After working a table for one of my organizations this past week at the Involvement Fair (see picture below), I was reminded how much I love being involved on campus. Being involved is a great way to meet other individuals who you may have not met otherwise, network, have fun, and be a part of something that you're passionate about. It serves as a nice break from homework and classes, and I also enjoy it because it keeps me in the loop of events that are happening around campus, even though I live off-campus this year.
For me, 2015 is off to a great start. I've chosen my major and gotten accepted into my school, I love the organizations that I'm involved in, and I recently secured an internship for the semester that I can't wait to begin! I know that if I wouldn't have joined organizations on campus, I definitely would not be where I am today. Many of the opportunities that I have been given are due to my involvement. Through that, I've also met amazing people and have grown a lot as a person. So, I've decided to dedicate this post to talking about getting involved on campus by addressing some of the fears/troubles that individuals have when it comes to getting involved!
One of my favorite things about the student organizations at IU is the variation between them. As many times as you may have heard this, student organizations here encompass everything. Interested in global health? Like Greek life? Want to make people laugh? Love animals? With over 750 organizations, there is bound to be something that relates to your interests! Even though there are over 750 student organizations on campus, there’s always room for more. If you can’t find one that suits your style or piques your interest, create one! What’s NOT to like?
Tip: If you don't know where to start regarding student involvement on campus, I suggest starting here. myINvolvement allows you to search for organizations that coincide with your interests as well as look at upcoming events on campus!
2. I won't fit inSure you will! Just take some time to find a group that suits your style. Don’t like being around a large number of people at one time? Aim for an organization that has less members. Want your voice and opinions to be heard? Try and join a group that is involved in changing policy or is more discussion based. There's something for everyone.
3. I don't want to join an organization but still want to be involvedThat’s perfectly fine! Only you know what you like and dislike. If you don’t want to join an organization, there are other ways to get involved. If you’re into sports, you could join an intramural team. Want to make money or immerse yourself in the Bloomington/IU community? Get a job! If you're not interested in the money aspect, go volunteer! Bloomington has so many great places to volunteer. At the Bloomington Volunteer Network site found here, you can narrow down your search to available times, preferred distance, and the population you'd be interested in working with. I’ve volunteered at a couple of different places in Bloomington and have thoroughly enjoyed it!
I cannot stress enough how much being involved on campus has changed my college experience for the better. It’s not for everyone, but I would definitely suggest you try it out. What better time that at the beginning of a new semester and year? As always, feel free to contact me in regards to future writing topics or just to chat. I'd love to tell you about the clubs I'm involved in or just organizations at IU in general!
For a previous post of mine about something that I think you should participate in, click here.
For other posts about getting involved at IU, check out these: