I have vivid memories of my first activities fair as a freshman. Lining the main campus walkway were dozens of tables, each with a brightly colored sign, a bowl of free candy, and energetic volunteers. As I strolled up and down the aisles, I found my excitement building. “What if I wrote about art for the newspaper? What if I learned how to juggle? I could do everything!!” Classes were still a few days away, everything was new, and I was filled with zeal to become the coolest, most well-rounded version of myself possible.
I proudly wrote my email on at least ten sign-up lists that day.
A month later, I realized that even if I had no homework, no classes, and no sleep, I still wouldn’t be able to go to all the things that sounded interesting. I might actually have to—sigh—prioritize.
Some of you may be in the same boat I was. You’ve seen the vast array of activities that your campus has to offer, and are faced with the task of choosing just a few to get involved in.
But how?
Here are some things I learned in my quest to maximize college life while maintaining my sanity.
Remember what’s really important.
This goes way beyond your physical needs (important as those are). A strong relationship with God is crucial, especially in the midst of transition, and that means finding a community of believers, in church and on campus, who can help you grow your faith and deepen your understanding of what it means to follow Christ.
In addition to your spiritual life, there are also those things you’re passionate about, which shouldn’t be neglected either. In my case, it’s writing fiction—which I did try to put aside at the beginning of my college career. I eventually discovered, though, that doing without something I loved so much made me feel unhappy and not like myself. Too many of my friends didn’t learn that lesson, and tried to leave out what they loved most in the name of reinventing themselves or building their résumés. If something brings you joy, whether it’s cooking, running, or playing the trombone, keep it a part of your life.
Give yourself some room to breathe.
It can be tempting to fill every last blank space in your calendar with an activity or an event. But too many commitments can be just as bad as too few. Some of the most memorable moments of college happen outside scheduled activities. Also, what seems like a gaping hole of “free time” now will become “naptime,” “grab coffee time,” or “shoot, I better finish that reading time” in a month or two.
Make new friends, but keep the old.
It’s important to build solid friendships with your fellow classmates, but your best friend from high school is still important too. Don’t make yourself so busy that you neglect previous relationships. I realized too late that you can’t keep a friendship alive by liking someone’s Facebook pictures every once in a while—you have to be more intentional than that if your friends don’t live nearby.
Know yourself and your limits.
Take your own habits and temperament into account when you join activities and pick classes. I realized that I liked to hang around and chat with people after a club meeting ended, so I built in some buffer time after my activities before I rushed off to something else. Your schedule should work for you, not the other way around.
It’s okay to be a quitter.
College is too short to spend time on groups or activities that make you feel insecure, anxious, lonely, worthless, or burnt out. If it turns out that you hate ballroom dancing, don’t be embarrassed to leave the club. I stopped writing opinion columns for the school newspaper after three semesters, even though I loved it at first, because coming up with fresh ideas every other week on top of all my homework was stressing me out. Fulfill your commitments, but then invest your energy in fulfilling, enjoyable things, even if it takes a while to find them.
Keep an open mind.
And not just because you can miss out on amazing experiences if you close yourself off. When we step out of our comfort zones, God often uses our discomfort to deepen our faith and grow our character. It was saying yes to stuff that seemed a little out of character—like trying vegan ice cream or learning French—that helped give me the courage to say yes to larger, riskier things that God was calling me to.
And one more piece of advice: Whatever else you do, don’t grab a club’s free candy off their display table and run away without talking to them. Just trust me on this one.
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