Hi all, Electrical Engineering Freshman here. I know this is a huge block of text, but it’s a matter I’d like to consider seriously. There will be a TL;DR version at the end.
I recently started college at UIUC. I didn’t have any real electrical experience carrying over from high school, but at the prodding of a classmate, I joined the Formula Electric club here. I’ve never been heavily involved in student organizations in the past, much less an engineering project group like FE. But I thought joining the club would give me some experience and be a nice resume booster (not the right way to be thinking about it, I know).
Before joining the club, many of the senior members assured the newcomers that no prior experience is necessary and that members will be able to learn the info they need. But after sitting in on subsystem meetings for half a semester (the club is divided into mechanical and electrical subsystems), it seems like more of a “figure-things-out-as-you-go” type of deal. It looks like accomplishing something productive with the club will demand a larger commitment than I am willing to afford right now. Due to a combination of being a bit drained from classes and a general newbie in electricity (the subsystem I decided to join), it’s hard for me to stay motivated about participating in the club. As things are now, the only thing I do at meetings is listen to others talk.
This probably sounds pretty bad, but I didn’t go into the club with a passion for Formula Electric, and with the way things are going I don’t think I’m going to find that anytime soon. On paper, it seems like an amazing opportunity as it offers experience and connections with companies that interact with the club. Definitely sounds like things employers are looking out for. But I don’t want to continue attending meetings half-heartedly, as I think that would be rude. Should I stick it out for the benefits? Or is it more productive for me to focus on classes for now? I’ve been steadily dropping the weekly meetings since class work is getting heavier, especially ECE lab. I feel like it’s only a matter of time before I stop attending meetings completely, but before that happens I’d like to get some others’ perspectives on the matter.
Seriously, thanks to you if you actually read through this entire thing! I’ve been pretty stressed about this matter as of late since it feels like choosing between my own leisure and a great development opportunity. Any feedback is appreciated!
TL;DR
I joined the Formula Electric club because it looked like a good opportunity. But trying to stay on top of classes and lack of electrical experience makes it difficult to be motivated about club. Should I stick it out for the benefits of the club or just focus on classes/augmenting my knowledge on my own?