Danielle Wilkin
With the first couple weeks of classes coming to a close, things are finally settling into a steady rhythm. Unease about finding your place is slowly being edged out by contentment with your new routine. As the newness of college life begins to fade, you might find yourself with more time to think about what the next four years will look like. At a school of this size, there is a seemingly infinite number of activities, clubs and events you can join to make your collegiate experience the perfect fit.
Since move-in day, you probably have been constantly bombarded by email lists, fliers for student organizations and invitations to parties thrown by people you don’t even know. There are so many possibilities and new things piling up that picking a place to start is like trying to pick a favorite ice cream flavor at the Dairy: impossible. Maybe we veteran students are at fault for sending you into extracurricular paralysis. If that is the case, I am sorry. But we are excited about sharing our favorite things with the new class of Terps!
Though it might seem nerve-racking, now is the time to jump in with reckless abandon and try new things. And not just one thing: everything. Use this semester to narrow down what you are really passionate about; that way, you can spend the next four years diving deep into the things you love instead of just dipping your toes in.
The idea of getting involved at school is not new, and chances are you have already received this advice from siblings, older friends or alumni bending your ear about the “glory days.” But college is not high school, which means your strategy for establishing a fulfilling extracurricular life has to be revamped.
It is no longer enough just to stay after school for National Honor Society meetings and have your mom pick you up after the meeting. You are now responsible for seeking out your own opportunities and following through. For some, this will be no issue, but for others, your newfound autonomy might lead you to choose the ease of staying put over the uncertainty of new and unfamiliar events.
Based on the mean high school GPA of the class of 2018, I’d say you guys are definitely smart enough to know how to take advantage of all the great things this university has to offer. But knowing how to do something and doing it are two different things. Consciously committing to exploring new activities and friendships will bring endless opportunities your way.
I’m not telling you this as a serial student group member or overactive social butterfly, but as a fellow Terp who finally found clubs and activities she cares about only two semesters before she will graduate and be gone forever. I missed out on two years of singing badly with Awkapella and advocating for the less fortunate with Health Leads because I waited for things to fall into place instead of making opportunities for myself.
I hope you find it in yourself to take some initiative early on in your college career. Sometimes that requires extra work on your part to research student groups or start one of your own, but mostly it boils down to being open to new adventures. Force yourself to be a “yes man.” That way, when you look back on your time at this university, you fondly remember grand exploits instead of regretting missed opportunities.
Danielle Wilkin is a senior biology and science education major. She can be reached at dwilkindbk@gmail.com.
