Freshmen FGCU students, I hope you visited the Student Involvement Fair at Cohen Center Get involved. Those are the first words of advice I would like to offer to all incoming freshman at FGCU.
The Involvement Fair is just one great way to find whatever it is you’re looking for. I hope reading this convinces students that it’s not a bad thing to get involved.
Whatever you’re interested in, don’t wait; do it. If you’re remotely interested in a club or organization on campus, you should go for it. If you’re passionate about something, you should find others that share your passion. Sharing a strong passion for any particular subject is one of life’s greatest gifts, and FGCU is one of the best places to find that.
Anyone that has read an article of mine would know my passion is politics. The beginning of my freshman year, I was apprehensive about getting involved. I thought nobody would take me seriously because I was just a freshman. That was the biggest mistake I could have ever made.
Now, I look forward every week to writing something for Eagle News. I get excited when I see my post go up on Twitter. I love picking up a nice, fresh copy of the paper the next day and flipping to the page where my words are printed. Most importantly, I get to do something I love.
When I realized how rewarding it was to actually engage in the activities around campus, I decided all I wanted to do was get more involved. I decided to join the FGCU College Republicans and meet some of the best and brightest people at our university.
There’s generally no cost to get involved at the university, and it’s a great way to earn service learning hours, which are required here at FGCU, or work toward whatever career goals you have after college.
If you’re interested in politics, you should absolutely get in touch with the FGCU College Republicans. We can talk about internships, political events and debate watch parties. Next year is going to be a major year for the Republican Party, and if you’re looking to get involved, you can join us.
If politics is not your passion, there is an absolutely crazy amount of other organizations you can join. Interested in cheering on the FGCU Eagles? Join the Dirty Birds. Ever been interested in Greek Life? Go for it. This is the time that you should start exploring these opportunities.
It’s your first full week of college. The sun is warm, and you’ve had your first taste of freedom. Seize the day and make the most of your time here. You never know who you’ll meet and what connections you’ll make on one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, when you actually get involved and engage with others in new ways.
I hope you had the time to drop by the Student Involvement Fair. If so, I’msure you didn’t regret it. I guarantee you walked away with at least one club you’re interested in. If you did walk away with that interest, do yourself a favor, and go for it. It’s never too early to get involved, and at a place like FGCU, you have nothing to lose.