7 reasons why joining a student club will benefit your college experience
Jan. 25, 2022
Do you have a passion or interest you want to share with others? Why not think about joining a club – or creating a club if it doesn’t already exist at Georgian? In addition to connecting with new students, clubs are a great way to get the most out of your college experience.
Meet new people
Clubs are a wonderful way to meet other students, and who knows – you might make a few lifelong friends! Clubs can also help you build your business network. Meeting club members who may be in your same field of study can help in the future because you might end up in the same industry and they could act as a job reference or become a colleague.
Learn new skills
Joining a club is an easy way to learn a new skill or build on ones you already have. This doesn’t just mean improving your debating game if you join a debate club, but skills like communication, ssetting goals, teamwork, conflict resolution, time management and leadership. Whether it’s learning how to work with people or manage your time, clubs will play an active role.
Build your resumé
Another key reason to join a club is to build your resumé. Employers are not just interested in your work experience or marks, they like to see that you’re involved in community or school activities outside the classroom. This can help give you an edge when you’re applying for jobs. At Georgian, you can add any of your extra-curricular activities like clubs to your co-curricular record (CCR). The CCR is an official document you create to enhance your resumé, career, academic and/or personal portfolios. It’s official recognition of your participation in co-curricular activities that happened outside the classroom. You can use your CCR as support when you apply for jobs, co-ops, internships, scholarships, awards and future development experiences.
Improve your time management skills
Balancing time between your studies and extracurricular activities is an important skill to learn before heading into the workforce. It may seem simple but learning how to have a successful work-life balance will help you thrive in your career.
Enhance your self-confidence
It may feel a bit scary to connect with people you may not know. By joining a club, you’ll have the opportunity to work with new people on different projects and the more you participate, the more confident you’ll feel about putting yourself out there.
Take a break from your studies
Your college experience shouldn’t just be about academics. While you might feel a little anxious joining a club, socialization is an essential part of stress reduction. Getting together – whether in person or virtual – with other students will help with loneliness and create a sense of belonging.
Have fun
And the best reason for joining a club at Georgian? You’ll have fun!
Some of the Georgian College Students’ Association (GCSA) clubs include a debating society, CyberGrizzlies eSports, military veterans club, table tennis club, psychology club and environmental club.