Bradley’s “Welcome Week” seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye. Move-in, the first Late Night BU, the block party, and Taste of Bradley have all gone as quickly as they came. You’ve mingled with more strangers than you can count and may have even met your best friends. But just because classes have started, it doesn’t mean that your fun has to come to an end. It’s important to stay involved after Welcome Week ends, and lucky for you, there is still so much to explore around campus. Are you ready to dive in?
- Activities Fair
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It is so important to find clubs and organizations that you enjoy with people you can relate to. The activities fair is the perfect place to start. Joining organizations will allow you to meet new people, find your passions, and present you with leadership opportunities that will look great on resumes by providing you with valuable experience.
Though each organization has a faculty advisor, many organizations are run solely by their executive boards, fostering responsibility and freedom for exploration. It also results in a peer led experience that allows relationships to develop quickly. I have met some of my best friends through the organizations I have joined on campus, and I know that I’m not the only one. My organizations have also allowed me to explore my passions and gave me a safe space for expression. With over 200 organizations on campus, you are sure to find something you enjoy (and hopefully that thing is Her Campus ;)
- Group Fitness/Campus Rec
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Staying active plays a key role in your mental and physical health, but can be difficult to do in a college setting. Markin’s group fitness classes are something that my friends and I are able to enjoy together while also being able to stay active. By writing our favorite classes into our schedules, we are able to stay committed throughout the entire semester.
If group fitness isn’t your style, you can still utilize the rec center to your advantage. From the track, to the weights, to the basketball and racquetball courts, the pool, and the rock wall, there are amenities for every need. Bradley also has a number of intramural and club sports that are open to all skill levels. Whatever you enjoy, you can easily find something that will keep you active and your mind fueled.
- Get to know the area in addition to campus
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As beautiful as our campus is, it’s important to look beyond the “Bradley Bubble” to see what Peoria has to offer. In Campus Town alone, there are a number of spots frequented by students. Restaurants like Thanh Linh, Los Jimadors, and Panda House have delicious food and also accept campus quick cash. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy nature, Laura Bradley park is a great place to explore. But if you look further, Peoria has a lot of hidden gems you may have never heard of.
Did you know that our very own mini Starved Rock exists just 5 minutes from campus? Or that the Riverfront Museum has exhibits that rotate every few months? Downtown restaurants, rural hikes, and activities await, you just have to leave campus every once in a while to find them.
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All of these things allowed me to make my time at Bradley worthwhile. Each organization I joined, event I attended, and place I visited proved to me that Bradley was the place I wanted to be. As a senior, experiencing the first of my lasts this Welcome Week was difficult to wrap my mind around, but knowing that I have these consistencies provided a sense of warmth.
Welcome Week has always been a highlight of my school year. It’s when the campus seems to explode with the most excitement, so knowing that I will never experience another Welcome Week at my home away from home seems surreal. However, I know that my favorite traditions will be carried on and become someone else’s favorite too. If you take anything from this, let it be that the beginning of each year is a brand new start. But don’t take it for granted because it goes by in the blink of an eye. Enjoy every moment, every event, and every interaction you have, because soon the “Bradley ’25” in your bio will become “Bradley Alumni” and there’s no going back.