Student Blog: Can't Join Them All

Club fairs, introductory meetings, social media promotions, all are different methods to try and get your attention. If you are like me, then you want to do it all. You may want to find your people in college or pack your resumé or gain diverse knowledge. No matter what your mindset is, I have found there are three approaches one can take with extracurriculars in college. None of them are right or wrong, but I thought I would offer what I have learned about each along the way!

The first approach is not getting involved with any extracurriculars. This may be good for those who find their school load is too overwhelming to commit to anything else. This may also be the product of having a job or external commitments. This is a great approach if you do not need much fulfillment outside of class, however I warn that you keep yourself from being disconnected from others. Maybe starting a study group would be helpful or finding a few friends in class to get coffee with every now and then. Extracurriculars are only there because they are extra, not necessary. Yet, keep in mind what experience your future might require in order to find success!

The second approach is being involved in a few things but at various levels. In all honesty, this is the approach I wish I would have taken. Finding just one to three clubs or organizations to join can be so valuable for it then allows you to dive as deeply into involvement as you want. Maybe you are the treasurer of one club but a general member for another. I feel there can be a lot of pressure to "do it all" in college, however, I have found the skills and relationships you develop are so much more important. Pinpoint what you may be missing or how you may want to grow and be intentional on how you go about it. You do not have to sign up for every club or group that you find remotely interesting!

The final approach is to do it all the best you can! This works very well for those who need something to occupy their time often or want different relationships from different walks of life. This can be overwhelming if you begin to over-commit yourself, however, college is (usually) only once, so might as well take advantage of it! Yet, before you sign up for everything, give yourself time to assess how much focus you need on your actual classes and friendships. These are what actually keep you going, so don't neglect them for other opportunities!

Choosing which approach is best for you can take time and requires intention. Be serious with yourself and discover how much you can actually take on. Remember, those pressures you may feel to "do college a certain way" don't really matter in the end. Just find what will bring you joy and fulfillment!