The first few weeks on a college campus can be overwhelmingly exciting, but when the novelty starts to wear off, some students find themselves at a loss about what to do next. Sharks probably want their college experience to be fun, but how do they accomplish this?
To answer that question, three students: Claudia Stevens, sophomore biology major, Kadeem Hall, also a sophomore biology major, and Mariah Knowles, sophomore finance major, came together to discuss the secrets they’ve uncovered to having fun on campus throughout the year.
The events won’t stop coming and neither should you
Part of why the first few weeks of school are exciting is because we have such memorable events, Sharkapalooza and Waterworks, for example. Students may look forward to these events on a yearly basis, but it’s important to remember that NSU has so much more to offer than just the headline events.
Throughout the academic year, Campus Life and Student Engagement and the multitude of student organizations on campus hold events to both support their causes and community. Some examples of past student organization events include Cozy Corner’s Jail and Bail, Kappa Sigma’s Strongman event and the Mako Rangers’ Movie Monday. Knowles said she takes the time to make a note in her calendar of events for organizations she would like to support.
Students are always welcome at events, even if they’re not part of the organization that’s hosting it. According to Stevens, believing that you have to be heavily involved with an organization is a “huge myth.” Instead, she said that students should attend events that they would like to attend, no matter how much they know or wish to be involved with the sponsor.
Because there are so many events that occur throughout the year, it may be hard to keep track of them all. So how does a Shark stay up-to-date?
“Usually Instagram [and other social media],” said Stevens. “I feel like that’s something we always check.”
Following organizations on campus can help you stay updated. Hall said to look out for flyers and posters around campus. If you’re a resident, the security desk in your residence hall will often have event advertisements. If you’re a commuter, read the posters hung up around the UC pit and the smaller flyers that are often left on tables.
An open mind will lead to a good time
NSU has a strong recreational program with an array of activities that students can participate in for free. Dance classes, the rock wall, and racquetball courts are just a few examples. For someone who’s never tried any of these before, the activities might cause you to ask “why bother”? For this reason, it’s important for Sharks to keep an open mind about new activities.
“Try something that you feel you may not be good at and then just do it; you might just enjoy it,” said Knowles.
Knowles said that when she first heard about the hip hop class that she now regularly attends, she was skeptical about whether or not she should go. She said it took some convincing from her friends. Hall shared a similar experience with table tennis over the summer. He said that had it not been for a friend suggesting it, he never would have started playing the game that has become a regular pastime for him during the summer.
Notice how both Knowles and Hall were introduced to a new experience through someone they know. Therefore, it is also important to keep an open mind about the people that you meet throughout the year. Often, the classmate in your biology class will turn out to be a lot more than just a face you see every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“Having a small school, you see familiar faces,” said Hall. “I think meeting people here is really easy as long as you put yourself out there.”
Hall said that going to events he normally wouldn’t attend and seeing other students who were familiar to him resulted in a change of perspective. Stevens said that she regularly makes friends with the students in her classes as a means to both gain information and have fun throughout the school year. NSU has such a diverse population, and keeping an open mind about every individual you meet opens yourself to diverse experiences.
Don’t be afraid to get creative
When all else fails, remember that you can make your own fun with the friends you’ve made and a campus that is open to you.
Stevens said that she likes to hold picnics with her roommates around campus, Knowles said she helped organize a Super Bowl party with her friends during the winter semester, and Hall said he likes to go to the gym and play basketball with his friends.
Stevens, Knowles and Hall all said that it’s important to “make fun,” whatever that may mean to you.
For Hall, it meant treating his fun activities just as importantly as his responsibilities. Perhaps table tennis isn’t the most talked about activity on campus, but for Hall, it was motivation to complete his responsibilities. He said that because he treated it as a reward to himself mentally, he had more fun playing.
Knowles said she ensures she’ll have fun by assuming she’ll enjoy whatever it is she engages in for the day, whether it’s attending a soccer game or just watching a movie with friends.
NSU is an environment that students can enjoy, no matter what time of year. As the Weeks of Welcome come to a close at the end of the week, know that the fun experiences at NSU will not follow suit.
INFOGRAPHIC: 18 WAYS TO HAVE FUN ON CAMPUS YEAR-ROUND
- Scale the rock wall
- Join exercise classes like yoga, hip-hop or Tabata
- Dip into the leisure and competition pools
- Hit the basketball courts
- Play on the soccer field
- Serve on the tennis courts
- Bounce around the racquetball court
- Roam the Cotilla Art Gallery
- Picnic at Gold Circle Lake
- Engage in a friendly game of volleyball
- Hold a movie night in the common rooms with library rentals
- Chitchat in the medicine garden
- Barbecue on the grills outside the residence halls
- Bake in the Leo Goodwin Kitchen
- Create symphonies in the music rooms on the third floor of the UC
- Hone your skills on the pool tables
- Dominate table tennis
18. Explore the library’s fourth floor music collection
