Campus orgs provide fun alternatives to class

"It's not about what your school does for you, but what you do for your school"-this statement aptly reflects the sentiments of Tech students across campus.

Tech offers a multitude of opportunities for students to get involved, with organizations and clubs that cover a broad spectrum of interests. There are cultural, religious, academic, sport and media opportunities available for those who seek them. With so many options available, students can follow their passions and ultimately give back to the school through their involvement in an on-campus activity.

Jason White, a second-year Biomedical Engineering student, said that students should "launch out and pursue leads." Reflecting upon his experiences during his first year, White said that "being involved-putting your effort in-makes [Tech] your home...that's why you love Tech."

"The biggest thing is to keep your eyes open and to go out and see what interests you," said Chris Luders, a second-year Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering major.

Looked through all the organizations on campus and still not satisfied? Start your own!

Rachel Benkeser, a second-year International Affairs major, did just that when she came to Tech and realized that a Habitat for Humanity chapter did not exist on campus.

"Starting from scratch can be a scary and daunting concept," Benkeser said, but through hard work and determination, she was able to start her own chapter.

View some helpful steps to starting an organization, provided by Benkeser.

Find an advocate. "It can be anyone: a student, a faculty member-someone else there to help you through."

Visit the Student Involvement Office. Rather than just visit the website online, go meet faculty members and administration in person. Familiarize yourself with those who will assist you. "Tech is a great place because many systems are set in place to help you-if you think it should be there, someone else will too. Familiarize yourself with what is already in place; do not be afraid!"

Find people who are interested in the same organization. "You need to be able to acknowledge at a certain point that an organization is not just you. Let the organization become what it is, which can be scary; step back and take other people's input-a crucial step-because you want to create something that will last longer than your stay at Tech."

For students who wish to undertake such large leadership roles, or for those who simply want to become more active in their chosen organizations, leadership courses and seminars are offered numerous times throughout the year.

Despite such a focus on extracurricular activities, and the large numbers of students that are active in extracurriculars on campus, "academics [still] have the edge," White said. This can be seen in the fact thatTech is consistently ranked nationally in academics.

White maintained that while "academics are number one, involvement comes in at a close second."

"You should always fulfill your responsibilities, but follow your passion first," he said.

Benkeser uses a slightly different strategy to balance schoolwork and extracurriculars. While choosing among various activities at the beginning of the year, she strategically decides which semester to cut back on her academic course load.

"We are here first and foremost for school, but a lot of learning takes place outside the classroom so some leadership roles need to be factored in as if they were [taking up] class time," Benkeser said.

Additionally, Benkeser said that you should "make sure to factor in time for yourself that is not taken up by classes and/or leadership roles. If you do this, you will be more productive because you will come back refreshed and the benefits will be incredible." She also recommended that if students don't have time to fill out an application, they don't have time to be in the organization.

Students should bear in mind there is a limit to how involved they can become, especially if they are just starting out.

Students already face many challenges in their daily lives on campus-living in dorms with roommates and community bathrooms, keeping up with classes, getting involved socially-and often become stressed when the additional pressures of organizations and leadership are factored into the equation.

"It's all about the individual; the most important thing is to know your limits," Luders said.

As long as students can develop efficient time management skills and maintain a good balance between their academic and extracurricular activities, they should be able to have successful and rewarding experiences outside of the classroom.