Whether you are a freshman in high school or a freshman in college, this is for you. I encourage you to join at least one club and stick to it. Join a whole bunch if you have to and go to club meetings to find if you actually like the ideas of the club. Attend your school’s club fair or get in touch with your guidance counselor or campus activity director to inquire about clubs. Just get involved!
As younger kids, our parents and guardians were able to involve us in things like soccer, girl scouts or dance without much hesitation. Now you are grown-up and you decide what you want to do in your free time. Maybe you’ll find you have a real talent in the arts that you never knew about. Or maybe you always played sports but never found the one that was just right until you branched out a little. It is healthy to have a hobby. No one says you have to be great at whatever you find you love, as long as you are passionate about it, nobody can take it away.
Personally, when I was little I played youth basketball, t-ball, joined girl scouts, and did gymnastics. My days were so busy. I can remember having basketball and girl scouts the same night, and my mom was always rushing to get me from one to the next. I will say I enjoyed trying all those activities, but I really didn’t enjoy them enough to validate running around three nights a week like a crazy person. I remember telling my mom, in seventh grade, that I didn’t like basketball anymore. She wasn’t as surprised as I thought she’d be but did ask me to make sure I was sure. I understand her asking this because both my parents put a lot of time into taking me to practices, buying me new gear every time I grew and coming to every game.
That same year I joined at least five clubs. Best decision of high school. After going to meetings/practices and meeting the other members, I decided I wanted to devote myself to two: yearbook and color guard. Being a part of the yearbook staff helped me let out my creative juices and focused my appreciation for photography. You can’t have a yearbook without pictures! By my senior year, I was Editor for the yearbook staff. I must say it was so fun and I got to be a part of the yearbook, a piece of history. Color guard ended up being my child, if you will. I loved having fun with my girls, coming up with sick tricks, and helping the younger ones learn.
Because I joined these activities, I made lifelong friends, and honed skills that have helped me beyond that club or activity. When freshman year of college came along, I knew it was important to immerse myself in fun activities. I was the only one from my graduating class to attend my college and knew no one. As in high school, I dwindled my club participation to three or four clubs that really are enjoyable to me or are beneficial to my career. I even learned from the many I tried out, but didn't stick with.
It's worth it to try new things, to branch out, to make new friends. I'm not asking you to do this all the time, but trying one new thing here and there will be fun! If you’re a freshman in high school or college, or bored for that matter, please consider joining a sport, club, or activity in your town or at your school. You won’t know you hate it until you try it, so get on out there! You won’t regret it. You may even find a great new group of friends while you’re at it.
