When I was a freshman, I felt stressed that I wasn’t involved at all in school so I joined a lot of clubs.
When the year ended I applied for officer positions in four clubs.
Now as a sophomore, I am an experiment coordinator for a chemistry club, an assembly member in a government club, a student rep in a medicine club, and a secretary in a science club.
It’s a lot more responsibility and time than I expected. I didn’t expect to get four officer positions and was initially really glad about it. I am still really glad I got these opportunities, even as they are kind of low ranking officer positions. However, I don’t really like the chemistry club and and government club that much. I am really surprised I got an officer spot, since I joined because I thought “why not?”. I feel kind of mehh about them, but I like my science and medicine club a lot more.
My questions are:
Am I in too many clubs? How much do colleges value clubs and your position within them?
I really would rather join my school’s engineering team, robotics team, or science bowl team instead of some of the clubs I am in. Some of the clubs only have like 10 people in them, while some of them have over 30. Some people have teased me be saying I am a nerd or a “loser” for joining so many clubs. I don’t know why they feel that way, but it wasn’t really hurt me more than made me think about what I am really doing. I am trying to get involved and find what I am passionate about. Is this the right way to do it?
Any advice or thoughts would really be appreciated.
Why did you apply to be an officer and make commitments to clubs you don’t even like? I assume the clubs haven’t started yet, so I would suggest you try to find replacements for the obligations you shouldn’t have taken on and join something you’d rather do.
You’re not in too many clubs. Holding leadership roles and showing commitment and dedication are two major components of what colleges consider when it comes to your club involvements (and really, 4 clubs is not THAT many). It’s better to be in fewer clubs with more significant roles than a dozen clubs as a “member” contributing very little.
With that said, you have made a commitment to the clubs you’re currently holding leadership positions in and you should honor that commitment by doing the duties ascribed in the role for the duration of the role. It’s much too common even in college to have people bail on their commitments and it’d be rude to your peers and the groups to drop clubs you have leadership roles in to join new ones unless there’s an equally qualified and interested replacement for your role.
Joining three more clubs would be a lot to take on. I’d recommend going to the first meeting (or two) for those three new clubs you’re interested in and determining which one you like most and then maybe adding that club in. You don’t want to burn out or over commit. Exploring new clubs is a great way to find what you’re passionate about.
Anyone calling you a loser for joining several clubs is not only being immature, but probably compensating for their own shortcomings or self doubts. I know it can hurt, but try not to let it get to you. You’re not in too many clubs. Do what you love and forget the haters.
Yeah I agree. I know I should have thought more about that. But when I was a freshman, I was kind of confused and didn’t really think it all out. I don’t hate any of my clubs, but it’s just I was doing some more thinking about them. I just really wanted to find a way to get involved, and I didn’t know a lot about high school.They’re all still sort of enjoyable, but I just wanted to hear what some other people thought about this. Thanks
Okay cool thanks. Yeah I won’t back out on any commitments I’ve made this year, but I was just thinking about overall and what I wanted to do in my later high school years. Thanks a lot for your thoughts
When there are many officers in a 10 member club, then it is a stretch to believe that these are all serious leadership positions or that the student has made a significant commitment that he or she can’t walk away from. Would it be difficult to find someone who was equally “qualified” to be a class rep in a medicine club or an assembly member in a government club? I used to be the faculty advisor of a club in which the students themselves created N-1 officer positions for a N member group. (Not sure what happened to the sole guy who was not the assistant director of this or that.) Now being the editor in chief of the yearbook is a leadership position that would cause inconvenience if walked away from.