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5 Things to do at USF Besides Learning

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Jasmin Lankford Student Contributor, University of South Florida
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Justine Figueroa Student Contributor, University of South Florida
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at USF chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

While the most important part of college life is receiving an education and graduating with a degree, there are a few other things that hold just as much importance. At the University of South Florida, we have a large amount of activities to do outside the classroom. Although some of the happenings may require stepping out of your comfort zone, take the risk because it will pay off in the end. Whether you are new to campus or not, these five things will guarantee you to have an awesome time at USF.

 

 

1.   Utilize the university’s resources.

We are fortunate enough to attend a school that provides us with tons of different resources, such as the library and gym, but it is very easy to take for granted the many great things USF has to offer us. The gym is gigantic and has lots of different workout equipment, including treadmills with television screens, a swimming pool, an indoor track and more. The gym also offers Intermural sports and group fitness classes, such as Zumba, yoga, Pilates and other fun workouts, so grab a friend and try one out.

In addition to the gym, go to the library to study if you start to feel cramped up in your room. The library has seven floors with books galore, as well as study rooms and tutors. You can even borrow laptops and iPads!

There are other places on campus to visit too such as the Botanical Gardens, the various dining halls and Marshall Student Center. Be sure to visit places on campus so you don’t forget the value of all of the resources USF has provided.

 

2.   Make new friends.

Making new friends is possible at any time, whether you chose to sit by someone you don’t know in the library, or say hi to someone new in the Marshall Student Center. Most of the students on campus are nice and wanting to make friends too, but you have to step out of your comfort zone to do so. The easiest place to make new friends is in your classes. Introduce yourself to the girl or guy sitting next to you and strike up a conversation. The fact that you are in a class together shows you already have something in common. Regardless of where you try to make friends, like at the dining hall, library or gym, a smile is a great way to start.

 

 

3.   Go to events that are on and off campus.

When you’re not in class or studying, there are plenty of things to get participate in. On campus there are weekly events like Patio Tuesday, Bulls Market Wednesday and Movies on the Lawn, and special events poster sales, job fairs and famous guest lecturers. Sporting events on campus range from Men’s and Women’s soccer to volleyball. Be sure to travel off campus to the Raymond James Stadium for a football game, too.

 

4.   Get involved on campus.

Instead of just going to class and just going back to your room, branch out and try new things. USF has a wide variety of organizations you can join. Some of the most popular include joining a fraternity or sorority, the student government and the Campus Activities Board. You can even sign up to write for the newspaper The Oracle. But if you are interested in other things, check out the Student Life tab on Blackboard. There is a huge list of all of the active clubs on campus.

 

 

 

5.   Volunteer your time to those in need.

It is a great idea to volunteer your time and USF has just the way to do it. You can either venture out and find volunteer opportunities on your own, or join a club whose purpose is to volunteer. Check out Blackboard for a list of volunteer clubs such as Relay for Life and American Red Cross.

 

While it is fun to join clubs and go to events, the key is to manage your time correctly. Be sure you spend more time studying than you do going to sporting events so that your grades won’t slack. But once you find the perfect balance between classes, clubs, and campus activities, you’ll enjoy being at USF even more!

 

 

Photo Credits:

http://magazine.usf.edu/2011-summer/usf-impressions.aspx

http://www.sikids.com/photos/13614/college-football-superfans-week-7/3

http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/blog/2012/09/25/medical-students-help-young-hands-plant-gardens-filled-with-lessons/

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Jasmin Lankford

USF

Jasmin Lankford is a junior at the University of South Florida majoring in mass communications with a minor in creative writing. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus USF. Jasmin is also the Communications committee chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Student Leadership Society and the Media Coordinator of The Poets at USF. She loves to write about literature, fashion, art, student life and pop culture. She aspires to publish a bestselling book, write and edit for a newspaper or magazine, travel the world, and more. Read her blog here!
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Justine Figueroa

USF

Justine is a recent graduate of the University of South Florida. She received her B.A. in mass communcations in spring 2014. She was the 2013-2014 Campus Correspondent for Her Campus USF.She was also a News & Feature Writing Intern for College of Arts and Sciences and the Public Relations Campus Rep for Rent the Runway at USF. She is currently seeking agency experience and would love to someday work for a magazine, become a novelist, poet, editor, host of a Travel Channel show and much more.  She enjoys writing about fashion, beauty, art, literature, pop culture and student life. She spends most days listening to Lana del Rey, calming her nerves with various types of cheese, being sassy and trying to figure out when she can take a nap.Check out her website and portfolio here.She'd love you forever, if you followed her on Twitter @tinafigs_.Contact Justine regarding business inquires only at justinefigueroa@hercampus.com.