A month into the term and you can already see various booths held together by the university’s different organizations scattered inside campus, while many people are going around, hearing the different visions of the several available orgs as told by their experienced members and looking for the ones that interest them . It’s that time of the year where different student organizations open their arms to invite possible recruits.
It’s very exciting to be a member of an organization. You’ll be rewarded with many new experiences like having a family that will be your constant in your stay college, where you have different classmates in every class. Apart from that, the numerous opportunities that are made available to you are extraordinary.
Yes, seeing different kinds of orgs may make you feel like you want to go join each and every one of them. It might be because you want to pursue your passion. Or it might be that you just want to put something on your resume. Or you want to find those friends that would be there throughout your college life. I want to give you a few tips to help you decide on the org to join.
I have a friend who did just that. She joined multiple orgs in her freshman year, some to satisfy her passion in literature and scriptwriting; only to have to quit in the midway. My friend said it was because of the culture shock she had experienced and realized that her passion for scriptwriting she once thought she had had already disappeared.
So, before you start joining all those orgs you should look around. Give yourself time to think hard, decide on what you really want, and choose only one or two. Don’t go “org hoarding”. Because you might just waste your time in an org that you that doesn’t really have want you want. There will always be a next time. I mean after all, the first year, or at least the first term, should be spent as time to adjust to the life as a college student. Especially since, the difference in the level of academic work from high school to college might give you more shock than what you can handle.
Once you get in, try to get a feel of the environment. Pay attention to how the people act, what their interests and dislikes are. Don’t dismiss the org at the first value because sometimes, underneath it all, there might be something that would really get your interest. Just give yourself some time to think about whether you like the org or not. If you like the culture, the environment, then you’ve already found your org. If not, don’t worry. You could always try again.
However, sometimes you may experience a change of heart, the org that was so wonderful to you before became so boring the next term. That’s okay. People change. You change. Your interests change. Your priorities change. College is where you find out what kind of person you are, and what kind of person you want to be. Don’t be afraid to let go of something that you think diminishes your well-being. Remember, you are your priority.
Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. Do remember that college life is more than just inside the four corners of your classroom; it’s more than the grades you get. It’s that time of your life when you get to experience new things and meet new people. The road is thrilling, exciting and at times, even exasperating. So live your college days as best as you can. But never forget to prepare yourself, take your time, and don’t rush things.
