: Which clubs were most useful to help you stand out the most for colleges? Were they mostly competitive or did you hold a leadership position? A: I believe that it doesn’t really matter what you do so long as you are passionate about it and go in deep . That said, there are certain types of roles and opportunities that are good indicators to colleges that you have made an active effort to become exceptional in a particular area. Competing at the state and national level, holding leadership positions , being a youth voice in a space full of adults--these types of things stand out. Q: Were your extracurriculars managed by your parents or yourself? A: I took control of my extracurriculars. My parents often thought I was taking on too much. Q: How did you determine what extracurriculars to join? (Friend recommendations, parents, personal interests, etc.) A: I was actually (and still am) a great Googler . A lot of things I participated in came from googling opportunities and programs. Q: If you were involved in music, what instruments did you play and for how long? A: I have played piano for 15 years and trumpet for 9 years. Q: Did you ever win any awards for any of your music? A: Yes, I placed at several local/state piano adjudications and I placed at the state/national levels for original composition. Q: Did playing this instrument become a large commitment? A: It did, especially when competition season rolled around. Q: What has being involved in music taught you? A: It has taught me discipline and patience . You won’t get something right on a cold first sight reading. It takes hours of practice to learn and memorize the intricacies of a piece of music. Q: How do you balance extracurriculars with home, work, and social life? A: I was able to manage it because I didn’t really have a social life . I spent so much time on academics, extracurriculars, and work that I found that I didn’t socialize much outside of school. See Catherine's LinkedIn account here !