Over 80 percent of students report feeling stressed on a daily basis, and this could describe you, according to a Spring 2009 College Stress and Mental Health Poll.
You could try to plié your stress away. Perhaps dancing isn’t your forte and Greek life appeals to you. Whatever your taste, there are currently over 42 student organizations available for TAMIU students. Each organization contains various events and activities around campus year-round, and all providing students with outlets they may be unable to get elsewhere.
According to Jerry Alva, Director of Student Affairs, while organizations are being made available, the next step is up to students. “TAMIU has wonderful experiences for students to take advantage of. The challenge is for students to actually take advantage,” said Alva.
Whether you’re the “traditional” student who takes classes earlier than you’d like or maybe you fall under the “non-traditional” category and spend late nights in the classroom, the college experience will naturally vary. “We are a commuter campus. So a lot of times it’s difficult or students feel it’s difficult to stay on campus, stay active, when it’s so easy to drive home,” acknowledges Alva.
According to Alva, as of Fall 2009, only about 10 percent of the total student body is active in student life. Transitioning from high school to collegial life is the main reason for this behavior among students, explains Leticia Valle, Director of TRiO Student Support Services. “One or two percent of the students know what it takes, what they have to do in college to stay in good standing, the rest don’t know. Very few students are prepared,” said Valle. “Students [that] participate in activities, that are in and around campus, earn better grades. The more time that they invest, makes them better students.”
Whether you’re a freshman or an upper-classman, it’s never too late to pick up your planner and mark these words: Retention rates and stronger ties are built through university involvement. “Someone that’s involved on campus: [students] your success rate is going to be higher. Overall someone that’s active is going to be more competitive in the workforce, going to be more committed to their university, and is going to be more successful in their academic program,” says Alva.
Dr. Kristen Standage, Director of the Advising and Mentoring Center, echoes similar sentiments, expressing that for many students, lack of priority over academics weighs just as heavily as an excess precedence of studies. “For [some] students, it’s really about just not having a life outside of their academics. That can cause burnout. That can cause stress. You can do a number of things. You don’t just have to focus on academics,” said Standage.
Placing all burnout and success statistics aside, there’s more to joining an organization than facts. Active student participation in organizations promotes unity, provides a foundation for networking, and possibly most notably of all, can act as a means for students to enjoy themselves and still contribute back to the community.
Can’t find an organization to call home? Begin your own. For more information on existing organizations or on starting your own organization contact Student Activities at student_activities@tamiu.edu.