By Prof. John DeSpagna
Campus News
Becoming a college student offers you a chance to experience new things. As we work our way through the COVID challenges this semester, we have to realize that there are still many activities happening on your campus. One of the ways you can participate in your college community is by joining one of the clubs. The clubs on campus may have virtual meetings this semester but they can still benefit you in many ways.
One of reasons why many students join a club is to make new friends. You may be on a new campus this semester and may not know to many people. So, join a club and you will meet new people. You will be getting involved and can meet students with similar interests that you have. You can also have the chance to go on trips related to the club and learn how to balance your time management skills.
If you are not sure what major to pursue, joining a club can help you in this decision. You will listen to speakers in the field who have a first hand knowledge of the field. You will also meet faculty advisors who have worked in the field and can answer questions you may have. Selecting a major is a big decision and you should want to learn as much as possible about this. Remember, try and select a major that you have a passion for as this may well lead to a career in that field. I spent many years as the faculty advisor for the Entrepreneur Club at our college. Our meetings and speakers all focused in on developing skills that would help you own your own business someday.
Leadership skills are valued by potential employers and are looked for in the hiring process. Joining a club can help you develop this skill by being the President or Vice President of a club. You will be leading meetings, organizing events, answering questions and developing this skill, which will only help you in your career aspirations.
Networking. This is a very important skill that you must learn to be successful in your career. The conventional way to look for a job is to respond to an ad or send in a resume. Have you ever obtained a job because you knew someone? That is an example of networking and many jobs are obtained this way. Develop your network by meeting people, introducing yourself and promoting yourself. You can develop your network by joining a club and meeting people with like-minded interests.
Building your resume is something that you should always be trying to do. Being an active participant in a club on campus will help you. This shows that you like to be involved in campus activities and want to better yourself. This is something you can put on your resume and being a club leader enhances you even more.
As a member of a club, you can also learn a skill for your career. We have an Accounting Society at Nassau Community College. This student club has speakers who are Certified Public Accountants that make presentations to members. This helps students learn about the skills necessary to be a Certified Public Accountant. They offer real world experiences and let the students know what you to do to be successful in the field. Learning these skills are something that you can learn from any club.
Being involved in a club can also help you when you transfer to a four-year college or university. Admissions officers look for students who are involved because they want their students to be involved on their campuses. Looking at your participation in clubs, athletics, publications and leadership positions are all important in the admission process along with your GPA.
College offers you many opportunities to help in your academic growth and career aspirations. Joining a club on campus can also help you in many other ways to have a successful college experience.
John DeSpagna is a business professor at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York.
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“Broom Hilda” by Russell Meyers. In agreement with TCA. Click to Expand.
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