As a college student, you are surrounded by so many opportunities. It is essential to take advantage of what your campus has to offer while you are a student. As someone who avidly participates in on-campus events and has invested a lot of time into my organization on campus, I can say that it has truly shaped my experience as a collegiate. Not only does this time allow for making memories and fully getting to "college experience" but it also allows you to build your resume and get out-of-class experiences.
Before you even get to campus, Involvement will come knocking at your door. Depending on what interests you stated on your common app or in your registration for the school, you may receive emails before classes even begin. Be sure to keep an eye out for these opportunities and to stay up to date on social media over the summer as well. You will also attend orientation over the summer or right before classes begin. Your orientation leader is a great resource even after you start classes. If you feel comfortable you can reach out and ask them about organizations to join on campus. At my university, we were also added to First Year Experience (FYE) which was a 30-minute half-semester class that allows you to learn about the campus and your resources. In this class, we were introduced to an FYE Assistant who can also help you on campus. Taking advantage of the people you know and the resources your school has can really help you to get more involved and meet more people. If you have a friend or acquaintance who is an upperclassman don't be afraid to reach out to them to get more information.
At Sacred Heart University we are given a first 50 days pamphlet with a bunch of events happening on campus within your first 50 days. Within these days you will meet most of your first-year friends, get acclimated with classes, and be exposed to the best parts of student life. This is the prime time to get involved! It is better to manage your time when you fill your schedule. Join clubs early in the semester because once you are fully adjusted you will be less likely to want to add to your routine.
Odds are your Student Life Office will be hosting an Involvement Fair early in your first semester. This is a great way to see all the opportunities and clubs available. I remember my freshman year we were required to attend and I put my email down for pretty much any interesting club. Even if you don't attend all those clubs' meetings, it will remind you what you were interested in and allow you to select from the emails you receive what to attend. Some activities require tryouts or a recruitment process such as club sports or Greek Life, however, most clubs are a sign-up and attend system.
Don't be afraid to ask questions and utilize Student Life on campus. Everyone is in the same boat when they first get to school. It is intimidating to walk onto a campus and not even know where to go next. Getting involved will allow you to meet new people and will make your campus feel more like a second home and less like a crowd of strangers. Being involved has allowed me to meet some of my closest friends and has allowed me to have leadership experiences I will take with me into my life after college. For more college advice, be sure to follow @itsirrellavent on Instagram and subscribe to the blog.
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