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Kelley Ware
Finance Manager

© you are new to university, huh?

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,
ready for what the year can bring.
Maybe you are a little nervous or
maybe even quite excited. You may
be ready to dive head-first into the
university experience and all that
comes with it Maybe you have
already thought about clubs and
organizations fo join. If that is the
case, you deserve a high-five. More
likely, however, you are exactly

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where the rest of us were was in our
first year: thinking that it is in your best
interest to focus completely on your
studies and wait a year or two before
joining clubs or volunteering. After all,
you have plenty of time, right? Is that
not sort of thing best left for when
you have more experience? This type
of thinking is common, but it is not
exactly accurate. University clubs and
organizations do not detract from the
university experience; they enhance it.

| stumbled into university clubs quite
by accident. When | was in first year |
had no intention of joining anything until
| had at least one year of schooling
under my belt. | was new, did not
really know anyone in my program
and decided to focus wholly on my
studies. In early October, however, |
ran into a girl | met at some inter-high
school meeting once or twice. We
talked a little and | found out about
a multi-disciplinary meet and greet

__| with the Political Science, International

Studies, and History departments.
Thinking it was a good idea to meet
my professors so | could stand out a
little bit, | decided to attend. One

of the people introducing the event
was the president of the Political
Science Student Association (PSSA) on
campus. Also attending was my new
friend, whom | had spoken to earlier.
At the end of the meet and greet,
we talked a little before she almost
literally pushed me into that young
man who had coordinated the event.

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He told me about his club's weekly

meetings and, because | was available,

| decided to check them out. Now, |
only intended to try a single meeting,
thinking that it would not be something
| would be interested in. What actually
happened, however, is that | sat down
and immediately the members looked
at each other, exclaimed “We have

a First Year!” and made me First Year
Representative. | was slightly stunned,
worried about what | managed to get
myselt into. That moment was a turning
point in my university career and one
of the best things that could have
happened to me. | am now entering
my second year as president of the
PSSA and | wholeheartedly say that
my experience at UNBC is many times
better than it would have been if | had
not been a member of that club.

You see, clubs do not simply offer a
good reference for scholarships or

a line on a resume (although that is
also a good reason to join, extra-
curricular activities do set you apart
from the flood of applications), they
can also function as a shortcut into
understanding exactly how UNBC
works. Here is a chance to meet
students a year or two ahead of you
that have already gone through what
you are currently going through. These
people can give insight into UNBC
that you might not have realized
naturally until you are several years
into school. They can talk to you about
professors, classes fo take or avoid,

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things to do and see, et cetera. They
can also become the best friends you
have ever had. Most of my university
friends are people | met in the PSSA or
people | met through my new friends in
the club and so on. Clubs are another
way of getting yourself known in the
university with either other students

or professors. Believe me, becoming
involved is one of the best things you
can do with your time here.

There is a wide variety of things

you can do or join in UNBC as well.
There are clubs that lean towards the
academic: trom Political Science to
Math and Physics to Anthropology

to Nursing. However, it does not end
there. You can also join clubs that

focus on non-academic interests such
as the Nerdy Gaming Club, fencing,
photography, dancing, and others.
Interested in social activism? Try WUSC
or Free the Children. Like writing? Why
not contribute to Over the Edge?
(After all, you are currently reading it)
More physically inclined? Intramural
sports are quite popular. Whatever
your interests are, there is an activity or
club there for you and they are always
excited to gain new membership. We
definitely do not bite.. at least, not that
| know of.

So seriously, get involved! Join a club,
volunteer for NUGSS, or write for
Over the Edge. There is nothing but
awesome experiences waiting for yOu
if you do!