Going to post-secondary is a significant jump and change in the daily life for almost every student that begins this journey. Routines are established, time management skills arise, as well as often new fears and anxieties. Making friends or connections on campus can be difficult and daunting to do, especially at Universities such as SFU, that are deemed a ‘commuter school’—meaning that most students will often have to commute long distances to get to campus or will go home straight away once lectures finish. Shy students may have even more difficulty reaching out to peers in tutorial classrooms or large lecture rooms. However, all hope is not lost!

The existence of student-led clubs, unions, and organizations on campus are often taken for granted. Joining such clubs or groups though, can benefit you more than you may realize. I make this statement from personal experience--if I never joined clubs in first year, I would not be the person I am today. Joining clubs may not seem significant at first, but once you start making a genuine effort to go to their events, or even get involved as an executive member, your world at SFU starts to noticeably grow. The clubs centring around shared hobbies such as music, hiking, or anime can aid with striking up conversations with strangers.

If you’re starting to consider the idea of getting involved in a club or organization, do not hesitate to take a walk around the club booths during this semester’s clubs days! This semester it will be held from January 15th - 18th from 10 AM - 3 PM in the North & South AQ, as well as Saywell & Blusson Halls (Note: on the 18th, it will be limited to only the North AQ). Even if you are skeptical about engaging yourself within a club, it can’t hurt to explore the options at SFU or even pick up some free goodies from tables. I have seen clubs, unions, and other groups centred around food, hip-hop, various video games, and a wide variety of sports.

It is a fairly simple process to sign up for most clubs. Subscribing to their email newsletter or liking their Facebook page can help you make those connections. 

Ultimately, the choice comes back to you. Making an intentional effort to attend club events and connect with fellow students can really make a difference in your student life on campus. The more involved you get within SFU, you start to appreciate your years here. 

This article was originally published on the School of Communication Collective Blog website on June 22, 2022.