Getting Involved

With THON, Penn State’s largest student run philanthropy to fight pediatric cancer, taking placed this weekend (!!), I decided what better time to talk about getting involved on campus?

If you are going to be in the stands of the Bryce Jordan Center this weekend along side other students, then great! You already got a foot in the door as far as getting involved!

I will also be attending THON this weekend.  I will not only be there with my sorority, but the theater group I am a part of will also be there.  This is my first THON and I can’t lie, I am beyond excited to see what this weekend holds.

But fret not.  If you will not be attending THON this year, no worries!  There are plenty of other ways to get involved on campus, especially at a campus as large as University Park.

University Park is home to over 900 clubs and organizations.  NINE HUNDRED.  That surely is enough to find something you are passionate about.

Yes, the main goal of college is to get a degree.  My dad tells me that every time I tell him about a new extracurricular activity I am taking on.  He will always say something along the lines of “that’s great, but make sure it won’t distract you from your studies!”

And it’s true, I could do a better job at managing schoolwork and social life. What can I say -- I’m not perfect.

But I promise you, joining clubs and organizations is part of the college experience.  Who wants to go through college with a 4.0, and yet not be able to say they had any fun in the process?

Besides, any clubs and organizations you join look good on your resume.  It was the same way just over a year ago, when I, along with most of you, was applying for colleges.  I remember constantly hearing that grades were not everything, that getting involved was a big portion of whether or not a university wanted to have you as a student.

Here are some tips on how to get involved:

Attend the Involvement Fair:  Yes I know, the Involvement Fair at the HUB is super crowded.  I went both last semester and this one, so trust me I know the struggle.  However, this is a great place to see all the clubs and organizations this grand campus has to offer!  At University Park, an involvement fair is held at the HUB at the beginning of each semester, so make sure to check it out in August!

Find something you’re passionate about:  Are you a lover of tea? Well Penn State has it’s own tea club (I know because I still get their emails from when I signed up at the involvement fair).  There is everything from performing arts groups to academic clubs to intramural sports.  If you’re passionate about it, going to meetings every week for that certain club or organization will not seem like a bore, instead you will look forward to it! 

I’m passionate about theater; I’ve enjoy acting ever since high school.  I joined the Thespians, Penn State’s very own theater club – and just last weekend I performed in a play with a group of insanely talent actresses who I could not have been more happy to work with!

Here are some other resources you can utilize in order to get a foot in the door and get involved.

• ·      http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/studentorgs/orgdirectory/Search.aspx (a directory of all the clubs at University Park!)
• ·      http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-college-advice/2011/09/13/5-reasons-for-getting-involved-in-college-and-how-to-go-about-it
• ·      https://www.educationquest.org/blog/5-reasons-get-involved/