For my business communication class, we had a mock interview to practice our communication skills. During the activity, I got a glimpse of the different resumes of my classmates and peers, and noticed that several of them were filled with lines and lines of the various co-curricular activities that we had participated in over the years. It struck me that many of us seemed to have made it a priority to get involved with as many organizations as possible early on in our student lives.
It is not uncommon to see a wide variety of promotions or advertisements all over social media and around campus. Some are meant to entice people to participate and join a certain org’s events. Others market certain products, such as T-shirts, stationery, and services. Others still promote awareness for certain issues or advocacies. There are also those which invite students to join a particular organization, and participating in these student organizations is, undoubtedly, a large aspect of university culture.
But just how important is it for us? When asked why students join organizations, they’ll often reply somewhere along the lines of “gaining new experiences, meeting new friends, developing skills, and engaging with diverse groups.” But one reason that tends to stand out is that it enriches our resume and prepares us for future job applications.
Many employers are keen on hiring those who are tremendously involved in different societies and orgs. It shows that the applicant likely possesses skills and knowledge valuable to organizations. They also look for employees who have attained a high position within their respective organizations as it affirms their ability and experience, particularly in leading teams, collaborating with different individuals, and dealing with a diverse set of situations. Not only that, it indicates that the student was loyal to their organization throughout the years. “A good resume leads to a good company”, we might often hear.
We, students, should practice resume-building as early as possible as it will benefit us in the long run. I believe that, as students, it would help us greatly if we approach opportunities such as orgs and other campus activities assertively. Too many times, students seem to dismiss these opportunities, which will undoubtedly shape us into better candidates for our future careers. Beyond just school orgs, we should also partake in different seminars, conferences, and internships both inside and outside of the university, in order to broaden our skill and knowledge. Students seem to only care about seminars when they involve incentives, and barely pay attention to the several external opportunities that present themselves, when these could be major sources of learning and experience in the long run.
While it is significantly advantageous to excel in different orgs, we should, however, avoid compromising our health and academic studies. I, myself, sometimes fail to balance org work with my studies, wherein I would forget about my quizzes, submit mediocre work, and compromise my mental health.
We should always keep in mind that while engaging in organizations is important, we should prioritize our health and studies first. While it’s a difficult balance to strike, it’s one that prepares ourselves for the rest of the future.
