A PAGE OFF FROM MY JOURNAL: Surviving College, Student Orgs Edition

     Joining a student organization is said to be one of the essential experiences when you are studying in College. You know what I mean, fresh out of high school, you find yourself in a somewhat foreign place, far from the comfort of some of your closest high school friends and bombarded by this weird lifestyle called College. And out of nowhere come these student organizations with all of their offerings on how to fit in better in this new academic battle ground.

     My introduction to student orgs, as most call them, went a bit too meticulous. When I was just a freshman in College I joined a student organization that passed all the requirements I was looking for which are, first t must contribute something to my studies but is still considerably fun. Secondly, it should in no way resemble a fraternity or would require some sort of hazing as their initiation process. And lastly, one that would not require most of my time. I landed with an org that focuses on counselling and facilitation training, skills that I deem would be beneficial for me as a psychology student.

     So there I was, late for home and waiting outside the student org's room, growing excessively restless and sweating quite profusely. There were 3 stages for the application process, and pretty soon my anxiety started increasing with every stage. "Breathe," I told myself, "how bad can it get anyway?" There was a form that every applicant must fill out with personal information, all of the questions were pretty basic, your name, your interest, your hobbies and the likes. Afterwards the applicant must come in with the form for the preliminary interview. The hallway was growing darker, I was one of the last ones to be interviewed and the drumming of my heart out of the growing panic in my guts didn't help. On my turn, I was greeted by a panel of interviewers, all smiling and pleasant, their presence helped me be at ease finally. "See, that wasn't so bad," I heard myself saying out loud after finishing with the preliminary interview. Shortly after was stage 2, another set of interviewers were seated at the panel, stern looking this time, with not even a trace of smile. The task was to present something interesting about myself that would contribute to the org. I didn't know what went over me, I just remembered everything going quiet and then finding myself out of the hallway, I guessed then that I did well. The last stage was trickier and harder, I was escorted to the opposing hallway from the org room and there awaiting for me were 2 interviewers with their backs turned from the door. The task presented was to act as a dance instructor and that I must teach the interviewers how to dance. The idea was easy, but for one who knows na-da about dancing, I felt that all the progress I did with the first 2 stage came crumbling to the ground. There was no need for a spotlight, I felt so self conscious and awkward, it was all I could do to run to the nearest exit. Needless to say that everything went south from there, I came out of the room pale and hyperventilating. The results of the application came a week after. With all the waiting, I convinced myself that I better get over it because there is no chance that I'll qualify after that hellish stage 3. For whatever reason though, I miraculously passed.

    

     8 years after that experience, the memory still  manage to conjure a smile on my face. My whole org journey was packed with so much lessons learned that I am still reaping the benefits even now that I am already working. The org helped me develop skills that I was not aware you have at the moment.  Exposures made possible by org activities contributed to my growth as an individual with a driving passion that can get me anywhere. Being picky was probably the best thing I did before taking an interest in a specific org, in a way it was an investment for me. I spent time, effort and resources that made the whole experience all the more valuable.

     Still apprehensive of being involve? Don't be, College is the perfect time to discover and rediscover yourself, and you'll be needing all the help available to get you to a place that you'll at least have an inkling of the person you are and the person you want to be. So take a deep breath, summon all the courage you'll need and knock on that prospective org's room, you'll never know of the journey awaiting for you ahead if you didn't try.