College is difficult for so many reasons, and being on your own for the first time can be frightening. It can be really intimidating trying to put yourself out there, but when you do, it will make the college experience much easier and a lot more fun.

Most colleges will have an activities fair every fall for new and current students to check out. As a freshman, a lot of hesitation can come along with signing up for a club or sport. You may not know how to manage your time for schoolwork just yet, or you are worried that it'll take up so much time that no matter how hard you try, you'll never be able to fit it all in your schedule.

Despite these normal thoughts, I encourage you to do it anyways.

It can be so hard to meet new people and find your friend group when you go to college. Joining a club or a team can alleviate the stress that comes from that. It'll allow you to meet new people and create friendships that could end up lasting a lifetime.

During my first semester of college, I was strongly against joining a club or team. I didn't want to lose what I thought would be my only free time. I also worried about committing too much time to something other than schoolwork. Finally, I forced myself to join a club sports team and I can honestly say that it was the best decision that I could've ever made for myself. It gave me a group of girls that I can always count on and I know that I could go to for anything.

Also, as important as schoolwork is, it is always a good idea to have something that takes your mind off of homework and classes for a short period of time.

Sure, being on a team keeps me busy, which is why I was so nervous to join one. However, despite what I thought, being busy doesn't have to be a bad thing. It forces me to manage my time better than I was doing when I had a lot more free time, but allows me to spend that time doing something that I've grown to love.

So, if you are thinking about joining a club or a team, do it. Sign up for a few, try them out and find something that fits best for you and that gives you something to look forward to.