By: Ridhima Kodali
Coming to college can be a learning curve. It was daunting for me initially to try and be involved in clubs and extracurriculars. However, once I found out about the vast opportunities like student organizations that suited my interests, I was very excited to be involved. Here are some tips that have helped me to become more involved, and even attain leadership roles, in my first year at University.
College is a place where you can reinvent yourself
In high school, even though I had leadership positions, I always felt like and wanted to be more involved within my school community. So, when I came to college I decided to try new things that normally I wouldn’t have. For instance, I stood in an election running for my residence hall’s Executive board. It was honestly quite nerve-wracking for me but making the posters and a personalized website helped me move out of my comfort zone. Moving out of my comfort zone helped me grow as a servant leader.
Research!
Before the school year had officially started I looked through the clubs my university was offering. From there, I made a list of clubs I was interested in, followed their social media accounts — if they had any — and signed up to be a part of their email lists. While I was not able to attend my University’s exploration of all clubs — which was something I regret — I think this is beneficial to do. That way you can meet the leaders of the club and make connections.
Furthermore, making connections with your professors and paying attention to what they are saying is also important. I was able to find out about a non-profit. From there, I applied to a program within the organization and was selected. Here, I learned how to develop a creative brief, contact clients professionally, and learn how a non-profit works.
Consistency is key
After making a list and signing up, I attended at least two meetings of each club. After that, I stuck with all of them because they were centered around topics that I was super passionate about. Being consistent and attending the meetings, even if it was a long day, let me know whether or not this club was right for me. Not going in with any assumptions or expectations helped me to be more open-minded about the club.
Apply for board positions
Applying may seem daunting, but it’s worth it. When I applied for the position at the non-profit and also to be the education chair of a club, I ended up getting the positions. It was a pleasant surprise. You never know what to expect. In high school, I would shy away from applying to certain roles, because I was scared about what people would think and I underestimated myself. However, I took it upon myself to just try; because there is no harm in trying and you don’t know the potential you have. And even if you don’t get it the first time, it’s okay to try again.
How to balance
Having a lot of extracurriculars on your plate can be overwhelming. I block out my time to complete certain tasks for certain organizations with my schoolwork. The time-block method honestly saves my life. But it’s also important to incorporate self-care. Writing for my school’s newspaper takes up the majority of my time while balancing other clubs and schoolwork, but if you enjoy what you are doing, you will take the time to do it. However, it is important to still have fun and take breaks to prevent burnout.
It’s important to be involved in your freshman year because one year can make a difference. Establishing yourself within clubs can be crucial to your future goals and I hope some of my advice helps you.
Comments
Post a Comment