I can't count the times I've been told in the past six months that "getting involved" is the most important thing while at school. It gets drilled into your head the second you step on campus. I've had the very emphasis tossed at me as soon as I made the decision where I was going to go to school. To be completely honest, I was about done hearing that. I already had that shouted in my face for four years of high school. It seemed that the most important part of getting involved was building a resume. I wasn't in the mood to follow the advice to, "dive right in."
Not that it wasn't beneficial, I've had so many great experiences through my high school involvement. I've loved many of the clubs and organizations I've been a part of. There were experiences that shaped who I am, but I feel as though the end game was to be able to write an essay and add it to your activity sheet. I wanted to be a part of something for the value of experience and growth - for the sake of doing something just because I liked it.
Once I got to Bryant, I thought things would be the same. I figured employers would be looking for a well-rounded student, just as the colleges I applied to had been. The first organization I joined a week before I got to campus was mainly for how it would look on a resume (joining as a freshman). I felt myself going down the same path I had traveled once before. The organization fair rolled around and a hundred clubs lined up across the lawn. It was overwhelming. There were hundreds of people trying to let their purpose be heard, and hundreds of people trying to latch on. I felt like I was getting swept up in the mess, like high school but with five times as many people and choices.
Then something fantastic happened. When I was finally up to approach a table, I could see that it wasn't as overwhelming as I thought. Everyone was just representing a club that they enjoyed. People were just doing things that they loved. There were so many choices. It was a beautiful chaos. I was able to find things both academic and social. I even got a spot on the school radio station, something I've always wanted to do. These clubs really formed a community, both within and among themselves. It wasn't like high school, where we were really just learning to be a member of a society. These organizations are a collection of people doing things they genuinely enjoy, and from that comes passion. These are the skills that give a person value, finding passion and community.
I've never been someone that dove head first into group activities or organizations. College involvement is different than expected - community for the sake of community. I can be a part of something just because I can, and because I like it. That's something respected, something worth putting on a resume. My advice is that you can resist involvement as much as you like, but it's a lot different than it's cracked up to be. It's genuine. It's why you don't have to dive head first, but are allowed to dip your feet in as much as you please.
