One of the most life-changing things to do in college is joining a student organization or an org. For one, you get to meet new people and build new relationships. Being a commuter, I pushed myself to join a student org here on campus since I did not feel connected with my school. As a result, I have made new friends and good relationships with the people around me. In addition, you get to immerse yourself in your community. Within each org, they plan different student engagement activities and community events for anyone to attend. Overall, it is a great opportunity for growth. In the past weeks, I never knew how capable I was of getting out of my comfort zone, speaking in class, talking with classmates, and connecting with my professors. It has given me the power to take control over who I am.
Being in a student org comes with great experiences but also a great responsibility. Throughout my first weeks, I pushed the time I used for org activities in place of my study time. As a result, I became inconsistent with keeping a good schedule. In addition, I had a hard time focusing on school work since I was thinking about what events were happening next in our org and what I could contribute. Along with difficulty focusing, there are also expenses. As a commuter, the expenses of gas, food, and fees for attending certain events added up quickly. Although it will test your time management and balance, you will learn to manage your life in an efficient and comfortable way. Altogether, getting involved in a club, student org, or any activity is a great benefit to the college experience as you will find newfound engagement and excitement with peers and others in the community.