When I first joined Her Campus CU Boulder (HCCU) in September 2020, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was signing up for. During a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was underway, CU Boulder students were under remote learning, and many of them were eagerly searching for ways to get involved even if it was online. I was definitely one of those students, and as someone who was looking to have a great college experience, I decided to try out Her Campus. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but there was a tiny spark of curiosity within me to check it out.
Little did I know that HCCU would actually largely impact my college life.
Upon entering my freshman year at CU Boulder, my declared majors at the time were political science and economics. The reason I chose those majors was that I was interested in social justice, and I wanted to continue learning about the ways the world works from both a political and economical standpoint. Then, once I obtained my undergraduate degree, I would attend law school in hopes of one day becoming a lawyer. A few months after that, I slightly shifted my future plans of being a law student to finishing a master’s degree in economics, leading the path for becoming an economist. Then, I changed my plans (yet again) by transferring to the Leeds School of Business to pursue an education and career in finance, which is my current major.
As you can probably tell from the previous paragraph, what I am studying doesn’t seem to have much in common with Her Campus. Based on the conversations I have had with other students, many thought Her Campus was only for people who studied journalism or any other writing-related majors.
However, I learned that no matter what you’re studying, Her Campus is a space where I can express my inner creativity and make lasting connections.
When I was writing my first article for HCCU, I remember feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders. Compared to the more restrictive rules of business writing and the research-heavy demands of political class essays, I never felt more free as I created articles for Her Campus. I was able to better incorporate my thoughts and opinions without worrying too much about things like citing sources or maintaining a certain word limit.
In addition to that, I had the opportunity to write about topics that would otherwise not be discussed as much in my classes, allowing me to express myself outside of academics.
During my second semester at HCCU, I joined their executive team for the first time. Even though we were meeting virtually, I enjoyed getting to do the work because it provided me with yet another outlet for creativity. I was a member of the social media team, so I got to explore each of the different social media platforms and create content that I believed would best appeal to followers. I didn’t have much experience with social media at the time, but it was fun learning how it all works.
Last but not least, Her Campus has become an amazing space for socializing with others and making new friends. Her Campus made me feel welcome, and I met amazing people from all walks of life. As we all share a common interest in writing, I was astonished at the variety of majors that each of the members was studying. Once again, this proves that you don’t have to be a journalism or English major to join this club.
If you are a CU Boulder student and are looking for ways to get involved, I would highly recommend joining Her Campus. My one and a half years at Her Campus have given me nothing but unforgettable memories and wonderful friendships (with more to come!). What are you waiting for?