May 13th, 2019
GETTING INVOLVED DURING YOUR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE
Your first year of college is an exciting time, filled with new friends, new experiences, and new activities. Whether there are one thousand and one things that you want to get involved in, or you find yourself feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the opportunities, here are some ways to get involved and stay involved during your first year at a South Carolina private college.
Put Student Activities on your calendar.
The best way to keep up with all the happenings at your College is to put calendar reminders in your phone for student activities that sound fun! Check with the Student Activities office to see if they make a calendar of events for the semester. Peruse the calendar of events to see which ones you’d like to attend. There will be a good mix of on and off campus events – plus, some of the events may even be free or low cost! Planning ahead is a great way to ensure you participate in the events you want, without having to sacrifice other responsibilities. If you know there are one or two things you want to attend during the week, plan your study time accordingly. If you work, knowing the times and dates of the events can help you figure out which ones you can join. Some events may require tickets, so signing up early can ensure you save your spot. By making a plan, you can be the social organizer of your group and get your friends to attend events together!
Are sports your thing? If so, find out if your SC private College offers intramural sports and see how you can join! Putting a team together with classmates and friends who share your interest in playing basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, or anything your school offers is a fun way to participate in a little healthy competition. Intramural sports is a great way to get a little bit of exercise while having fun with your teammates. It doesn’t matter if you’re a talented athlete, the main goal is that you’re having fun!
Look into Honors Societies or academic clubs.
Many academic departments have clubs or honors societies that offer events throughout the year for interested students. Whether it’s the Psychology Club or the Biology Honors Society, this can be a great way to get involved with other students interested in the same subjects that you are. Check to see if these organizations offer things like practice entrance exams for graduate school or visits to graduate schools offering relevant programs. Not only do these clubs offer ways to get to know other students, but they may also prepare you to achieve your future goals! Clubs like these may provide leadership positions or offices that students can hold. In addition to strengthening your leadership skills, this can also be a great resume builder.
Student Government at a private college can be a great way to get involved, especially during your first year. Make sure you know when and where Freshman elections will be held, what you need to do to run, and what position you are running for. You may have to prepare a short speech to present, so make sure you are prepared for that. Whether you’re running unopposed or in a field of other candidates, simply running for SGA will allow you to meet other students with similar interests, and network with current SGA members. If you don’t get elected, don’t worry! Keep up with the folks that you met during the process to see if there are ways that you can be involved without serving in an official role.
Explore campus job opportunities.
If you want to get involved and make a little bit of extra money, research on-campus job opportunities that might be available. Having a job on campus at an SC private college can be a great way to get involved with faculty and staff members while adding to your resume early in your college career! Some jobs that may be available on your college campus could be a student tour guide, tutor, teacher’s assistant, or work-study positions in various offices or departments. At the beginning of the year, pay attention to see if your college offers a freshman fair where clubs and organizations set up tables to tell you more about their activities. Ask your Financial Aid office if you qualify for work-study, a federal program that allows you to work on campus in various positions while earning a paycheck. A great benefit of having an on-campus job is that you will improve your time management skills as you balance your work with being a student!
Get involved with a local church.
Getting involved doesn’t have to be limited to your campus! Find a church in your community that you enjoy attending, and get involved with their events and activities. This is a fantastic way to meet people outside of your SC private College, and build relationships with folks you may not have met otherwise. Whether it’s service and volunteering opportunities or getting involved with different ministries, you are sure to find a plethora of ways to get involved. If you haven’t found a church yet, don’t be afraid to ask around and see where other students go! They may even offer to take you with them one Sunday to experience what it’s like, without feeling awkward going by yourself.
Find a buddy.
There is strength in numbers! It can be daunting to walk into an event or speak to a club member by yourself. Talk to your roommate and see if they’re interested in exploring some of the same things you are. Ask your friends what they’re involved in, and tag along to club meetings or activities. Making an effort to attend events is the best way to know what you do (and don’t!) want to be involved in. Remember – just because you try it out, doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it forever. Do your best to be an active and engaged member of any activity you become involved in, but if it’s not working out with your schedule, communicate that to other members or leadership and let them know you’re taking a break.
It may take a little bit to find the perfect combination of things that you want to be involved in. Your first year at an SC private college is a great time to get involved and meet new people, but if your other pursuits begin to suffer, then take a step back and figure out what you can drop. However, taking a break from an activity doesn’t mean you’ll never get to do it again! As the year goes by, you will find what you truly enjoy being a part of – and that is worth trying out many different things to eventually find the right fit!
