As I was sitting in the Office of Multicultural Affairs thinking about what to write, it dawned on me that this is my first year being a student leader. I had a similar track record in high school; I only became involved on campus during my last two years there and here I am, following the same pattern.
With the limited time I have left here at Assumption, I try the best I can to make the most of the opportunities I am presented. What if I had started becoming involved earlier? Would I have made a bigger impact on what happens on campus? Questions like these cross my mind every so often, but I do not let them rule me because what matters is what I can do now in order to bring about a better tomorrow.
From my experience here at Assumption, I can use what I have learned to educate first-year students who are trying to find their niches on campus. What I would suggest is to find something you enjoy doing and figure out how you can tie it into campus life. If you enjoy what different cultures and ethnicities have to offer on campus or life in general and you want to promote awareness about the diverse cultures of the world, consider joining the African Latino Asian Native-American Network. If you loved participating in student government in high school or want to have a say in what the campus has to offer to students, consider joining the Student Government Association or the Campus Activities Board. If you enjoy helping others and making a difference in the lives of others, the Reach Out Center might just be the place for you. There are clubs and groups for just about anything you wish to pursue on campus and all you need to do is look for them. I know it is not the easiest thing to do, given that the period of adjustment varies with each student, but starting the process early will give you a head start on figuring out what you enjoy doing.
Being a student leader has so far been a rewarding experience. I have learned a great deal from interacting with my peers and interacting with other administrators on campus. This interaction amongst peers goes to another aspect of getting involved on campus: networking and connections. You never know how the people you interact with from different organizations can help you through the people they know. Networking is key in any kind of environment, whether it is work or academic. Collaboration between organizations is also a must if you want to be able to pull off large-scale events or promote your organization. That comes though once you actually begin participating in organizations on campus. In closing, the best way to make an impact on campus is to participate because the idle can only watch things happen, while those who act can make things happen.
_ Freymers Beaubrun
