Getting involved in the campus community is the best thing any student can do to get the most out of the college experience because it enables students to easily make friends with similar interests.
I was introverted during my first year attending ABAC. I went to my classes, went to work, and went to bed.
Slowly but surely, I began to get more involved on campus. Since my freshman year I have written for the newspaper, but I began to dedicate more time to The Stallion to grow within the organization.
After writing three or four articles each issue, I gained several skills that will benefit my future. I took a photojournalism class and grew to love photography, which led me to start taking photos for The Stallion on a regular basis.
I joined clubs, started my own club, and even ran for Student Government. Even when I did not get the position, I made several long-lasting friendships through the campaigning process.
If you have an interest and there isn’t a club for it, start one yourself! The best action I took at ABAC was taking the initiative to start new clubs and events. When my friend and I noticed there was not a law club anymore, we started the Judiciary Law Club.
The effort it takes to get involved pays off in the long run, especially if you plan to go to graduate school, medical school, or law school because it can look stellar on a resume.
When I started getting involved, my grades somehow got so much better. I was regularly making Bs and Cs when I just worked; however, I started making all As when I got more involved on campus.
According to a study conducted by the University of California’s Institutional Research and Academic Planning department, seniors who participated in 1-10 hours of extracurricular activities a week had a higher cumulative GPA than their counterparts who participated in zero hours of extracurricular activities.
Even though I was infinitely busier, I made all As. I firmly believe this is because getting involved makes you surround yourself with driven people who have similar goals to you.
The one con of getting involved is that it can be easy to overburden yourself with too many extracurricular activities. Remember, it is fun to stay involved, but it is not fun to become so involved your grades slip.
The same University of California study found that seniors with 11+ hours of extracurricular activities had a lower cumulative GPA than their counterparts with no extracurricular activities.
If you are interested in getting involved, the best way to scope out the club opportunities is at club rush. All clubs set up a table and pitch themselves to prospective members.
Student Affairs will host club day on Aug. 31 where each club gets a specified time and place to pitch their club and meet prospective members, and prospective members can get to know the club on a more personal level.