7 Reasons Why You Should Be Involved In Campus Societies
Written by Natasha Fernandes
Thumbnail and Header Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash
University life is definitely not always a piece of cake. Juggling classes, work, assignments, family, and other commitments can leave students feeling highly burnt out. Yet, here I am suggesting you add another obligation to that long list — joining a campus society. I do not say this without merit, however. Let me give you seven reasons why joining a society will not be a burden and instead will benefit you and your career goals while being a university student. To better support my argument, I asked different executive members from various active societies at Saint Mary’s University to share their experiences of being involved in campus societies. Take a read through the benefits listed below for these executives’ hidden pearls of wisdom.
Benefits of Being Involved in a Campus Society:
1. Discover yourself: It is not uncommon for university students to feel uncertain about their majors while contemplating their future. When you get involved in campus societies, you can meet different people while getting the chance to participate in various events. This can help you understand new things about yourself, such as the topics you enjoy learning about and the issues you do not. You also get to see examples of and participate in the types of events you want to organize in the future. For example, you have chosen an Arts or Science major and organize an event where you have to make posters, flyers and use social media to promote the event. As a result, you might realize that you enjoy connecting and interacting with people through sharing an event’s purpose. This could influence you to consider switching your major to marketing. In addition, exploring your goals through your involvement in campus societies helps you discover inner passions that were otherwise dormant.
Summayah Chotoye, the Co-President of the SMU French Society, shares that her involvement in forming the French society helped her discover new qualities within herself. She says: “By getting involved with the French Society, I discovered that I could take up higher responsibilities and be a leader while enjoying the activities we did.”
2. Leave your comfort zone: As a university student, you learn to appreciate many new perspectives and ideologies that may differ from your traditional beliefs. If you are an international student, you may experience additional challenges in acclimatizing to new perspectives, such as culture shock and sometimes exclusion. Students tend to create their own social bubbles to protect themselves, limiting their chances to explore new and innovative opportunities. Engaging in a campus society is the perfect way to chip away at that bubble and go beyond one’s comfort zone while simultaneously increasing self-confidence.
Bethany Leal-lyoupe, the President and Founder of CAPIS (Community for Asian Pacific Islander Solidarity) at SMU, shares how her experience with CAPIS helped her go beyond her limitations to help her fellow peers and allies. She says: “CAPIS helped me discover a community of folks on campus who I can truly connect with, which is rather difficult for me as an introvert. Through my time with CAPIS, I learned that there is no such thing as an exceptional leader, but an exceptional team that brings ideas to fruition.”
3. Build new friendships and networking skills: Joining a campus society can be a great way to foster long-lasting friendships and improve your networking skills. Participating in campus societies allows you to branch out and engage with students outside your immediate social circle. Friendships form relatively quickly when you are in an environment that supports your interests or passions with like-minded people. Connecting with others in your field of study can serve you well even after you graduate, allowing you to have more connections as you network for future career opportunities.
Morgan Baker-Tucker, the incoming Co-President of the Commerce Society, shares how her experience with the Commerce Society allowed her to connect with students and faculty from diverse backgrounds while building relationships that positively impact her university experience. She says: “The Commerce Society has provided me with opportunities to further my education through webinars and events such as industry nights, and also allows me to expand my social network through virtual coffee breaks and wine and cheese nights.”
4. Give your resume an upgrade: Showing that you have engaged in campus societies and activities during your time at university lets your future employer know that you like to get involved and can balance various responsibilities while going above and beyond what is expected of you. It also speaks to your time management and leadership skills. Aside from skill-building, through your interactions with different society members and people at society events, you get the opportunity to meet new people, potentially creating new career opportunities for you to explore.
Chelsea Greenham, the incoming Co-President of the Commerce Society (formerly the Communications Director), shares that her experience with the Commerce Society not only helped her enhance her university life but paved the way for her future. She says: “The Commerce Society has allowed me to network and make connections with a lot of real-world professionals. This gave me further insight into fields of business, preparing me for what lies ahead after university.”
5. A chance to feature in the SMU Journal: When most university operations suddenly became virtual due to COVID-19, many societies on campus struggled to deal with the shift. At the same time, students continued to push themselves by creating many new societies amidst the pandemic, such as CAPIS and the French Society.
The students responsible must be recognized for these efforts so that other students at SMU can be continuously inspired and never limit themselves. Thus, the Societies column at the SMU Journal wants to give students a platform to showcase their achievements and promote their societies to a larger audience. If you are part of a student society at SMU and would like to feature in the SMU Journal, please reach out through email or Instagram. I love to listen to your stories and learn from the dedication and effort students put into nurturing the societies they build.
Photo by SMUSA
6. Practice your skills: The environment of a campus society is the perfect place to practice building vital life skills, whether it be communication or time management. You can also test these skills to see how they reflect into the real world. For example, by organizing an event for your society or taking charge of the finances, you can perfect these skills for future career settings.
Yingjun Chen, the President and Founder of the SMU French Society, used her experience with the French Society to strengthen her personal qualities and skills. She says: “[the] SMU French Society gave me a platform to practice my organizational and interpersonal skills in the cultural events that I’m very passionate about.”
Manav Khera, formerly the IT Director of the Commerce Society and now the incoming Vice President of the Commerce Society, shares that his involvement with ENACTUS as a Marketing Director and the Commerce Society has led him to achieve greater success in his career path. He says: “My experience working with different societies has provided me with multiple distinct skills and has allowed me to make worthwhile connections.”
7. It’s refreshing!: The more student societies you join on campus, the more fun you will have! It is the ideal way to take a break from the constant burden of academics while allowing you to do something you love and enjoy. While having fun, you get the chance to learn more about yourself and collect new experiences.
Kritika Gurung, the current Co-President of SMU ENACTUS, shares how her involvement with ENACTUS led her to challenge herself and develop better skills, all while having fun organizing events and leading her team members. She says: “Since I started to engage myself in campus societies, I've learned that my biggest asset is adaptability, even in environments out of my comfort zone.”
The upcoming fall term is the perfect time to try participating in societies as you gear up for the hybrid version of classes. So, the next time someone urges you to join a campus society, I recommend taking the chance to test it out. Then you can see for yourself whether you can reap the seven benefits of being involved in societies at Saint Mary’s University!
P.S: If you are a member or an executive of a campus society at Saint Mary’s and would like to feature in the SMU Journal, you can email me at fernnash15@gmail.com. I want to know more about your experience with societies here at SMU, so please reach out!