Explore your interests and get involved
There’s always something happening at CU Boulder! Getting involved gives you the opportunity to meet new people, explore your interests, and make a positive, lasting impact. Here are two Journey Leader Mentors with tips on how to get involved:
Hello new Buffs!
I’m AJ, a third year mechanical engineering student here at the university. I’m from the distant land of Idaho. I’m the president of the tango club, vice-president of the tabletop gaming club, co-president of the lasertag smash and pancakes club, and former senator for the engineering quad residence hall association. I like trying new things, which has led me to fall madly in love with tango, but I also enjoy gaming, skiing, watching fine cinema, playing board games, fixing cars, cooking, being active, and generally having a good time. You can usually find me studying, in a club meeting, or in the gym (seven days without exercise makes one weak, you know?).
If you’ve read my bio, I think it’s fairly obvious that I have jumped in with both feet here at CU. There’s a lot of opportunities on campus for getting to meet new people and try new things but the hardest part is actually figuring out what is going on at any given time. Here’s some of my tips for finding the events you want:
Look around. I know, it seems a bit underwhelming to be the first tip, but hear me out. In each building on campus, there will be multiple areas with posting boards that fill up with posters. These posting boards are how I found a lot of cool activities that happen around campus, since anyone can usually add to them. Taking 10 minutes to read through the posters hung in the locker rooms of the rec, engineering center, UMC, or any of the large buildings on campus can lead to many opportunities. Additionally, many clubs will write in chalk on sidewalks around campus. These are also worth checking out like the posters are, since many clubs will do one or the other, but rarely both. I once followed a chalk path and found free food, just saying.
Reach out. People who run organizations are always excited to have new people (or returning people) reach out to them (speaking from experience). If their website or facebook is looking a bit underused, sometimes they just don’t use that piece of media to its fullest, but they are still running. You’ll get all the information you need (and probably a bit more) straight from the leadership of the club and sometimes even make friends with them.
Talk to people (including your professors). Often, the best resource is other people on campus. People who have been there longer have had more time to learn about programs and organizations that are around. Talking with fellow students can be a great way to find opportunities that otherwise aren’t very well known. The best people, however, for obscure programs and opportunities are the professors. I’ve talked with a few of my professors about random subjects and sometimes they happen to know of an opportunity that you’d be interested in. Many professors have been around longer than any student and I think they are an untapped resource.
Read emails (and especially CU Boulder Today). Sometimes opportunities literally do just turn up at your desk, courtesy of your CU email. Student orgs, internships, job positions, and local events sometimes just send an email your way, should you choose to read them. The best emails, though, are from CU Boulder Today. They put out an edition at the beginning of the week for 10+ opportunities that are happening just that week, and another 5-7 for the weekend. They’re doing a great job over there and you should definitely take advantage.
Hopefully these tips will help you find what you’re looking for in the upcoming semester. Good luck and have fun out there. Peace!
Will is a current Senior at CU Boulder from Los Angeles, California. He is majoring in Film Studies with an emphasis in Production. Will plans on entering the entertainment business after he graduates this May. Outside of the classroom, Will loves watching Movies, playing Ice hockey, cooking, doing crafts, playing video games, and hanging with friends and family. His favorite animals are dogs and kangaroos.
I would go to anything that has you interested! Check out the be involved fair, go to a club meeting that sounds like fun, get with some of your new friends and explore the rec center for activities. Just throw yourself into the mix!
Let me know if you have any questions!
If you ever want to connect with a Journey Leader Mentor, feel free to call or text +1-303-492-4431, email welcome@colorado.edu, or chat on our website here. You can also schedule a virtual appointment with a Journey Leader to answer any of your questions about life at CU Boulder through Buff Portal Advising.