When it comes to college life, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Trying to balance studying with a social life can be a nightmare, especially when there are so many opportunities for social interaction advertised weekly, sometimes daily, on the hundreds of tack boards scattered in every building on campus. So how do you make sense of which activities to participate in? Why even bother trying to get involved in the first place? After all, you’re here to study, aren’t you?
I used to be the type of student who came to class, didn’t talk much, got my assignments and went home to complete them. I wasn’t interested in getting involved with anything that was happening on campus. What was the point? However, everything changed when I decided that I wanted to go to graduate school. Suddenly, I needed to vary my college experience. Grades weren’t enough anymore.
Many students overlook the importance of student-run organizations and groups. Student-run organizations, or Registered Student Organizations, can be a valuable resource for students. RSOs are made up of students who share a common hobby, interest or belief. Many RSOs cater to specific majors, and there are also sports-centered RSOs. Whatever the group, each RSO provides an influential point of social interaction where students can meet and mingle with other students with similar interests, students that they may never have met otherwise. And this particular point of interaction provides more than just a source for possible friendships. RSOs can also be a great place to find out information on career choices available after graduation. Many RSOs bring speakers from the local community to talk to their group members about the varied opportunities after graduation. Furthermore, you never know if someone you meet in an RSO will one day own his or her own company, remember you from college and ask if you would like a job working with them. RSOs build social and professional networks, and in today’s world, where nearly everything is accomplished through networking, any outlet that provides contacts and networking possibilities should be actively pursued.
Speaking of job opportunities, it’s no secret that today’s job economy is one of the toughest in recent memory. With multiple applicants applying for just about every position that becomes available, it is more important than ever that you, as an applicant, have a resume that shows you have done more than just obtained a degree. Being actively involved in an RSO can spice up a resume, or a graduate school application, especially if your involvement with an RSO includes being an officer, such as president or vice president. Not only does involvement with an RSO show the future employer that you can juggle multiple responsibilities at once, but many of the skills you must learn as an officer for an RSO can be incredibly useful in the workplace.
Whatever your pursuits after college, getting involved on campus can only benefit you. As the president of an RSO here on campus, I advise everyone to head over to www.kennesaw.edu/student_life right away and find the group that best suits you. If you can’t find a group that looks like a good fit, then do what I did and create one. It’s up to each and every student to be proactive about his or her entire education.
