Friendship, Movies, and Student Organizations

Hi everyone!

This past weekend was really fun. On Friday night I went to a campus event, and then on Saturday I went to a movie with my roommate, Maya. The weekend introduced me to fun student organizations on campus and made me think about all of the opportunities to get involved in the Carleton community.

This past Friday, the Farm, a student interest house, held a campus event called Friendship Fest. This is a fun opportunity for people to meet other students and ask each other questions using the New York Times’ 36 Questions That Lead to Love (as friends, in our case). Everyone who attends is randomly matched with another attendee, and the pair is sent off for its Q&A session.

When I arrived, I was paired with a friend whom I had met last term through our A&I seminar. Although we already knew each other, we were able to learn a lot of new things throughout the night. I really enjoyed the chance to learn more about another student at Carleton, and it was a fun way to spend a Friday night.

On Saturday, I went to a SUMO (Carleton’s Student Union Movie Organization) showing of the film Knives Out. SUMO is a great organization on campus which has free screenings of popular films, often ones which have only recently left the theater. Films are shown on Friday and Saturday nights, and each night has two showings at 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

Student organizations are an important part of campus life here at Carleton, regardless of whether or not you are a member of one. I am not currently a member of a student organization because I wanted to spend my first few terms learning to balance my schoolwork with my jobs. Although I chose not to join any clubs or organizations right away, however, there are many freshmen on campus who have jobs and participate in clubs. If and when you join a club is a decision that you have to make according to what works best for you (and there is no wrong choice).

If you are like me and choose not to join an organization at first, you can still get involved in campus events without being a member. Events are advertised, often through weekly campus emails, to ensure that all students have the chance to attend. Also, if there is a club that you are interested in, you can sign up for its email list to learn about events and meetings even if you aren’t ready to join. If you have the time and the interest, events are a great way to learn more about the club and decide if you might want to join in the future.

I think that during the first year of college, there can be pressure to join a lot of clubs and organizations. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to adjust to college life before committing yourself to a lot of organizations. In addition, the first year of college is a great time to experiment with different interests and learn which you might be interested in pursuing.

Instead of overwhelming yourself with obligations, it can be nice to choose a few interests that you would like to explore in greater depth. That being said, if you start college and want to join a lot of clubs and organizations, that is completely your choice (and there is no rule that says you must attend every meeting for every group).

In college, the most important thing is to always make the best decisions for you. You will have the best college experience if you make the choices that are right for you without being influenced by what others are doing.

Andriana

P.S. Here are some pretty photos of Carleton at night:

Andriana is a native of Richmond, VA, and is looking forward to starting her freshman year at Carleton. She is especially excited to experience the Minnesotan Tundra first-hand and learn what the phrase “polar vortex” really means. When Andriana isn’t busy staying warm, you can find her binge-reading, playing music, or watching a favorite movie or show for the umpteenth time. She is hoping to double major in International Relations and English, while also reminding herself to keep an open mind as she begins her college career. Meet the other bloggers!