According to a #soemerson tweet I read this week, “Going to class is the least productive part of my day.”
At Emerson, clubs are considered just as important as classes – if not more. Students expect each other to juggle classes, an internship or job, and multiple extracurriculars. Many Emerson students thrive on the feeling of having too much to do; it’s somewhat of a bragging right.
Because of this, many students feel pressure to join more activities than they may be able to handle. This is partially because they want to be involved, but they are also strongly influenced by a social pressure. During the first couple weeks of school when clubs were having their first general meetings, I felt pressure to go to nearly every single one – even ones that have nothing to do with my field.
While that feeling is accepted by many Emersonians, there are also others who have a different view. For example, my suitemate is of the opinion that if you don’t enjoy an activity, you shouldn’t join it. Whenever I feel like I should add something else to my resume, she reminds me that 1) I can’t do everything, and 2) I’m not even expected to do everything.
There are so many choices of clubs and activities at Emerson that there is no reason to join anything that you do not enjoy or something you are not interested in. Your time here should be spent gaining experience, but you do not have to make yourself too stressed to function.
Additionally, many students feel pressure to do their clubwork before their classwork. While it is true that clubs often give the “real-life” experience that classes cannot offer, remember what you are paying your tuition for. Sometimes students take their professors for granted when they could get real-world advice from them rather than from other students.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with being ambitious and filling up your metaphorical plate with activities if you truly enjoy it, but there is also nothing wrong with saying no when you can’t handle a new project.
What do you think? We recently polled Emerson students and the majority of them were in over 5 extracurricular organizations! How many are you a part of? Let us know, @HCEmerson.