When I first started my journey at FIU, I went three semesters without looking into any of the on-campus organizations because I didn’t really have any interest in joining any of them. This was odd because in high school I was part of so many clubs, and that was honestly my favorite part of school, but in college I was being far from involved. This was mainly because I knew that these new organizations wouldn’t really feel the same as the ones I was part of in high school, but change is good – especially when that change allows you to feel more comfortable at your university and meet more people.
I began to look into organizations I could join, and although it was overwhelming, I was able to narrow down my choices by looking at their social medias and evaluating whether their values and goals matched with my own. There are so many organizations on campus that it may feel difficult to find the right ones or join in time, but Instagram helped a lot because I followed many of the FIU clubs and kept up with any announcements they would make.
Joining organizations has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and form new experiences that make me feel included and like I am a part of something. One of the best parts was being able to meet new people that I probably would’ve never met if it wasn’t for us being in the same organization. I also get to be part of activities that give me a sense of purpose and allow me to help others, such as volunteering or advocating for topics that are important to me. Additionally, I get to add all of the accomplishments I make as part of these organizations to my resume, and continue to improve my leadership and team-work skills, which will be helpful regardless of the direction I take after I graduate.
Overall, joining organizations has made me feel so much more fulfillment in my college experience, and without them, I would have probably continued to feel indifferent towards my time at FIU.