{"id":10718,"date":"2021-08-27T10:47:20","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T14:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/?p=10718"},"modified":"2021-09-07T09:25:53","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T13:25:53","slug":"3-reasons-community-service-and-extracurriculars-are-important-in-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/3-reasons-community-service-and-extracurriculars-are-important-in-college\/","title":{"rendered":"3 reasons community service and extracurriculars are important in college"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We\u2019ve all heard the clich\u00e9 that college is a time to find yourself. But what does that really mean, and where exactly did your “self” go?<\/p>\n

The next four years are a time for you to find out what you want to do with your life in your post-college years. You take classes to grow in your knowledge of the field you\u2019d like to enter. But college is more than just earning credits towards your degree.<\/p>\n

A well-rounded college experience also includes community service<\/strong> and extracurricular activities<\/strong> to help you figure out what you\u2019re passionate about. Make no mistake \u2014 this isn\u2019t just a \u201cgood thing to do\u201d in general. This is actually a major way in which you will discover what you really want to do in life!<\/p>\n

Here are three reasons why it\u2019s important to get involved doing community service and participating in extracurricular activities in college.<\/p>\n

Check out our digital resource \u2014 Your Guide to Financing Your College Education <\/strong>\u2014 for more information on funding your college degree without breaking the bank.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

 
\nCommunity service is an opportunity to give back and make a difference<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re volunteering at a soup kitchen or visiting a retirement home, community service helps you understand the needs of your community and how you can affect it. It can also push you out of your comfort zone and make you become more grateful. Often, we don\u2019t realize how much we have and how lucky we are until we help those who are less fortunate. Community service teaches you how to be humble and serve others.<\/p>\n

Extracurricular activities make transitioning to college easier<\/strong><\/p>\n

The transition from high school to college can be difficult, but it\u2019s much better when you surround yourself with peers who are going through or have gone through that very same transition. In adjusting to your new home away from home, it\u2019s essential to form friendships and have fun in your spare time. Participating in extracurriculars is the way in which you will more likely meet those like-minded peers and build those friendships. For instance, at Marymount, two popular extracurricular activities for freshman students are being part of the Student Government Association (SGA)<\/a> and the Saints’ Center for Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Extracurricular activities also serve as a way to expand your network. You may have heard that 85 percent of all jobs are landed through networking<\/a>, making networking an important aspect of your college career. As you interact with people through various clubs, organizations and university groups, other people will start to see your natural skills and passions. This can often lead to internship and job opportunities that group leaders, faculty or alumni offer you because they \u201crubbed elbows\u201d with you through extracurricular activities.<\/p>\n

Community service and extracurricular activities provide real world experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

For any internship or job that you apply to, it\u2019s important to have hands-on experience that is outside the classroom. Community service and extracurricular activities are an opportunity to build your college resume and set yourself apart. Beyond the resume, many outside organizations interact with student-led clubs and community service groups, and those organizations can be a gateway to getting into the real world and solving problems outside the university bubble.<\/p>\n

Getting real world experience in college matters, so look at your school\u2019s list of active clubs and organizations, find a few that you\u2019d like to explore and attend their general interest meetings. You never know what\u2019ll come out of it \u2014 you may find a cause that you\u2019re passionate about or meet your next mentor.<\/p>\n

Unique options to make a difference at Marymount University<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Marymount University, our students are encouraged to get involved in a variety of ways \u2014 from cultural clubs and organizations to the Office of Leadership and Learning<\/a>, and more. Here is a list of some of the active clubs and organizations<\/a> to give you an idea of the different options we offer students:<\/p>\n