As the saying goes, you must fail in order to succeed. That rings true in every aspect of life, and wasn’t something that I appreciated until I had finished my freshman year of college. Screwing up is something that I had obviously had experience with, but had never really had significant consequences from my actions. That all changed second week of school. I made the unfortunate mistake of stealing from the campus bookstore, and at my school stealing is taken incredibly severely. We have an honor code, which means that if you lie, cheat, or steal, you will be put before a board of your peers to review how severe your infraction is and what your punishment should be. Once my superiors found out I had stolen, I was immediately submitted for an honor board. This was not taken lightly by the Air Force ROTC Captain, who promptly removed me from the detachment and so ended my dreams of being an Air Force pilot. On top of that, Army ROTC and Navy ROTC doesn’t accept cadets with honor violations. So, the main reason I came to Norwich University, to pursue a career in the Air Force as an AC-130 pilot, was gone after only three weeks of school. This scenario was a lot to process on top of dealing with school, Mountain Cold Weather training and rookdom, and resulted in only a 2.31 GPA at the end of the semester. This presented a serious issue, because I needed a 3.00 GPA to keep my scholarship from the school. If I didn’t fix my grades, I would be leaving the school I had dreamt about attending for years. Over Christmas break, I reevaluated my life goals and major. I switched from electrical engineering to exercise science, changed from pilot to strength and conditioning coach, and proceeded to get a 3.84 GPA the following semester and stay at Norwich. This drastic life change wouldn’t have happened without my screw up. The colossal fail freshman year resulted in me realizing what I really wanted to spend my life doing, and how to take school and my decisions seriously. Though it took me months and months to realize, I have come to the conclusion that I needed this wake up call. Until then, I had a serious issue with ignoring my responsibilities and not accepting that these mistakes were my own fault. Failures like this one are what result in success. Thomas Edison is famous for failing over one thousand times in making a functioning light bulb. When asked about it he said, “I didn’t fail, I found one thousand ways how not to make a light bulb.” This serves to showcase how significant failure is, and what a great teacher it can be. Don’t let failure deter you from your goals or knock you off track. Success is standing up one more time than you fall down, and trying again one more time than you fail. Use it as your coach, a guide for future attempts and a lesson for next time. Failure hurts, but nothing shows you the path more accurately. SO go fail. DO something wrong. Learn from your mistakes and find the success that you deserve.
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Luckily, many colleges offer a number of ways to take part in campus and community life, without forcing you to dedicate all of your time to these organizations. Here are a few ideas!
1. Look into Housing and Dining.
Many first-year students start off college life in residence halls, and the Housing & Dining network throughout campus often provides multiple opportunities for students throughout the year. Many buildings have student community councils that work to create policies and events that make the dorms a more welcoming home for residents. Becoming a community assistant (or the students who work the desks at the front of many halls) is another easy way to have a consistent, well-paying job only minutes away from your room.
If you really enjoyed your housing experience, consider applying to be an RLA, or, if the school offers it, help to teach the first-year community. You'll get the chance to help support new and returning students over the year, and many of these positions also cover major costs like board and meal plans.
2. Pay attention to campus postings.
This advice is more obvious, but it still gets overlooked a fair amount. Even on a busy day, taking the time to stop around campus and look at the flyers advertising clubs and events can draw your attention to something that you never would've noticed otherwise. Students on many campuses also chalk the sidewalk to catch students' attention while they walk to class. Just make sure that the event you're interested in hasn't taken place already!
3. Find common interest groups.
One way to find friends and get involved is to focus on what you're passionate about. Have you always loved to sing? Do you enjoy playing video games? Is photography your favorite past-time? Have you always wanted to join Greek life? Whatever you love devoting your time to, chances are there are organizations around school who are focused on the same thing. Check the student life section of your university's website, or stop by a student organization fair at the beginning of the semester.
4. Join an intramural sports team.
If you're the athletic type, you've probably heard of intramural sports. Often offered through the Rec Center or the residence halls, most colleges often offer various indoor and outdoor sports to take part in throughout the year. Personal favorite? Mini golf.
5. Work on a cause that you care about.
Whether you're passionate about a political group, a social cause, or a religion, working with people who value beliefs similar to yours can be an easy way to meet people, get a better sense of your own identity, and promote causes that are important to you. Look into getting involved with College Democrats, Republicans, or whatever party that you belong to. Find a club that supports social issues, from women's rights to protecting the environment. If you're religious, look into student organizations based on your faith.
6. Join a club related to your major.
Even if you're not entirely sure what you want to do after school, finding a club or organization related to your field of studies can benefit you long after you leave the classroom. From career-related workshops to conferences to professional connections, these groups have a lot to boast.
7. Get an on-campus job.
If you have the time, need to work, or want to save a few extra dollars, finding a job on or near campus is a time-effective way to build up your bank account and gain work experience. Check in your residence hall (see #1), at local businesses and offices, or make an appointment with your school's career center.
8. Volunteer.
When you're caught up in school life, it can be hard to think about the bigger picture. Volunteering your time to people (or animals/an environment) in need puts things in perspective and allows you to feel good while making a positive difference. Check if your college town has a volunteer page, or look up local organizations requesting help.
Best of luck this year! Get out, and get busy.
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