One of the great things about Lawrence is the vast number of student organizations that are out there. You know the scene from Pitch Perfect where Anna Kendrick wanders around outside in what seems like an endless field of information tables? That’s pretty much what it’s like to come here and wade through the hectic mess that is our Fall and Winter Activities Fair.
When you first arrive as a freshman with no less than a million interests, joining clubs is both exciting and intimidating at the same time. You’ll sign up for more than you could ever actually attend meetings for and three years later will probably still get emails for that knitting club you never actually went to anyway. You will, however, eventually wheedle down your choices into something more manageable. For me, that’s meant switching things up quite a bit from my first year roster and finally joining BombSquad in my junior year.
BombSquad is a student organization that is all about bringing the wonders of science to kids. We go to schools, libraries, and museums to do demos that are designed to grab their attention and make them realize that science is something you can do, not just something that you have to read about in the classroom. I know that this all sounds massively cheesy, but really there’s nothing better than watching kids get excited about the subject that you’re so passionate about.
As one of the BombSquad presidents, Charlie Martin would agree: “For me, BombSquad is a great opportunity to interact with the community through a medium that I work in all the time. Sharing my love for science with kids is exciting because I am reminded why I became a science major in the first place.”
The classic elephant toothpaste demo, as stolen from Google Images.
While yours truly is absent from this picture, approximately 2/3 of Charlie’s face can be seen on the far right (photo credit goes to his Snapchat!)
Recently, BombSquad held an event on campus where children who are homeschooled and without access to full laboratory facilities could come and take a tour, see some cool demos, and get a glimpse at what studying the sciences at the college level is like. I was in charge of running the tours, which was fantastic because I could talk about science all day. The kids were interested and full of fantastic questions, which made it highly rewarding.
Clubs are a fantastic way of doing the things you love while also connecting with other students and/or contributing to the Lawrence and Appleton communities. There are organizations out there that cater to any interest you could possibly come up with, with ranging from LARPing to birdwatching and longboarding to improv comedy. They’re also a wonderful way of making new friends when you’re a freshman (or in any year for that matter).
Just remember that it’s absolutely okay to cut down on your involvement if you’re finding yourself stressed and without time for homework/for just being by yourself. We all have a habit of overcommitting ourselves, and that’s not healthy! If I’ve got one piece of advice for any incoming students, it’s to do what you makes you happy and fulfilled and to phase out the things that drain you unnecessarily.