Dear college students,
College is a place where we discover our interests and what sparks our potential career path. While college mainly focuses on academics, the college experience is suppose to be exciting. Attending events on campus, joining clubs, rushing for fraternities and sororities, etc. College is the best of both worlds where you can work hard AND have fun while being responsible and independent. Getting involved on campus comes with a price though…
Whether you're a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, this can apply to any of you. When you find clubs and organizations on campus that intrigue your interests, you can't help but want to join. For instance, my love for teaching directed my attention to the club I belong to currently, Student Education Association, where I serve as Public Relations. My love for writing led me to Rider's Odyssey Team, where I am a creator for our growing team, and serve as the President. Lastly, to develop my public speaking skills, I interviewed for a membership for Rider's organization, DAARSTOC, where I was offered a position. Now, I am very involved on campus, as well as attending different events Rider offers. Though I have my three commitments, I always look for other clubs and organizations to fill my free time, and while that's great, it can also haunt me.
So what point am I trying to make? Getting involved on campus is always great, however, over-committing to too many clubs and organizations doesn't leave you time to balance school, a social life, and other important factors in your life.
This week, I myself am struggling with the excessive piles of homework I have to complete, hence why overcommitting yourself could potentially leave you physically drained, mentally exhausted, and emotionally unstable. I've had my fair share of cries this semester thus far with the loads of homework, so I definitely advise you to be mindful of your schedule and join clubs and organizations based on how you handle stress.
If you can handle stress like a pro, first, I need to see you for advice because coming from someone who DOESN'T procrastinate, I still get extremely stressed. But on a serious note, if you can manage your stress wisely, continue down that path. I don't suggest piling yourself with more things to do.
If you are one who is like me and gets easily overwhelmed when it comes to homework, I suggest timing yourself. After a certain amount of time doing homework, roughly 45 minutes, take a break. Have a snack, get some fresh air, something to clear your mind. Then, come back to your work and keep a POSITIVE mindset. By staying positive you are ensuring yourself you CAN do it.
So, before you join 7 clubs, rush a sorority, party on a Wednesday night, be sure to stay aware of your schedules no matter how busy they may be, and ALWAYS, always stay positive.
Sincerely,
A very busy college sophomore