Especially as a freshman, college students always hear, “College is what you make of it! It’s the best four years of your life!” We’ve all heard that mumbo jumbo, right? What is college? Well, when one decides to live on campus, college can become a home. If one decides to commute, it’s still a home, just away from actual home.
How often is it that you truly appreciate just sitting in your house, doing absolutely nothing productive or stimulating? While there are definitely some who oppose, I need to be constantly busy, or else I just feel, for lack of a better term, "blah." I feel like I’m wasting the valuable time that I have and disregarding the impact that I can make. Who wants that? Not me.
The great thing about college is there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re into Harry Potter, a sport, or a certain philanthropic or charity cause, there is a club or group for you. Speaking for myself, I joined my sorority because there was an instant connection with the girls I had met, as well as a connection to the philanthropies which we represent. I am also a part of Colleges Against Cancer and Relay for Life, as a result of the detriments and hardships I’ve witnessed cancer bring. If you are spending such a large sum of money to attend an institution, why not put a value to that money, beyond the classroom walls?
Academics come first. We all attend school for one reason: to get an education. But let’s think about it. If two people with the same grades and same academic standing are competing for a job, but Bill has shown more involvement on his campus than Jenny has on hers, who do we think will get hired? Rhetoric aside, being involved demonstrates desired attributes within people. Someone who is involved is forced to delegate his or her time accordingly, understand the importance and abilities that stem from leadership skills, and realize and appropriately utilize communication skills. One who is heavily involved in any environment can enhance these skills more easily than someone who goes to class, leaves class, and chooses not to see daylight until the next morning. While that lifestyle isn’t wrong, it isn’t one I would choose to promote. Networking, enhancing social skills, and establishing relationships with those above you is such a benefit that comes hand in hand with heavy involvement. In high school, I was a part of a select few clubs, but I didn’t truly invest myself as much as I should have. Looking back, maybe I should have, but today, as a sophomore in college, I can say I see the benefits of being the exact opposite of that.
In my two years of living at school, I have learned the value of making sure to interact with those above me, making sure I am making an impact in every organization of which I am a part, and learning every day how to interact to benefit myself and those around me. As someone who has seen the striking contrast of involvement, I strongly encourage college students to expand beyond their own horizons.
