With my term as VP Internal coming to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot as to why I decided to get involved in extra curriculars in the first place. I know many people who don’t get involved, and I thought this might be a good opportunity for me to share my experiences and thoughts on the matter.
Aside from being involved with the Engineering Society, I’ve also been involved in other areas of UWaterloo life, such as Orientation Week and FEDS clubs. Personally, I’ve found these experiences to be some of the most valuable experiences of my university life. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no feeling like holding something you’ve made after putting hours of blood, sweat, and tears into it, but there’s something about social activities that projects and schoolwork can’t replicate.
Aside from having fun, being involved allowed me to discover my passions, strengths, as well as my weaknesses. One of my realizations was that though I love music, I don’t like being involved with the administrative side of it; essentially, the lesson I learned was to separate my leisure from my work. I’ve also improved significantly with communicating professionally, time management, and prioritization. As cheesy and over used as that sounds, it’s true! Being busier and having more on my plate forced me to become better at meeting deadlines. And of course, these are all things I’ve been able to put on my resume and make me a more hireable and personable student.
Being involved has affected my university experience considerably. Often I’ll hear complaints about a lack of spirit, or a lack of community, but your experience will be what you make it. Not to insult the people who don’t put themselves out there or are nervous about starting to get involved, but if you don’t at least try, you’ll never know. Of course, getting involved is always a little daunting at first. It can be difficult to balance your academics with your extra curriculars, but that’s something everyone goes through and takes time to develop.
I made the choice to get involved, and slowly but surely started adding more and more to my plate. Out of it, I’ve gotten some important life skills that just can’t be taught in school (leadership, teamwork, communication, and organization), some solid friendships with people across different years and disciplines, and some truly unforgettable experiences. I know that when my time here is up, I’ll have left with more than just my degree.
If you have any questions about getting involved, whether it be with the Engineering Society, Athletics, FEDS Clubs, or anything else, feel free to email me at vpinternal.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca.
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