Why Get Involved

Hello Fellow Commuters,

I am in my senior year now and perhaps my fondest memories in college can be traced to my campus involvement. A lot of students are very apprehensive about getting involved because they feel that it will take time away from their academics. Some even feel that it will not really help them get a job which is why there is no reason for them to get involved.

However, getting involved is a great way to meet new people, form new connections, develop your inter-personal skills, develop an all-round personality and even help your academics. Of course, one must never compromise on academics. But getting involved helps you in meeting a lot of new people and make new friends. And when one is involved on campus, just because of the sheer number of people you meet and interact with, your interpersonal skills get a huge boost. I was really shy as a freshman and would never how to even talk to someone I knew a little. But after getting involved, I can safely say that I find it pretty easy to strike a conversation with even a total stranger. And because getting involved requires a time commitment of some sort, your time management skills also develop. Getting involved also increases your exposure and hence goes a long way in developing your leadership skills. And these are the sort of skills that firms, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and even graduate schools look for.

Moreover, if you join an organization from your area of study, you will meet a lot of professors as well as industry professionals. These people can definitely help you out with recommendations and some great advice. But apart from that, whenever a firm wants to come on to campus and conduct an info session, the first people they will contact is an organization related to their industry. So, if you are in that organization, you will be the first one to talk to them which is a great networking opportunity. And we all know how big a part networking plays in success.

Apart from the above benefits, getting involved is a lot of fun. And once you start taking the organization you are in seriously, you will start to enjoy working for it and will even look forward to going to meetings. It is also a great stress-buster and a necessary break from the stresses of college life.

So, I would say that if you have not already, then you must definitely get out there and find the organization matching your interest. Here is a list of all of the student organizations at Drexel: http://drexel.collegiatelink.net/organizations. If you can't find one in your interest here then you can make one. All you need is a few of your friends with the same interest. If you have any questions, make sure to ask your Commuter/Transfer Assistant.