Think back to your summer orientation however many years ago (or just a month or two ago if you’re a freshman).
How many of you rolled your eyes when, each session, someone in an orange polo told you that getting involved with campus organizations would be the highlight of your college career? Yeah, me too (but they still convinced me to attend Ignite Summit).
When I was in high school, I joined and led clubs that I wasn’t actually that interested in (looking at you Beech High School Student Council) just to be accepted to college and earn scholarships. I know this is probably common for most high school students, and most of you probably also made promises to yourself to scale back once you started at UT. Maybe it was to join just one organization or none at all.
I know, I know. I said the same thing, and swore against being involved up-and-down to my parents when they left me at South Carrick that there was no way I would get involved with anymore than a single organization.
My first semester of college, I was a part of The Daily Beacon, WUTK, Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville and Cultural Attractions Committee.
Needless to say, I lied. I am a liar.
I don’t do all of that anymore and I’ve added other organizations to my résumé since, but I realized a couple of things: First, I am not a person who can live a normal, well-balanced life. Instead, I enjoy selling my soul to various organizations and never sleeping. Second, my college career thus far wouldn’t be worth it without everything I’ve been a part of.
I’ve gotten to explore different types of journalism, where I realized I found that print journalism is definitely where I fit, organize cultural events and work for a cause that I truly care about. Being involved now holds significantly more weight because I’m doing things related to my future. These aren’t just college application fluffers anymore — they’re résumé builders now.
In this special insert, you’ll find a calendar of some of the most anticipated annual events student organizations hold each year, a quiz to help you find the right club for you, why getting involved is important for your future, information on groups that fly under the radar and other resources and “you-otta-know” stories.
In this insert, we at The Daily Beacon encourage you to find what we’ve found within our organization: a community that allows you to learn as a student and the opportunity to make like-minded friends. Everyday, I sit in an office with people who encourage and support me in what I want to do, and I’ve found a similar community in every other organization of which I’ve been a part.
College classes are hard. We all understand that, but there is so much to be learned outside the classroom. You’re not going to protest police brutality, plan massive concerts or meet pop culture giants like Laverne Cox or Colin Jost while sitting in a lecture hall.
Really want to get the most out of UT? Get inVOLved.
