When you’re the new kid on campus, it’s possible you may find yourself alone, especially if you happen to live off campus. Just going to class all the time can be boring when it’s all you’re doing while your friends party it up on the weekends and you’re at home studying. There are many ways to get involved on campus and find your place in a student organization.
Check out organizations within your major!
Odds are there will be at least one organization related to your major. If you can find one that’s related to your major, it’ll have a pretty good benefit besides just getting you involved on campus. When you’re involved with an organization related to your major, you’ll get to know others within your major. That means you’ll get to know people who are facing the same struggles you’re currently facing or will face in the future. You’d also be able to get the inside info on what professors are good and what professors are awful so you’re not spending 16 weeks in a classroom with an awful professor wishing you’d dropped when you could. For example, journalism majors could write for the Mace and Crown to start building their portfolios. Journalism majors and public relations majors could work with Her Campus. There are a lot of organizations geared towards specific majors, so odds are there’s going to be something for your major!
Source: Isabelle Ballesteros
Rush a sorority or fraternity!
Now I know this may not be an option for everyone. Greek life isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. If you’re debating it or are unsure, give it a try. If you do find the right sorority or fraternity for you, then you’ll gain sisters or brothers for life. It’s not just limited to all female or all male organizations either. There are some gender inclusive Greek organizations. ODU is home to several social Greek sororities, including Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma and more. Phi Sigma Pi is an example of a gender inclusive organization at ODU.
Source: ODU Anime Club
Identify your interest!
There may be organizations open to all majors that fit with your interests. You’ll be able to get to meet others from other majors that you may not have normally run into had you not joined that organization. If you’re into anime, you could check out the anime club to find new friends to watch shows with. Writers could check out the creative writing club, or they could check out the Mace and Crown or Her Campus! If you’re religious, there are a few religious organizations on campus too!
Head to the involvement fair!
If your school holds an involvement fair, go walk around and check it out! You’ll find a lot of your school’s organizations there. Members from those organizations will be there too, so you’ll be able to talk to people in any organizations you’re considering joining. ODU holds an involvement fair at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, so if you’re looking for new organizations to join, keep an eye out for it! You’ll find it on Kaufman Mall in the fall and inside Webb in the spring.
Start your own organization!
If you can’t find an organization that fits you, make one! There may be other students looking for something similar, and you could be the one to get it started. Alternatively, if an organization you’re interested in already exists but is inactive, look into getting it started back up. It’s possible others may be interested too!
Don’t let your time at university revolve solely around school. While academics are very important and shouldn’t be neglected just to get involved in organizations, you should still be able to have some fun too. It’s good to take a step back from your academic work to have a little fun every once in a while. And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up in a leadership position for an organization you join, and then you can put that on our resume!
Source: Giphy
May you find the organization of your dreams and have fun!
Main Image Source: Audra Reigle