My articles lately have been a bit more of a letter-style than a hard-hitting news piece, and I can say without hesitation that it is partially because of my RSO (Registered Student Organization). For those of you who do not know, I run a board game club at my university. I know it is not the most glamorous club, but it is a deeply entangled part of my college experience.
I started to take leadership within the club last year as a sophomore. I didn't quite realize that in taking on the responsibility, I was signing a bit of a contract with myself, my university, and my (at the time) 300+ official members (30 or 40 of which actually came regularly to meetings). I was guaranteeing I would be spending time, effort, and occasionally some money, to make the most of the university allowing us to exist.
My fellow presidents, or, I'll allow, even my vice presidents, treasurers, and other high-ranking positions, I am sure you understand this to some degree. You're working on events constantly, even if it is just corresponding with someone about a room reservation, contacting members, setting up a meeting space, finding forms, or promoting your club. As the face of what you represent, you're doing a lot. And for those of you who say I should just delegate some tasks, you're probably right. But then again, if things don't get done, it comes back on me. And I also am pretty generous about taking on some responsibility when some of the other officers are struggling.
You, as a president, have probably learned a lot more than you know. You've gotten down the weekly, monthly, or otherwise irregular pattern of class, maybe work, meetings for your club, and juggling anything else that comes your way. You've probably dodged some drama within your group (or maybe you couldn't dodge it and had to make some tough decisions). You've managed and put effort into making a living, breathing group instead of something stagnant. You've done a lot more than show up, but you have made it effortless for others to show up and have fun, gain some information, or maybe even do some service.
You've made a lot of mistakes, but you've done it in a way that you have to pick yourself up. You don't really have the luxury of walking away after you've made a mistake. And that is a skill many others have not quite mastered yet.
You've earned valuable resume fuel and did that thing high school teachers love to tell you to do- network. Every person you've met has probably gone noticed, whether they are in a notebook for your next president or been connected with on LinkedIn.
For better or for worse, you have had to get involved in your college, and that is far more than a lot of people can say. It might have been much easier to sit back, watch some Netflix, and not do anything, but you made a decision to make the most of your experience, and better yet, make something to help others have the most of theirs.
