Getting Involved in Your First Year

Posted July 21st, 2009

First year can be an overwhelming time for many, if not most students. A lot of students arrive wondering how to get involved in things that interested them in high school. In order to better adapt to the new environment, a lot of students wonder how to get involved in things that they formerly loved. There are many opportunities on all campuses to get out and do something that you enjoy, or even to try something new. I tried a lot of new things, and also did things that made me feel like I was holding on to some semblance of my old life. University and college life usually makes it easy to find opportunities that are beneficial for students to partake in. There are club fairs, and booths set up during orientation week, and the school website generally has something about clubs and/or sport activities that people are welcome to join.

In my first year, I was excited and wanted to try everything, it became quickly apparent that I would be unable to do everything I wanted to do if I wanted to get good grades. Ballet, yoga, tae kwon do, a part-time job, student government, swing dance, theatre and choir would not all be possible during the year. I had to pick and choose, and learn how to manage my time to get the best possible experience during my first year. Eventually things got easier, and I discovered other things that interested me, while certain activities from my past were not as captivating as they once were.

Now, going into my fourth year, I will be involved in a lot of new clubs, jobs, and committees. There are things that I miss from high school. I miss being able to act, and although it still holds a place very near and dear in my heart I simply don’t have time for it. However, I believe that balance is extremely important. Balance for me at school is what saves me. When I stop dancing and playing sports, I become more stressed out and anxious. When I am not around people, I get lonely, so I make myself busy and enroll in activities that allow me to be social – that’s just my personality.

I suppose the important take home message from this is to know yourself. You don’t need to know everything that you’re interested in, that’s part of the beauty of having so many opportunities at your hand, try out some new things.

Parents, part of the adjustment that your kids will make will not be geared solely to academics, it can be important to support them in their endeavours to continue with things that they enjoyed in the past, easing them into the transition of university. Also, encourage them to try new things. You know your kids, and you know yourself, what did you like doing at their age? I got into squash because my dad liked it. What do you think that they might like? Pass on to your students the knowledge that there are so many opportunities for them to be active on campus. It’s also a great way to meet people. Mention to them as well that they can start clubs if what they are interested in is not available at school. The possibilities to get involved on campus are endless.