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5 Things I’ve Learned from Over Involvement

Anna Church shares her advice on getting involved in organizations at Texas A&M and how to avoid over involvement.

You are here: Home / Student life / 5 Things I’ve Learned from Over Involvement

April 10, 2019 By: Anna Church

Anna as a member of Class Agents

Getting involved in organizations at Texas A&M is practically a tradition. There are over 1,000 student organizations on campus with benefits ranging from making new friends to increasing leadership experience. As a bright-eyed freshman and sophomore, I joined so many organizations that it soon took over my life. Although I loved the organizations I was in, I found myself getting terrible grades, spending less time with friends, and not taking care of myself. My busy schedule was causing me to not enjoy the organizations I once loved, but view them as something else to check off of my list.

I reached a point during my sophomore year where I was involved in five organizations and needed to make a change going into my junior year. I decided to commit to only those things I was truly passionate about and had time for. Having one or two commitments I loved was much more fulfilling than five commitments I liked.

These are the key things I learned:

  1. Quality over quantity ALWAYS. Join organizations that make you feel fulfilled in order to prevent yourself from becoming jaded.
  2. Don’t do something just for your resume or to fit a mold. Every organization has value and learning opportunities, and participating in something off the beaten track can actually have many advantages.
  3. Never leave a leadership position unless you have expressed your concerns and have offered help to find a suitable replacement, but don’t feel like you need to stay out of necessity. It is perfectly okay to quit an organization you no longer have time for or believe in.
  4. Make friends in organizations! The people you meet are the best part of any organization.
  5. Don’t get discouraged if you get rejected from an organization! There are so many students that apply and it should not make you feel any less than yourself.

Anna exploring organizations

Now, as a senior, I am much less involved than I was my sophomore year. I am able to enjoy my life, focus on school, and have time to do things that I love. I am truly thankful for all of the experiences that I was able to partake in these past couple of years, ranging from making friends for a lifetime in Fish Camp, to meeting older Aggies and prospective students, and gaining valuable leadership experience through the Zachry Leadership Program and the Memorial Student Center. I am also thankful that I can focus on the things I love rather than spreading myself too thin.

 

The College of Engineering offers a wide variety of opportunities to get involved in organizations.

Explore Student Organizations


Anna Church

About Anna Church

Industrial and Systems Engineering, Class of 2019

I am an industrial and systems engineering major from Sugar Land, Texas. I love traveling, coffee, and laughing until I cry.

Topics: Student life

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