Extracurriculars are my favourite thing. Ever since elementary school I’ve sought ways to keep my time outside of class as full and enriching as possible. I’ve done plays, cross country, track, cheer, yoga, and various forms volunteer work. I love being busy, involved, and always having something new to do. You know, until it gets overwhelming and something has to change. But until that happens, it’s awesome! That being said, it’s no wonder that Plaza Fest is one of the best events on the University of Utah campus, in my humble opinion. All of the greatest clubs have student representatives sitting out at a table trying to get the attention of anyone that will give them the time of day in hopes that they will – quote unquote – join the cult. Cult of opportunity, that is! Ba-dum-tss. Lame puns aside, I really do adore braving the masses and navigating through throngs of humans searching for like-minded individuals in organizations that matter to them.
There’s nothing that I can yet compare to finding those people you truly feel like you belong with. Do you know how great it is to walk into a house full of amazing women knowing that they chose you as much as you chose them? No? Maybe you should consider going through rush at least for the experience. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stay with the lovely ladies of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the U due to the high cost of dues in social fraternity and sorority life. However, I still think fondly of my short time with them and have maintained a couple friendships with girls I met during recruitment. Things may not have worked out with there but I did find a spectacular community last year made up of the coolest athletic nerds you may ever meet. I’m talking about the quidditch team. Drive past Reservoir Park any Tuesday or Thursday evening and you could catch a glimpse of the team practicing in autumn until there is snow on the ground or in spring until nationals has passed. All I ask of you is to not be the type of person to yell dumb things at us that no one can understand anyway. Honestly, it’s a waste of your breath.
Some of the other fantastic clubs I’ve either been involved with to some degree or plan to be involved with are Students for Choice, Students for a Democratic Society, Social Justice Activists, Students Against Sexual Assault, YouSpeak Poetry Community, BLinc, Ballroom Dance Company, Be the Match, SPEAK, Alpha Kappa Psi, and probably some more that I’m forgetting. I highly recommend checking out those organizations if you aren’t already familiar with them.
These college years are the perfect time for finding the causes and activities that you care the most about and you have the extraordinary opportunity to get involved with and drop as many as you see fit. There is so much to do and as long as you are able to manage a few extra hours per week, I would absolutely try finding something to get involved with. Why not even make yourself a club passport and go around to as many groups as you can and spend a meeting or evening with them? You could find your new calling in life or treat yo’ self after going to a certain number of different events. It’s up to you! The world is your oyster! Be your own pearl!
