If you’ve toured Gonzaga, you’ve likely heard that our campus has over 150 clubs and organizations that students can join. You’ve likely also heard that being involved is a huge part of what it means to be a Zag. Not only is it a social norm on our campus, but it’s a part of our Mission. “Gonzaga University prepares students for lives of leadership and service for the common good . . . Through engagement with knowledge, wisdom, and questions… Gonzaga cultivates in its students that capacities and dispositions for reflective and critical thought, lifelong learning, spiritual growth, ethical discernment, creativity and innovation.” In the coming weeks you’ll get to know the Mission Statement quite well, and work with some of our student organizations is an integral part of following Gonzaga’s Mission. Gonzaga seeks to foster a community of well-rounded citizens, and those citizens should want to be involved. But wanting to be involved and getting involved can be vastly different things, and deciding what it is you want to be involved with, and becoming a part of that club or organization can be a daunting task.
One of the best ways to get involved early on is to attend Gonzaga’s Club Fair, which goes on in the first weeks of Fall semester. You’ll have an opportunity to talk to members of each club, and decide which clubs appeal most to your interests. In looking at these clubs, it can be easy to try to take on too much at once. It’s important in your transition to college to give yourself time to relax within your schedule.
Becoming a part of a club or organization is a great way to help you find your place on campus. Gonzaga is a wonderful community with all kinds of great people, and involvement is a great way to meet people who you share common interests with. In finding a club or organization, you will begin to feel more ingrained in that Gonzaga community that you’ve heard so much about. Clubs and organizations are a great way to continue making friends past orientation, and begin to find your place at GU.
Finally, just be sure that you’re getting involved in an organization that interests you. And go into the first few weeks of school with an open mind. The transition to college is full of fun and exciting new choices, and what you choose to become involved in is one of those choices. Finding something to be involved with is a fantastic way to continue to settle in at Gonzaga.
Maddy Walters is a sophomore from Douglas, WY. She is an English Writing and Psychology double major. On campus she is involved with GUide Core, Science in Action, Marian (Living Learning Community), and Bulldog Band.