I am currently entering my sophomore year of college, and I wanted to share some advice about college extracurricular activities and getting involved on campus. When I first arrived at college, I was excited, but I was also nervous about meeting new people and finding my place. As a result, one of the best decisions I made during my freshman year was joining extracurricular activities.
Why Getting Involved Matters
I have always been active in school throughout all four years of high school and now through my first year of college. Because of this involvement, I was able to build friendships, develop leadership skills, and feel more connected to my campus community. Additionally, being involved gave me opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds and learn new skills. If you are an incoming freshman, I strongly encourage you to explore different organizations and activities during your first semester.
Organizations and Activities to Consider
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some organizations and activities to consider:
📚 Book Clubs
- Campus book clubs
- Literature clubs
- Reading circles sponsored by the library
- Major-specific reading groups
🤝 Service Organizations
- Habitat for Humanity
- Community service clubs
- Volunteer organizations
- Food pantry and outreach programs
🎓 Academic Clubs
- Major-specific organizations
- Pre-professional organizations
- Undergraduate research groups
- Academic honor societies
- Honors organizations
🏛️ Leadership Opportunities
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Student Union
- First Year Council
- Leadership development programs
- Student advisory boards
👋 Campus Ambassador Programs
- Orientation Team
- Peer mentors
- Campus tour guides
- Student recruiters
- Ambassador programs
🌎 Cultural and Identity-Based Organizations
- Cultural associations
- International student organizations
- Faith-based groups
- Multicultural student organizations
🏃 Recreational and Interest Clubs
- Intramural sports
- Gaming clubs
- Outdoor adventure clubs
- Music organizations
- Photography clubs
My Personal Experience
For me, getting involved helped make a large university feel much smaller. Instead of just going to class and returning to my dorm, I was able to meet students with similar interests, learn from upperclassmen, and create memories that made my freshman year much more enjoyable. Furthermore, these organizations helped me feel more confident and connected on campus.
Advice for Incoming Freshmen
My biggest piece of advice is simple: do not be afraid to put yourself out there. Attend that meeting, sign up for that organization, and introduce yourself to new people. However, you do not have to join every club you see. Instead, try a variety of organizations and find the ones that genuinely interest you. Ultimately, freshman year is the perfect time to explore opportunities, discover new passions, and find where you belong.
Organizations I Joined
As of now, I have joined more than five organizations and have enjoyed every experience. For example, I joined the Parker Adams Academic Group, the Crimson Scholars Peer Mentor Program, the Anthropology Club, the Black Student Union, and the Undergraduate Research Group. In addition, I plan to join even more organizations in the coming years. Through these experiences, I have met amazing people, gained valuable skills, and become more involved in campus life.
Final Thoughts
Overall, getting involved on campus can make a huge difference in your college experience. Whether you join an academic club, a service organization, or a leadership program, you will have opportunities to grow, learn, and make lasting connections.
✨ What extracurricular activities are you planning to join this year? Let me know in the comments! ✨
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