SLLC Member Mickkayla Erbach
College, work, and other facets of life are time-consuming, often fighting to get as much of you as possible. As a college student, you may find yourself busy, overworked, or questioning the value of all of your obligations. Nearly everything requires your time, attention, and effort. In such a fast-paced world where you’re expected to be busy and do so much, it’s very likely you’ll find yourself asking, “Is this really worth my time? How does this benefit me?” You may be hesitant about joining a club, wondering if it is worth the commitment or if it will benefit you. Hesitate no more! As a member of the Student Life Leadership Club (SLLC) and other clubs, I’ve decided to break down five of the many benefits of being a club member.
Benefit #1- Networking: Making Friends, Interacting With Staff, etc.
By joining a student club, you will be opening the door to plenty of new connections. You’ll meet other college students who could potentially become your new best friends, future colleagues, or who will add value to your life in another way. For example- I attended a meeting virtually for the SLLC and was introduced to other members I soon became close friends with. If it wasn’t for joining the club, I might not have the diverse friend group I have today! Along with meeting new friends, I have been able to talk to staff who have given me life, college, and work advice that I wouldn’t have received otherwise.
Benefit #2- Better Time Management
Contrary to popular beliefs, clubs won’t drain all of your time. They will facilitate an understanding of time and how to manage it. In a club, you will be planning events and witnessing the progress that takes place over time while creating them, leading to a better grasp of time. This better understanding of managing your time could help you strategize new ways to manage your time in all other areas of life, beyond the club or classroom.
Benefit #3- Event Planning
Have you ever been to a party where you realized you’d rather be at home? An event that was way too boring and didn’t meet anyone’s expectations? Or a “fun” activity where nobody was actually having fun? Never attend these again! When you’re in a club, you’ll be participating in creating events. You’ll be able to create events that WILL be a fun, worthwhile, and exciting experience for you and others! In addition to your enjoyment of the event, you’ll gain a feeling of satisfaction that comes only with knowing you made something that brought joy to yourself and your college community.
Benefit #4- Enhanced Skillset
Clubs do many things, from planning college events to working with the surrounding community. When completing the tasks of the club, you will be enhancing your skillset. You may learn how to work with various software, be a leader, speak publicly, manage your time, interact with people of different backgrounds, etc. Your growth potential is limitless when you’re immersed in a group of people who are also learning, growing with you, and encouraging you. The skills you refine when working in the club will help you in other areas of your life as well. For example- I learned how to create online posters when creating an event for SLLC, and that skill helped me when I had to develop a plan for my business class project.
Benefit #5- Financial Gains
As a college student, you’ll take all of the financial gains you can get, right? Being in a club may offer you present or future economic assistance. Currently, some Baker College clubs offer scholarships for members. These scholarships could help pay for housing, schooling, or other educational expenses. If a club doesn’t offer scholarships or financial assistance, you may still notice financial gains in the future. By putting your club participation on a resume, you could increase the likelihood of an employer hiring you or increasing your wages because of the experience and skills you acquired while in a club. Employers look for experienced people with leadership, technology, and communication skills- all easily obtained when in a club.
These are just five of the numerous benefits you receive when being in a club. I encourage you to join a club and see your life satisfaction increase. If you are still hesitant about joining a club after reading this, speak to members of clubs on your campus or trusted staff. A club can lead to growth, relationships, and many more positive benefits that will continue to appear throughout your life. Join a club and embrace the benefits!
If you want to learn more about joining the Student Life Leadership Council and other student clubs at Baker College, visit our My Baker Student Life page!
