Getting involved on campus is such an important aspect of the college experience. The organizations and clubs that you're involved in can help you make new and life-long friends, and even help you start networking. Plus, you're already paying so many fees, so you have to enjoy your college experience in some shape or form. I don't know about you, but for how much I'm spending on my education, I would like to make new friends, and enjoy my college experience.
One of the biggest benefits with getting involved on campus is that you tend to make your friends through the clubs you're involved with. You're fresh out of high school, and all of your high school friends went their separate ways, and you're feeling lonely on campus. I get it, I was there at the beginning of the semester. That loneliness faded away as soon as I got more involved on campus. I'm only a first year student, but let me to tell you how grateful I am to have gotten involved so early on.
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One of the organizations I am a part of is called ACE; Achieving College Excellence. ACE is a TRIO education program funded by the government. It is exclusively for students that are first-generation college students, come from a low-income family, and/or have a documented disability. It is a very helpful program where students receive so many benefits; free printing, free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a personal lounge to get homework done, a personal academic advisor, and an ACE upperclassmen mentor. Through this organization, I was able to find my niche on campus; I made my new friends, I take advantage of the free printing and food, I have a space to hang out and get some work done, and I have an awesome mentor that has helped me so much already.
Another important benefit with getting involved on campus is the opportunity to start networking. College is all about networking and connecting with the right people. Thanks to Brothers for Excellence, an organization for male students of color to reflect on their backgrounds, and build mentorship amongst each other. Not only do I have an upperclassmen as a great mentor, but we also have faculty mentors. This is so helpful especially since each faculty mentor can helps us with any academic issue we may face; financial aid, career development, advising, tutoring, et cetera. This whole system of networking within one organization can help me get towhere I want to be at school.
This is why it is so important to get involved on campus throughout your four years at college. You get to make friends and memories, and also fully enjoy your college experience. You can even begin networking with other students and faculty members; networking is kind of an important aspect about college, since networking will serve you well in the real world. So go out there and get involved on campus, and if you can't find something that peeks your interest, then start your own organization. Just do what you can to make your college experience memorable.
