For those of you first-year students who are new to campus and contemplating getting involved, the answer is and will always be: yes! If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t even know where to start, and you feel nervous about finding the right fit for you.
First things first, what are your interests? Are you interested in mainly your major? Do you like to dance or sing? Do you want to do service or philanthropic events? Do you want to make new friends?
If you have specific answers to any of those questions or have different interests from those questions, the best thing you can do is attend Club Showcase next week and take a dip in the water.
I started my first semester knowing that I was going to transfer to University Park and I thought that getting involved would be a waste of my time. However, I found that by being involved in the organizations I am now a part of, I was able to branch out. At first, I was able to find the major that fit me the best (psychology) and I was able to push past my fears of public speaking, meeting new people, and just talking in general. I was able to have more confidence in myself and the skills I could bring to the table. I found that my fears weren’t in the right place and I had nothing to be afraid of. I became the person I am today through getting involved in on-campus organizations, and I am proud to say that I have grown from my first year to senior year to a confident, strong, and courageous woman who has no fear of the unknown.
I continue to push myself for excellence, and without the commitments, I’ve made to help others in my organizations I wouldn’t have had the time management skills or work ethic to do so. If you’re looking for a reason to get involved on campus, the best one you can find is to better yourself, which you most definitely will do.