One of my biggest regrets in college has been not getting more involved sooner. I didn't really start putting myself out there until late freshman/early sophomore year, and I felt like in just the short time I didn't try something new, I missed out. Taking a chance, whether it be an organization, a volunteering opportunity, or a job on campus or off, yields amazing results. Putting myself out there has allowed for me to meet amazing people who I might not have met otherwise and has helped me build my professional and personal experiences in ways I didn't think were possible. So, to people preparing for the next big step that is college, or even for those already in college, here are some valid reasons why you should take a step out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there.

The greatest result from putting yourself out there is experiences!

Whether you choose a Greek organization, an organization based on your major, a volunteering opportunity, a research job, or just a part-time job, all of these options can help you accumulate experience in different ways. Colleges don't just allow such organizations to exist just because; they do so because of how much they enrich student life. You can build up your interests, make new friends, and even build up leadership skills. Even part-time jobs can help you draw valuable experiences that will help in your career, like communicating well with others, working as a team, or learning to deal with difficult people. Both in personal and professional ways, these different opportunities can really allow you to grow and evolve as you work your way through becoming the person you want to be.

Speaking of the personal level, putting yourself out there and getting involved is a great way to stay out of slumps. Especially in college, which for many is their first taste of true independence, it's easy to get into slumps where you just want to curl up and not do anything. However, as satisfying as these slumps may seem at first, they're only comforting and enjoyable for so long. Getting involved helps you get out of these slumps because you'll always have something to do or someone to talk or turn to. Staying in your own little bubble is temporary, bubbles burst and stopping yourself from being in that bubble as much as you can is reason enough to try something new.

Now for the cheesy and most discussed aspect of getting involved, meeting new people. Growing up, I was extremely shy, and even though I became a lot more social as I got older, I'm still not the most talkative person in the world, especially meeting someone new. However, getting involved on campus via my job and organizations has forced me to be social, to sometimes be the initiator of conversations, and in that, I'm much more open to meeting new people. Being open to talking to people who aren't just in my supposed "set," group of friends has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people, who I truly enjoy interacting with whether it be working on projects together or simply just talking. I know I sound like everyone who tells you to get more involved on campus, but there is always an organization for your interests and that fits you perfectly, you just have to take the first step and seek it out.

Freshman year of college is a really strange time in your life. It forces you to be out of your comfort zone just by moving in, and the idea of joining organizations can be intimidating to some. You should never feel forced to be involved or something, or join something just because a friend or someone else is doing it.

College is a time to find yourself and who you're going to be when you step out into that huge scary world that is independent adulthood. So, clarify that image a little more, choose stuff you want to do, you may gain some amazing experiences and meet some wonderful people along the way.