Reigniting Your Passion Through Student Organizations

Written by Tanith Frazier

Photography by Tanith Frazier

Modeled by Ellie Mccleary, Rachael Mueller, Brianna Mote

Why are student organizations pushed upon freshman students so heavily in the transition from high school to college? What do you have to gain from them besides academic achievement? Why should you add another obligation to your already long list of responsibilities as an adult and student? 

These three questions might run through your head when being approached with hundreds of opportunities to join student organizations in college. Whether you are an incoming freshman or a graduating senior, the chance to immerse yourself in communities like clubs and organizations is always present, but it might be hard to find a reason to join if you are already busy. By the time you reach college, you have already established a sense of what you enjoy and it might be hard to motivate yourself to explore groups that you aren’t used to. While student organizations are often advertised as a way to meet people and expand your skills, once you get past the awkward icebreakers, you might find that a new club or community can reignite your fire for certain interests, or even light a new one. 

In various stages of your life like post-high school graduation or senior year of college, it is common to experience burnout and lose the spark you once had for specific interests. Prioritizing things like class and work as opposed to fun and relaxation can allow us to stop indulging in our hobbies and forget how to simply enjoy them. Losing touch with these passions is an unfortunate result of many factors in our lives, but student organizations can act as a way to create a new perspective and re-ignite your passions. 

You can choose to nurture an interest you’ve already acquired by joining a student organization that caters to it, or you can branch out and join a completely new group that introduces something you may not have considered to try before. Through student-led groups, you can pick up new skills and hobbies that push you to be a better student and practice leadership, as well as strengthening your passions and practicing the things you loved before or currently enjoy. An environment like a student organization can be crucial to getting back into something you love, because in a school setting you can’t always make time for the things you enjoy. But through scheduled meetings and a routine that goes hand in hand with your interest, you can allow yourself to set aside time for your favorite things and give yourself a brain break.

Part of what makes an activity so fun is being able to share it with people that also enjoy it, and getting the opportunity to bounce ideas off of each other and create new ones. Clubs and organizations offer ways to explore academics and hobbies, but they also go a step further and introduce you to communities that share interests with you and push you to improve in every aspect of your life. A big benefit to joining a student organization is meeting individuals that have things in common with you, and it is a great place to meet new people and create bonds over a shared interest. Through these relationships, you can expand your ideas and workshop your skills through constructive criticism as you are surrounded by people that aim to help you learn. 

Finding time to fit student organizations into your schedule can be the key to nurturing your interests and hobbies in college. There will always be a chance to hop into a new club or group that will allow you to dive into new interests, stronger relationships, and help your passions bloom into something bigger. No matter where you’re at in school or your personal journey, student organizations will always be there for you.