Get Aware and Get Active
How do you get aware? Easy – keep your eyes and ears open at all times. Take the time to read that bulletin in the hallway if you get to class a few minutes early. Who knows, maybe one of your favorite authors is giving a seminar next week. Or, maybe that local band you’ve wanted to see is playing downtown. You’ll be amazed at all of the possibilities open for you when you simply become aware.
Next – it’s time to get active and get involved. Joining on campus clubs and organizations is not only fun, it’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. In the end, you’ll be sure to develop lasting friendships and your involvement in different activities will be some of the highlights of your entire 4 (or 5, for some of us) years in college.
With that said, since I’m far away from the comforts of ole Cola-town, I have definitely had to take my own advice this year. Getting aware and involved has assuredly made a huge difference in my stay out here in Hawaii. One of the main ways I’m active is by participating in the Student Housing weekend activities. Since I don’t have a car, and my little bicycle can only take me so far, I’ve gotten to see much of the island this way. We travel to all sorts of beautiful places that I wouldn’t normally get to see, and not only that, I’ve made some close friends I wouldn’t have come into contact with if I wasn’t aware that Housing offered these weekend excursions.
In addition, I’ve made some of my closest friends at the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry). We do all sorts of fun stuff: outdoor concerts, girl’s night (cookies and tie-dye t-shirt making), capture the flag and ultimate frisbee games, the list goes on.
So…whether you’re about to begin college or you’ve already started, remember, GET AWARE AND GET ACTIVE! You won’t regret it!
Until next time…Aloha!
Me with friends on a Student Housing weekend trip. This picture was taken inside a lava tube, formed from lava that long ago flowed right where I stood!