Most of the time, students in college either naturally get involved or simply do not.
At the University of Idaho, one of the best things about campus are the many opportunities to get involved. From the Student Alumni Relations Board (SArb) to participating in intramural sports, there are a plethora of options for student involvement at UI. Any student can find some way to be involved in something they are interested in.
While some students see getting involved as a waste of their time, there is a lot more to the college experience than what happens inside the classroom, and that applies to both Greek and non-Greek students.
Courses give students valuable information they”ve sought by pursuing a higher education. By getting engaged, however, students get hands-on experience that can lead to jobs after graduation.
Alexander Milles
Undergraduates choose majors based on their interests, but by getting involved, students can explore and possibly find other passions. They are given the opportunity to meet people outside their field, plus they can gather useful material to add to their resume.
Many students choose not to get involved because of their concerns over the time commitments for various organizations, but getting involved doesn”t always have to be a huge responsibility. Students can get involved with short-term activities like volunteering for Make a Difference Day, one day during the year where university students volunteer for a myriad of projects.
If students are interested in making a long-term commitment on campus, looking at Greek life or running for an ASUI position in the future is definitely the way to go.
Regardless of how much time a student wants to commit to getting involved, finding the information on where to go is each student”s responsibility. Some groups have a harder time than others being visible to potential members, but if a student is passionate enough about a certain subject, there are definite ways to find out about the opportunities available to them.
Like Beca and Fat Amy taught us in “Pitch Perfect,” one of the best ways to get involved is actually showing up to club fairs or attending public activities held by the organizations that pique students” interests. While we may not have the Barden Bellas at UI, usually a majority of organizations at the university plan ahead for weeks for events to recruit new members.
UI students have a choice – they can just go to their classes and finish their education as quickly as possible, or they can get involved and make this place somewhere unforgettable. That is what being a true Vandal means to me.
No matter if a student is a freshman or senior with one semester left, it is never too late to get involved.
Alexander Milles can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlexanderKCFMil