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Worried
about being all alone on campus? Join a club,
and your concerns will be history.
Membership Has Its Privileges
By Lynda Kessler
September 2001
The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- Entering
college can be exciting, especially if you're
looking forward to making new friends. It's not
always as easy as you would like, however, which
means you could go from being a high school social
butterfly to a shy college hermit. So what's a
sensible solution to beating loneliness? Join
a campus club, say experts!
According to Judy Kawamoto,
director of student activities at Bryant College,
Smithfield, RI, "Students who become involved
in student organizations, campus events, athletics,
or other on-campus programs, have the opportunity
to make new friends, learn a variety of skills,
and develop themselves as leaders."
Phyllis Dewey, director
of counseling at Hilbert College, Hamburg, NY,
suggests joining a club like Students Against
Destructive Decisions (SADD). "It's a community-oriented
group in which members have the opportunity to
meet and get to know fellow students while [also]
working to help others," says Dewey.
So what if you're having
a hard time finding a club? Sean Cook, who coordinates
the Student and Corporate Services department
at the Smeal College of Business Administration
at Penn State, University Park, PA, encourages
students to look into a major-related club like
the Penn State Marketing Association or the Business
Student Council. For undeclared majors, Cook suggests
taking a trip to the student activity office for
campus club 4-1-1.
"Talk with an advisor,
a student life professional, or an older student,"
says Cook. "A resident assistant or a student
mentor may also help."
Joining a college club
provides even more benefits than the friendship
factor.
"A student will often
begin his or her college career unsure of what
direction to take," notes Kawamoto. "[Extra
curricular] activities can help clarify their
interests and literally, help shape their futures.
"We often say that
a student who focuses solely on academics is only
receiving half an education, but by becoming involved
in campus, life can be a vital part of a student's
education."
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