Written by Logan Riggs.
As the school year comes to an end, it’s only appropriate for seniors like me to reflect on their college career as a whole. This reflection process provides a lot of good memories for you to look back on, like the time you and your friends got stuck in the slide at secret Sonic, that grade you worked really hard for in that class you did not like, or that night that you talked with your friend about literally anything. As for me, I am extremely blessed and grateful that I can look back on my Harding experience and think of mostly good memories, and I attribute that to my involvement. During my freshman year, I was timid and a little scared of reaching outside of my comfort zone. I needed to start looking for opportunities, which is one of the reasons that I am writing this article. After I started making connections, I started to branch out and each year got better than the last. I had to learn that college is what you make of it. You can only get out of it what you put in. With that being said, it might be hard to know where to start. Luckily, Harding has a few ways to help you out.
The first one is probably the most obvious: social clubs. With over half of the students involved in social clubs, finding people should not be a problem. With 30 clubs, half for girls and half for boys, it should not be too hard to find one where you click with the members and fit in. The opportunity to run for an office in the club, attend different events that the club hosts, and just form relationships with those in your club are just some of the ways that you can get involved. I understand that clubs are not everybody’s thing, and I certainly think that you can have a fulfilling college experience without joining a social club. There are still other ways to get involved.
Harding should be a place where you are encouraged to make faith your own and grow deeper in it. Part of this includes finding a church for you to call home for the next few years. When you start your search, it might take a few Sundays, but I want you to find one and stick with it instead of changing every couple of weeks. This allows you to get to know the people at your church and form a relationship with them. Opportunities are abundant in the church, from teaching children’s classes to even leading part of a service on Sunday mornings.
The last option I want to explore are classes. Being in college allows you to pick your own schedule, and to a certain degree, explore any interests that you might have. Based on your interests and time available, certain classes can open up opportunities that you didn’t even know existed. Internships might be offered that allow you to explore even deeper.
My hope is that you have seen ways to get involved. There is a piece of advice that I think goes hand in hand with getting involved: Be open. Be open to meeting new people and experiencing new things. Getting involved is only available to those who are ready to receive it. College is meant to be a fun time, so be open and get involved.
