College Experience Meaningful
Start writing a post
Student Life

My College Existence As I Know It  Was Saved By Helping Others

A lesson learned outside of the classroom.

20
My College Existence As I Know It  Was Saved By Helping Others
https://unsplash.com/photos/anV_zgNDZhc

5:49 am on Thursday, July 19, 2018: when I received the piece of writing that brought my career within sight- Canaan. What I'd been waiting for, hoping for, praying for, had arrived in my inbox: the acceptance letter into East Carolina University's Master of Library Science program for Fall 2018.

It didn't take much reflection to realize why this letter was a vehicle for moving forward on the road to transformation. Re-entrance into ECU as a student what about far more than another degree and more lucrative career. Student Pirate 2.0 was also about resolving a regret harbored since my first go around as an ECU student. The regret: not getting involved on campus through organizations, special events, and volunteer work.

This regret, I set about quickly to overcome. Fortunately, I had more than determination on my side: there was Pirate Port's OrgSync. Through it, I requested and received membership to campus organizations aligning with my passions and personal goals.

Via OrgSync, I found out about special events such as PiratePalooza and Get a Clue. Through it, I discovered volunteer work with Campus Kitchen and the Hurricane Florence Food Drive. In fact, OrgSync remains the primary way that this college experience is becoming the one I've yearned for (though Pirate 411 and the Events section on ECU's website has provided a lot of information as well!).

Becoming: I'm still striving to get there. This semester has offered a learning experience about on-campus involvement. The learning experience has been generated by teaching valuable lessons about time management and prioritizing those passions and personal goals. How I can best illustrate the lessons learned is through this analogy: lake vs. ocean.

Lessons learned, of course, came from some mistakes made. Campus involvement has yielded my getting somewhat involved in a lot of campus organizations, special events, and volunteer work--far more than what I listed above, really. Because of it, my current portrait of campus involvement resembles many lakes: broad but shallow. I've given a week here, a week there, in various on-campus endeavors. A week here and there means I haven't invested sufficient time or energy in anything.

What I realize now: the ocean approach would have been the sager one. With it, the measure of input and output could have been broad and deep. Instead of a hit or miss attendance in a lot of campus endeavors, I could have had consistent (and to my fellow members, dependable) attendance in a few. Through weekly investment and tangible proof of commitment, I could have yielded friendships, rather than acquaintanceships, with my fellow Student Pirates.

By this point in the semester, I believe it's not about the org, event, or volunteer work, but the people you meet through them. More important than any mission statement or goal is the friendships fostered in the midst of collectively working toward a mission statement or goal. After all, friendships offer a place and space to help, encourage, and nurture each other. Because of this, our friendships begun in college can last way beyond those pivotal four years (or however long it takes).

Speaking of the time it takes to finish, consider how you would answer this question after you graduate [insert your graduation semester and year here]. How was your college experience meaningful?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58922
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

38039
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959548
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

195735
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments