As I begin my second year of college, I can't help but notice all of the responsibility I've regained. Whether it's by volunteering or mandatory, it's still there, and it's a lot. While this may seem daunting to some, I wouldn't have it any other way. This is because of a theory I have found to hold true; responsibility equals opportunity.

Have you ever noticed how people who change the world are often involved in their community? Have you ever taken a second to ponder how hard a leader must work before being given their title? Nothing ever comes easy if it's worth it, and college is no exception. When entering this era, most students take this freedom and run with it. Whether that's running out of money and dropping out, or running for president of an organization, it's up to them.

There are so many opportunities on a college campus, someone is bound to find a cause they are passionate about. Once this is done, it is up to the student to take the initiative and become apart of that community. Whether simply becoming a member, or assuming a leadership role, being in the organization is what matters the most. Getting out of your comfort zone and standing up for what you believe in is the key to finding opportunities that will take your career and well-being multiple steps further.

I am currently a member of three organizations on my campus, and my goal is to join two more this semester. Two of these groups I am a member of, which requires less responsibility, while the third one I assume a small leadership role in and plan to take on more responsibility this year. Although this takes a lot of time out of my day, it doesn't necessarily hurt my bank account. If you are interested in any clubs, don't worry about the financial obligation because it could very well be nonexistent (or if it is expensive, there's a similar group that's less pricey on campus).

At the end of the day, if you sit and wait for opportunities to come to you, you'll miss out on the majority of the chances you had to be a part of something bigger. With your first handful of real freedom, I suggest you branch out and join as many organizations as you can. This world is built on networking, and your college campus is where most of these connections form. Recommendation letters are needed for many major positions, do you have someone on campus who could write you one?

I am not insinuating that you will not be successful if you do not join any groups around you. However, I am explaining that it would never hurt you to branch out and meet people. College really is what you make of it. If you want to do something amazing, the only person in the way of that is you. Start building those blocks now, and maybe you'll look back and find an amazing foundation one day.