Day 12 - Which clubs and teams are you a member of? Do you remember how you got involved with these clubs?
I'm mostly involved with the fencing club. I found out about it during a clubs and societies fair during orientation (strangely enough I remember spilling orange soda onto their display that day). I think the thoughts going through my mind were "this is awesome I totally want to do this!" and when it came to me needing a parental signature to sign up for membership it was "I hope mom and dad allow me to do this." (I had to be 18 before I could sign the form and I was 17 when I started.)
Why was I worried? Back in grade 8 some rock wall climbing company visited my school and we got the opportunity to do rock wall climbing as a gym/P.E. activity. Dad wouldn't let me participate in fear of me getting some sort of spinal injury (which was clearly labelled as a warning on the form). I wanted to do rock wall climbing but my dad somewhat scared me away from it. (People were provided with helmets and I haven't heard of anyone who got injured during the time the rock wall was there. Totally missed out on my early teenage fun time moments.) Nowadays I'm not afraid to try rock wall climbing and don't need parental permission to do so, but it doesn't interest me as much as back then.
I've been doing fencing for 5 years now and I still need to work on point control and when to get aggressive.
Showing posts with label clubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clubs. Show all posts
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Advice for the young grasshopper starting university -- making connections
Roommates
Dorm Life
Campus Life and textbooks
Out of my friends whom I haven't seen in ages I was one of the few that moved out of my hometown to go to university. Even though my hometown has 2 universities and a bunch of colleges the advantage I find for those remaining there is you at least know someone whether you're taking the same courses or not. Going away to another city or country can have an advantage if you have relatives or a friend or two there. Other than that you're pretty much starting at square one. Whether or not you're a stranger or someone who is known to a lot of people connect with others.
One place to start is within your own residence. Attend a bunch of activities planned by the house or your housemates and who knows you might make a friend or two. Not everyone you meet will be a social butterfly or hang out with the housemates. Also you can't stay in your room all the time and spend all your time studying. So if the people in your residence are not the type of people you hang out with then get out there!
There are sports teams you can try out but if you don't make it or it's not your thing attend one of those clubs and society fairs. It might be paired up as part of the orientation events or have its own day. Here you can find clubs and activities that may interest you. Every campus usually has some sort of religious society, student versions of groups like Amnesty International and Oxfam, geekdom, watching films, and many more. It was during one of these fairs I discovered fencing. I knew the sport existed but had no knowledge of places where these things could be done and through a clubs and societies fair I was introduced to it. So even if you are a beginner at some sort of activity or never had any experience join up. Who knows, you may find something you like and even meet someone who has connections. If none of the clubs and societies interest you, try to make your own or contribute to finding one.
Then there are the societies formed by the various departments on campus. Let's say you're studying chemistry you can probably join up and learn from others taking the same courses or who have been through the same situations as you and may give you help or advice as you go through your studies. Again if you can't find a society that suits you try to make one or help in the creation of one.
Maybe your interests lie off campus. If you have the means (and the funds) to get there and the time, go for it. Take caution though if you are in unfamiliar territory. Even if you are adventurous play it safe. Other than that look at the message boards around campus and who know, you might find something that interests you or whatever it is that you usually do back home.
Don't really have anything more to say on this topic. Not sure who reads these things but if someone happens upon this and wishes to leave a comment, feel free to do so.
Next up: Campus life and comparing it to high school.
Dorm Life
Campus Life and textbooks
Out of my friends whom I haven't seen in ages I was one of the few that moved out of my hometown to go to university. Even though my hometown has 2 universities and a bunch of colleges the advantage I find for those remaining there is you at least know someone whether you're taking the same courses or not. Going away to another city or country can have an advantage if you have relatives or a friend or two there. Other than that you're pretty much starting at square one. Whether or not you're a stranger or someone who is known to a lot of people connect with others.
One place to start is within your own residence. Attend a bunch of activities planned by the house or your housemates and who knows you might make a friend or two. Not everyone you meet will be a social butterfly or hang out with the housemates. Also you can't stay in your room all the time and spend all your time studying. So if the people in your residence are not the type of people you hang out with then get out there!
There are sports teams you can try out but if you don't make it or it's not your thing attend one of those clubs and society fairs. It might be paired up as part of the orientation events or have its own day. Here you can find clubs and activities that may interest you. Every campus usually has some sort of religious society, student versions of groups like Amnesty International and Oxfam, geekdom, watching films, and many more. It was during one of these fairs I discovered fencing. I knew the sport existed but had no knowledge of places where these things could be done and through a clubs and societies fair I was introduced to it. So even if you are a beginner at some sort of activity or never had any experience join up. Who knows, you may find something you like and even meet someone who has connections. If none of the clubs and societies interest you, try to make your own or contribute to finding one.
Then there are the societies formed by the various departments on campus. Let's say you're studying chemistry you can probably join up and learn from others taking the same courses or who have been through the same situations as you and may give you help or advice as you go through your studies. Again if you can't find a society that suits you try to make one or help in the creation of one.
Maybe your interests lie off campus. If you have the means (and the funds) to get there and the time, go for it. Take caution though if you are in unfamiliar territory. Even if you are adventurous play it safe. Other than that look at the message boards around campus and who know, you might find something that interests you or whatever it is that you usually do back home.
Don't really have anything more to say on this topic. Not sure who reads these things but if someone happens upon this and wishes to leave a comment, feel free to do so.
Next up: Campus life and comparing it to high school.
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