Coming into my second year of college, I definitely had to adjust to a lot of changes. Living off campus separated me from many of my friends and the ease that came with meeting new people in the dorms. At first, I began to feel isolated and like I had fallen into a rut. I would go to school, return to my apartment, and basically twiddle my thumbs for the rest of the day. I don’t know about anybody else, but boredom and I don’t get along great.
Over the past few weeks, I realized I have to be much more intentional with my time, who I spend it with and how I spend it. I also learned that I love to be surrounded by people and that I am secretly a very extroverted person.Â
Recently, I’ve jam packed my schedule full of new clubs and activities to meet new people and feel more connected to my school as a whole.
My strategy here is to ensure I am not bored; instead, I am being social and productive in some way. In doing this, I found that something as simple as leaving for class a little bit early can make my apartment feel so much more relaxing and not like a hole that I’m stuck in.Â
I figured I can’t be the only one here, so I’ve compiled some tips and tricks to make getting involved hopefully a little bit easier:
- Follow your interests
Maybe you saw something last year that peaked your interest? Or you really wanted to do something in high school but just never had the time? Well now you do, so go try it! For me, I was curious about our triathlon club, but I didn’t have the time nor the resources last year to have figured that out. However, this fall was the perfect time for me to join. I’ve never done a triathlon in my life, but we are gonna see how it goes!
- Be open to something completely out of your comfort zone
Give yourself a new challenge to focus on. Try something you have no clue about and have never given thought to. You never know what can come for it. Don’t worry if it doesn’t perfectly compliment your major or career interests because it doesn’t have to! I have spoken to so many people who have joined clubs or extracurriculars that were far out from anything they had experience with, and I only hear pretty great things. It allows you to meet a variety of different and new people, find a place in a supportive community, and maybe gain a new hobby, or two, in the process.
- Rejection is redirection
Okay, this one is definitely important, especially if maybe you were rushing a sorority or some type of invite-only club. It is OK that it didn’t work out or wasn’t what you were expecting. Whether you didn’t get a bid, the bid you wanted or if you just realized a certain activity or club just wasn’t for you, you will find your place with time.. You are not any less because it didn’t work out the way you expected it would. There is SOOO much to explore in college, so take a moment to mourn what you lost and then get back out there and find what is for you.
- Patience
With that, if you are still trying to find the perfect fit, don’t panic. Maybe the club you really want to join isn’t in session yet? Or maybe you haven’t discovered it? Don’t stress that you will never find your “thing” or your “people.” As they say, all good things take time. I definitely feel this one because I always want things to be great in the right now of it all. What I would advise is to stay curious, flexible, and just keep going because sooner or later that feeling of belonging will come if you keep trying. Or there’s always the option to start your own club!
- Be independent
Finally, I would really recommend trying new things alone. Of course, it is always fun to bring a friend along, but in my personal experience, going to a new club or activity alone forces me to meet new people and engage with the club culture more. When I first joined Her Campus, I didn’t know anyone or really anything about it, but I kept going to meetings by myself, and eventually I met one of my closest friends there. It’s a little bit ironic, but I believe you have to be okay doing things alone if you want to form new and meaningful connections with people.
Overall, I can’t recommend getting more involved in college more; it makes the entire experience that much more special. It’s how I’ve met the friends I care about so much and have tons in common with, and it is how I’ll meet so many more. It also allows me to continue trying new things, even if it might be nerve-wracking and completely outside of my comfort zone.
Although I survived freshman year, that certainly does not mean I’ve figured it all out. There are always new obstacles to face, and they may change as we get older and have different experiences, but that doesn’t make them any less challenging. The best way that I have figured out how to navigate these challenges is being social and open-minded.
With the beginning of this semester, it is a perfect time to try your hand at a new club or team. Whether you are a freshman experiencing college for the first time or you’ve been here a while, college always has something new to offer everyone. If you are bored or want to make some new friends, it could be your perfect method. Be able to look back in ten years and be happy you tried out for the soccer club or joined a women’s club, like Her Campus. The time we have here is limited, so make the most of it by getting involved!