I would consider myself a time-conscious person; by that, I mean that I have mentally clocked the exact time it takes to get from Point A to Point B on campus. From my freshman dorm, Hotz Hall, to the Arkansas Union? Seven minutes. From the Union to Kimpel Hall? Anywhere from four to six, depending on the time of day and sidewalk traffic level. The longest route? Probably from anywhere to Champions Hall, with an average walk time of at least ten minutes. Despite having these exact times, I would often find myself speed-walking and taking shortcuts, making up for any delays that threw off that hairpin estimate. I was no stranger to feeling late or behind, and no matter how often it happened, I still despised that feeling.
Coming to the Hill for my freshman year, I assumed it would be easy to foresee my future and plot out my next steps. My parents are both alumni of our university; my grandparents lived in NWA for over 45 years; I’ve attended Razorback football games since I was five years old in a mini cheer uniform with red and white pom-poms. In many ways, I had been primed my entire life for college in Fayetteville, for the moment when I could call myself an official Razorback and tangibly foresee my name etched in stone on Senior Walk in just a short four years.
Yet, my first semester of my freshman year did not always feel like that first, long-awaited step within a four-year design. I didn’t have a Cinderella moment where the collegiate shoe magically fit. I didn’t automatically know what I was doing or where exactly I fit in. As my first months on campus flew by, I found that, despite the friends made, organizations joined, and classes taken, I still had that same feeling in the pit of my stomach: I felt behind. I compared myself to other people’s research, internships, jobs, and leadership, and wondered if after all this anticipation, I had simply missed the train. Was I late to the party for my own college experience?
You may feel this way, too, no matter where you are in your college experience. Maybe this last semester was everything you hoped it would be and more, or maybe you are wondering if there is something else that has eluded you thus far, something that makes you wonder if you are too late to enjoy. Either way: take a big breath in and let yourself relax. Now sitting over 2.5 years into my college experience, I can say with confidence: it is not too late, you are not behind, and it is going to be okay. For me, many of the organizations I am now involved in I didn’t even know about until the end of my freshman year or later. For example, I am a junior and currently serving as a Fulbright Honors Peer Mentor for the first time. An organization near and dear to my heart, SOOIE (Student Organization Outreach and Involvement Experience), was not on my radar until the March of my freshman year (and I did not know the acronym meaning by heart until the following October). The career goals I had at the start of college are different from those I have now, and despite my attachment to it, my “Four Year Plan” spreadsheet is ever-changing. (I do actually have one of those, but it is definitely not a requirement for success.) Every person’s college experience looks different, and everyone moves at their own pace. That is perfectly okay.
If you are wishing to find a way to plug into campus, a place to engage, lead, or even just connect with new people and find that community that makes the Hill feel more like home, I assure you it is not too late. Every day, week, month, and semester offers multiple opportunities to do just that.
- Feeling lost on where to start looking for new Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) to be involved in? Scroll around on Hogsync to see all of the active RSOs on campus and RSO officer contact information.
- Needing a little more help? Schedule a 1:1 Involvement Consultation with a SOOIE Involvement Ambassador, who can meet with you virtually to talk about your interests and what organizations might be the best fit for you. Also, keep your eyes out over the next few months for Involvement Fairs, which allow you to talk to multiple RSOs at a time.
- Wondering where you can get engaged in your academic college? Contact a professor or department chair to see what opportunities they would recommend for research, classes, department activities, or even internships.
- Wanting to study abroad in the post-pandemic future? Drop in with a Study Abroad Advisor at their virtual Walk-In Wednesdays to ask any questions you have or start researching possibilities at hogsabroad.uark.edu.
- Looking to serve your campus and broader NWA community? Check out the great programs that the Volunteer Action Center offers or look for individual opportunities on Givepulse.
- Interested in attending events that students, faculty, and staff are all continuing to help provide? Check out the awesome programs that organizations like University Programs (@uparkansas), the Associated Student Government (@uarkasg), the Distinguished Lectures Committee (@uarklectures), the Multicultural Center (@uark_mc), the UARK Honors College (@uarkhonors), SOOIE (@uofasooie), UARK Housing (@uarkhousing) and so many other RSOs are providing for students. Other good sources for what’s happening include @uarkgetinvolved, @students_on_the_hill, and the Arkansas News emails you receive.
College isn’t a walk that you can perfectly time. It doesn’t run on an exact schedule, and you can’t always speed-walk to make up for lost time. Instead of fearing being left behind, be confident in looking ahead and focusing on what you can do, not what you can’t. Know that it is never too late to find something to be passionate about, something to work towards, and some way to lead, all while hopefully enjoying it all along the way.
Woo Pig, and best of luck!
