10 Weekends Left: 5 Ways to get “Plugged In”

Whether you’ve been at Boise State for just a few short months or if you are one of those people who charmingly refers to their academic career as a “six year plan”, feeling “plugged in” on campus can be a challenge. For many people, a disconnect with the university community may be caused by a lack of time or energy otherwise devoted to maintaining friendships, love interests, relationships with family, etc. Or maybe it’s your off-campus job that has you preoccupied. For others, “campus” may just seem like buildings you visit when attending classes, rather than the student community that it really is. Lastly, you may be one of those people who does not know where to begin making friends or connecting with others on any level– especially if you are new to the Boise area.

 

Here are some tips on how YOU can get “plugged-in” in the last 10 weekends of the semester. 

 

 

Learning about the clubs and organizations on campus is easy! Using your Boise State username and password, you can sign into OrgSync and scroll through a lengthy list of clubs and organizations of all kinds to see if anything interests you! Once you find an organization, you can explore other social media outlets pertaining to the organization to investigate ways to get involved. Or, message the organization directly through OrgSync. If you are at all interested in getting involved in Greek Life, OrgSync is a great starting point to learn about the different groups represented on campus. 

 

Does an official organization sound like too much of a time commitment? Look over the Get (In)volved events page here. Sometimes, getting involved can be as simple and easy as showing up for a short cooking lesson at Tasty Tuesdays. Also, the Thursday Blockbuster series in the SpEC are always an option as a study break. 

 

Another great option for homework breaks and getting out in the community is attending basketball games and other sporting events. This is a great way to become part of the campus community and cheer on the athletes who represent our school. Check out game schedules here.  

 

 

 

When you are spending time with friends… actually spend time with friends. I’ll break it down for you: put your phone away! Not just down on the table- AWAY away! Many of us are so reliant and attached to our phones, we don’t even realize we have them in our hand our nearby virtually every second of the day. If you can make a conscious effort to have your phone put away in a pocket or bag, you will be more likely to fully engage in conversation and give your friends your full attention. Not only is this a considerate way to treat others, but also, if you’re like me, you will relax and enjoy your time with friends far more!

 

Make quality time with friends a priority. People need people. Even though it may take effort to get friends together, that time spent recharging and not focusing on school or work is SO important! Not only does it give you a chance to relax and have fun, but it also helps you create common experiences with other people and learn more about yourself through the experiences. Make dinner together, plan theme parties, or go out for coffee. 

 

I’m not saying don’t party, I’m just saying it is important to spend time with people outside of that “scene”. Lots of people network through a party scene that consists of bouncing to various drunken parties every Friday and Saturday night. While this may be sustainable for some, eventually many people burn out or feel that they don’t actually know this group of party friends very well at all. If this is your experience, try to spend a few hours a week with friends just relaxing, playing board games or watching Netflix. You may learn a lot more about the people you spend your time with. A lifestyle less focused on partying and momentary highs may help you to live life with no regrets. 

 

 

Are you wondering: how do I find these so-called “friends”? Here’s how! 

 

 

Whether you’re in line at Starbucks, sitting in class, or in an elevator for a few moments, do your best not to instantaneously pull out your phone or zone out… instead, make conversation with the people around you! While you may feel ridiculous making small talk, it is how you find common ground with people and, many times, the beginnings of friendship! Even if you’ve been ignoring that person next to you in class all semester so far, make an effort to stimulate conversation for the remaining weeks. If it feels awkward, just ask the person some questions– people love talking about themselves!

 

Don’t wait to be “friended.” If you do make a connection (whether friendship or romantic) with a person, don’t feel weird being the first one to make the social media connection. If you actually had a good conversation, the other person will likely be glad you took the time to look them up. If not, the worst they can do is deny your request! Don’t feel weird. It’s a very simple step to help 

get yourself plugged in and connected with others. 

 

Maintaining healthy life habits is the first step to an overall happy and balanced existance. This can be as simple as drinking lots of water during the day and getting 8 hours of sleep at night. Your mind and body will thank you in the long run.