For Rochester students, sometimes it is hard to remember that we are here for academics because of the plethora of opportunities that present themselves. The activity fairs at the beginning of the semesters are lively and filled with ecstatic students.
“Do you like to dance? Join BPG!”
“Like to sing? Join this a cappella group!”
“Sign up for our club and get free merch!”
Papers flying in your face and club leaders giving you their brief pitch on why to join their organization. Wilson Quad feels so alive with all the three hundred plus organizations crowded and organized in alphabetical order filling the green space in front of the first year quad.
Wait, there are over three hundred clubs at the University of Rochester? Yes there are!
Rochester students love the satisfaction of getting involved, it is something they are addicted to. The beauty is that you can join any club at any grade level. As a first year student, you can put your name on many email lists and may not even follow up and still receive those emails up until you graduate! For me, I put my name on so so SO many club email lists and I never even followed up with them.
One story I love to tell on my tours as a testament to how exciting getting involved on campus is how I thought I would get back into skiing after a two year, hiatus my freshman year of college. So, I saw how much energy the ski club had at the activities fair on the hot August day my first week on the campus and I put my email and name down like they asked. Beginning that year, I would still receive emails from the club. Even as a Junior now, I still receive these emails. Have I been to a single meeting? Nope!
But this just speaks to the beauty of involvement at the University of Rochester.
Never danced? Join BPG!
Never played field hockey? Join club field hockey!
Want to learn how to row and be a part of a collegiate sports team? Join rowing!
College is about finding who you are, or as a University of Rochester student like myself will say, finding URself. Being a part of a college campus seems like an obstacle in itself, but once you find your place or places on campus, you will always have a sense of belonging at the University.
For me, as someone who came to college as an introvert, I have found my communication and social skills to be much improved since I was a freshman wandering around at the activities fair that hot August afternoon. Even though the University campus is quite small, students can often feel like a little fish in a big pond; yet every organization you get yourself involved in helps you build a family. This just proves that college can really be a home away from home!
No matter what talents or skills you come to college with, no matter what your aspirations are there is an organization or two that is waiting for you to add your name to the list!