FUTURE first years, I wanted to write to talk a little about joining the University community and try to share some wisdom that was helpful to me in the hope that you may find some use for it. Trying to give general advice to all of you, considering that your class is comprised of so many different backgrounds, experiences and interests is quite a challenge.
Some of you may be dying to get out of high school life; some may be dreading the day that you have to say goodbye to that good friend of yours; many of you will no doubt have mixed emotions about starting anew at college, especially at a place as unique as the University.
The most helpful advice I got before coming to the University was from a third-year student whom I'd e-mailed about getting involved. He told me two things that stuck with me: First, get involved in something; second, make sure it's something you like and want to do. You will quickly find that there's a reason the University has so many different schools and departments and student organizations -- it is the result of a community empowered to choose its own direction.
Getting involved with a student organization is particularly important because it connects you to the University, not only to it institutionally, but often socially: Many of my best friends are from organizations I got involved in first year. As to the second piece of advice, in college, no one cares how many organizations you're president of, and no one cares how many pictures you have in the yearbook. It's all about whether you're doing what's right for you. On graduation day, if you can say you did what was right for you at the University, you will have graduated with all the honors you'll need.
I decided to invest a great deal of time getting involved in student government through Student Council. For many people, it's an organization that is too bureaucratic, too frustrating, too full of egos and accomplishes too little to be worth any time. I thought that was true when I looked at it, but wanted to get involved anyway because I saw it as a great way to help make change at the University.
The first three complaints are true: It's bureaucratic, it's frustrating sometimes and it has its share of egos (as with any organization), but I found that if the leadership looked forward, set goals and empowered students, a great deal could be accomplished.
Last year, we attempted to create an Off-Grounds Housing Office, to have online course evaluations that students can view to assist in selecting courses, along with a number of other initiatives. At the beginning of the year, these goals seemed impossible. Past years had attempted to make progress, but had fallen short. We set the goals, we worked together and we now have both initiatives going forward. By focusing on goals, we overcame the frustrations and egos and everything else that can hold back an organization.
Involvement in organizations is essential to a degree from the University of Virginia: You'll often hear folks say that they learned more from extracurriculars than they did in the classroom. While your professors may take exception to this, being involved at the University gives you a place to apply much of what you're learning, which enriches your education.
For me, it's meant learning about managing organizations, about managing egos (my own included) and about how large institutions operate -- the internal and external politics of it all-- and I'm getting an opportunity to help make the University a better place for all students. That's a pretty solid deal. Getting involved in organizations you care about will make your experience more meaningful and your education more complete.
I have always wondered why folks love this place so much. When you go home after first semester to catch up with all your high school friends, you'll feel a little awkward because you want to tell them everything about U.Va., but you know they won't understand. What's so different? I've come to think that it is this place's ability to engage students in every aspect of their lives: academically, socially and extracurricularly.
The challenge is figuring out what will do that best for you. Perhaps start by looking into areas you're more familiar with, but remember not to be limited. Resist the urge to classify yourself too early as "pre" something. Keep yourself open to this place and you'll find, at your graduation, a feeling of fulfillment that will grow only stronger over the course of your lives.
Noah Sullivan is Student Council President.
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