Getting Involved – Slacker Style

By Hilary Wesenberg on September 8, 2012

Last year I made the conscious decision to do absolutely nothing beneficial to my resume. I used my new surroundings as an excuse, reasoning that I deserved a grace period to develop a basic level of comfort on campus before truly delving into everything it had to offer. This year I’m making a conscious effort to “get involved” on campus. What I’ve found is that it is a very daunting task which requires skills in organization, time management, and a basic understanding of email– none of which I actually have.

Being the stereotyper I am I automatically assume that those involved in many things actually utilize the calendars on their phones, go to the library instead of watch TV and have unhealthy caffeine addictions. I am not one of these people. But what I realized is you don’t have to be– here’s a get involved DIY from an underachiever’s perspective.

 

Step 1: Pick a subject area that interests you.

I’m a Business-Finance and English major. I looked for clubs related to things I liked and places that I felt could utilize my skills. I applied to many journals, blogs and magazines on campus– even if they didn’t take me as a writer, I felt that being any part of the process could be beneficial.

 

Step 2: Email like it’s your job.

I thoroughly enjoy email. It’s impersonal enough that my poor communication skills have little effect because I can take time to write drafts, ask specific questions and (usually) get a direct answer. It also shows people that you’re taking the initiative to get in contact with them instead of just being on a list serve and showing up to meetings. When you do attend a meeting, you can always find the person you have emailed and spark a conversation with them.

 

Step 3: Find a time balance and make the occasional sacrifice.

Most of the clubs here meet at night anywhere from 6 to 8 P.M. What I found is that I had to eliminate clubs from my list based on when they met and how it worked with my schedule. This can be helpful, but also disappointing. There were some clubs I knew I wanted to go to but couldn’t attend the meeting. If this happens, you can always email the leader of said club and find out if you actually need to attend meetings (unfortunately the answer is usually yes). This process is a way to streamline your resume and decide what you actually enjoy/care about.

 

Step 4: Drag your friends with you.

Walking into a room full of people and not knowing anyone is as awkward as you’re imagining it to be. I know. I’ve been there. Too many times. This was when I decided to force my friends to accompany me places, and I returned the favor. Last week I went to a Women in Math and Science ice cream social with my friend who is in fact an Environmental Science Major. I claimed to enjoy Geology and just kept a low profile. The benefits? I got free ice cream and my friend got to check out a club with a nice security blanket. Win, win my friends.

 

So there you have it: four easy steps for success, or at least some variation of it depending on your standards… Best of luck!

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