Everyone knows those people who go to class and back to their room, occasionally leaving to go to the Student Center or Commons. You also know those students who go to class, work, and are involved in multiple organizations on campus. When you imagine yourself as a college student and your college experience, which student do you want to be? Sure, it may be nice to only worry about your homework, but is that really what college is all about? Getting involved on campus can not only be fun, but can prepare you for life following college.
You meet tons of people.
You have the chance to meet people you may have never talked to or wouldn’t normally on a daily basis. College campuses are diverse and, all of the people you encounter through different activities and organizations have different traits and skills you can learn from. You may just find someone who will become a friend for life.
You learn a lot about yourself.
Through different clubs and organizations, it allows you to discover your passions and strengths. These can provide you with a sense of self-worth, and lead you into different directions and help you succeed in life. There's a chance you'll find some activities you aren't a fan of, but there's a chance you'll find many that you can't get enough of which can teach you many things about yourself.
You become connected with your school.
Being involved in college builds a sense of community among your school. Through different activities on campus, you can appreciate what your school has to offer once you’ve been involved and have been able to experience it yourself. I know that when I wasn't involved I wasn't sure I chose the right college. Once I became involved in multiple clubs, I knew that I chose the right college, and was where I belonged.
You change as a person.
A person changes and grows over time and through new experiences, it may help with that process. Getting involved can increase your skills and give you the opportunity to become a leader and learn teamwork strategies. You may find out things about yourself that you never knew before.
It provides a great way to maximize learning.
Don’t get me wrong, sitting through classes gives you valuable information for your life and future careers. Learning new information outside of the classroom about the world, life, and yourself, however, can increase your skills and learning abilities.
You build your resume.
It’s not a bad thing to build your resume with clubs and organizations. Being involved gives you countless opportunities to experience diverse activities. The activities and experiences you go through in college can show future employers what you have to offer. It’s a competitive world out there, and showing your them the time you've spent learning and growing as a person through different clubs and activities as opposed to someone who did nothing could be a big benefit in your favor.
It’s a stress reliever.
Everyone reaches that point where they just need a break. Getting involved is the perfect way for you to take time out of your busy schedule to relax. In my experience, being a part of student government and planning activities for students has been my biggest stress reliever in college.
Going into college, I thought I was going to join multiple clubs and organizations and really get involved. For some reason, I became more reserved then I ever had been, and I was nervous about being involved. That quickly changed when my friends on my hall started dragging me to intramurals and different events on campus. Seeing the potential and opportunities laid out in front of me got me excited. I got involved and have loved every part of it. Next year, I am the president of an organization and a part of student government. So when you are deciding what student you want to be, thing about what you want your college experience. I encourage you to get out of your dorm room, lay down your TV remote, take a break from your precious naps, and join a club or organization and enjoy your college experience.
