One of the best things about studying at Sydney University is the feeling that you belong to a community. This is helped in a big way by the activities and presence of the Union. The concept of a campus community is something that really gets me excited and looking forward to coming to uni each day.
As I have progressed though my degree I am spending more and more time on and around campus. I study here, I work here and I live very close by. Sometimes as I walk by graduation ceremonies on Fridays in the main quad I wonder how much everyone takes out of their time at University. It’s so easy to see this as a place of study and nothing else, but if you get involved in the thousands of activities and events this campus becomes so much more. My friends and I often wish that at our graduation they would make note of all our extra achievements over the years that are just as valid as our grade point averages. The University provides a great education but the Union can provide a lot of the experience and the spirit of development. I may sound a bit soppy, but wait until o-week where everyone is so excited to be here and you will know what I’m talking about.
So how do you join this community? The best thing about it is that it’s so simple. You can join a society and attend their meetings and events to meet people interested in the same things as you. You can go to a band competition or theatresports organized by the Union. The sky really is the limit with the hundreds of activities every week. You can also apply for numerous positions in the Union such as Arts festival and O-week conveners, student editors, committee members, Union board directors or volunteers.
Some people I talk to ask how I manage my studies and my commitment to events on campus. The thing is, if you are busy then you have to manage your time more effectively. If you plan ahead then you will have plenty of time to maintain a full time credit load and be a part of this community. A lot of the most active students on campus generally do well in their studies also because they enjoy being here.
I don’t want to appear like some God of time management, I have definitely had my share of 4am essay writing and skipped lectures, but I am saying that you can have a life on campus without sacrificing your studies. Also the experience you gain through being an active student around campus will be extremely valuable when you apply for a job alongside people who have only done the bare minimum.
So get involved, have fun and see where this community can take you!