Active clubs are considered to be a very essential part of AUI’s identity. Clubs are meant to host students’ interests by providing them with a platform to express themselves outside of the academic framework, allowing them to explore their capabilities, create a strong network, discuss causes they are passionate about, and even go for the extra mile to create solutions to issues faced by the community. They will play a significant role in your new student’s life. They will help you to transit from your “high school” personality to your “university” one.
Before attending the club’s fair, an event you will mostly hear about during your first week, I always heard people saying, “clubs are just a waste of time” or “only sign up for popular clubs on campus”. As a freshman, I did not grasp it fully and went on to discover the various clubs offered at the fair. Little did I know that when I was making my way to the gymnasium, that day, I was paving the way to my journey of self-discovery.
One could say that being active in certain clubs at AUI positively impacts the overall freshman experience of every student. From an old freshman to a new one, I could only say that clubs are an excellent opportunity for you to form your own circle of friends. To further explain, each club hosts a particular students’ interest that creates common ground among club members. This could result in casual conversations, exchange of phone numbers, and eventually long-lasting friendships. It could not always be the case; I am not denying it, but I have seen it happen multiple times and I experienced it myself.
During my orientation week, I remember a mentor telling me to always be involved in extra-curricular activities because making friends in classes would be very hard. She said and I quote “In classes, everyone is just focused on what the professor is explaining; everyone wants to get the most out of that one-hour class, and thus you only get to meet the academic personality of each student. However, in clubs, you will get to know who they really are, their values, their passion and that is how a friendship begins.”
Moreover, clubs might lead you to change your major or discover interests outside of your academic scope by joining clubs such as art, music, politics, charity, human rights, etc. In the beginning, you might feel confused when making a choice due to the limited number of clubs. And that’s okay. Getting involved in a club related to your major will certainly allow you to have an insight into your academic choices. It could either be a confirmation of choosing the right academic path or a wakeup call to change your major since it could push you to discover other areas of interest. As a result, you might wish to switch to another major that corresponds better to your interest or you could decide to take it as a minor instead.
Furthermore, clubs will play a significant role in your personal development. Some of the most important soft skills that are required in the job market can be acquired in these activities. To illustrate, you will be facing situations, dealing with different types of personalities and attitudes or you may come across occasions where you will have to speak in front of a massive audience to deliver a certain message. You will be obliged then to manage your time wisely and balance between your studies and club activities. Eventually, you will find yourself able to face anything that life throws at you.
If I could speak about the negative aspects of AUI’s clubs, I can only name a few. You might feel over-excited at the beginning of your journey at AUI and thus you will join a lot of clubs during your very first semester. For that matter, I would like to warn you since it might negatively affect you and your grades as you still have not well-integrated student life, and you might face issues related to time management.
You should note as well that before joining any club, research it very well. From my own experience, I joined some of the “popular” clubs and I was disappointed: the club’s board was not as organized as I thought, neither were the meetings.
Briefly, a freshman year at AUI is full of discoveries, including discovering yourself. It is very normal to feel intimidated, shy, or maybe uncomfortable in your first months at AUI but do not let these feelings set you back from discovering the amazing activities on campus. Go out of your comfort zone, meet new students, discuss ideas that may shake your mind a little bit, and be ready to make memories that will one day make you a true AUIer.
