Sophomore year is an excellent time to join a campus organization. I noticed a surprising amount of sophomores at the Activities Fair back in September and at various interest-sessions. However, this is really not surprising at all. Now that freshman year is over, people are acclimated to campus life, have study routines, and are thinking about the future.
The economy is still in trouble and it’s taking a long time for the job market to recover. It’s no longer enough to just present a degree to interested employers. You have to be marketable in some way. You have to prove that you deserve the job and that you have the skills necessary to succeed.
Classes only teach us so much. They grant us knowledge on certain topics, but not skills. Getting hands-on experience with organizing, fundraising, and working with a group of people can help us along when it comes time to find a job. That being said, the only way to truly learn how to work with others and operate under pressure is to join a campus club.
Maybe I’m biased, but as an overly involved student, I find it necessary to join at least one club that you can be fully immersed in. You don’t have to be like me and be on three executive boards, but try to get involved. Show that you are able to balance your time in college. On an interview, passionately talk about that time you organized an event, had to troubleshoot, and eventually succeeded. Pitch yourself to employers.
Backing it up a bit, we still have three years until graduation. Therefore, now is the perfect opportunity to find out what you like. Try out a few clubs and then weed out the ones that you don’t love. Joining something now will allow you to have the chance to play an instrumental role in an organization later on. Additionally, sophomore to senior year consistent involvement exhibits progression.
Becoming involved on campus isn’t just great for your resume. It also allows you to meet new people. It’s hard enough to make new friends in sophomore year through our floors, so working in an organization gives you the opportunity to befriend a new crop of people.
My experience with activities has been fulfilling. I have met so many new people I inadvertently learned how to network. Additionally, my involvement in several clubs has taught me more than I otherwise would have learned in class in terms of writing and doing business.
For instance, in the beginning of my freshman year, when I would reluctantly write an article for The Signal every few weeks, I would be nervous about its outcome and, to be totally honest, my writing was not the best. I made silly mistakes. After I started picking up about two stories a week in second semester, my writing became so much better. I was soon given special stories and features and eventually, the opportunity to join The Signal editorial board.
I’m not going to talk about my entire club-joining history, but I also want to touch on my experience with CUB to show how progression and audacity can lead to higher positions that look great on a resume. My jump from a general board member to the executive board was entirely unexpected. I started habitually going to CUB meetings in second semester, but never thought I would get, let alone apply to, the executive board. However, my interest in CUB intensified throughout the semester. I became a member of the newly formed associate board only to later apply, on a whim, to E-Board. I didn’t think I would get it, but I figured it was worth a shot. I remember walking out of the interview feeling like I just underwent the worst interview of my life. The next day, I received an email from CUB and opened it instantly, anticipating a sentence like, “Thanks for applying to our E-Board! Unfortunately at this time, we cannot offer you a position” to be at the top. Instead, I saw a “Congratulations!” and my name in a list of all the E-Board members.
CUB continues to teach me how to do business with people, how to vocalize my opinions in meetings, organizational skills, and working with a specific budget.
I have been granted so many opportunities thus far through my involvement in several organizations. That being said, you never know what will happen if you apply for an executive board position. Sure, you have to be a general board member for some time, but once you prove your interest and commitment, you will be given the chance to have a more interactive, influential role. You have something to put on your resume, something to be proud of, new friends, and a more rewarding college experience. Plus, this can only aid in your future job hunt.
Don’t get too stressed about joining everything- you don’t want a laundry list of organizations either. Plus, you don’t want to be over your head with work. School comes before activities. However, you can make time to go to a meeting every week. You never know what might happen if you keep going to meetings!