University students, you need to have a social life. It is an essential element in the whole student’s experience.
As a university student, you deserve a highly social life. Your socializing can consist of various college clubs, cafés, libraries, fitness groups, and night clubs. Don’t worry, all of these can be found on or near your campus in a large city or in a small rural town. Just the overall experience might be a little different between the two!
College Clubs
There are many kinds of college clubs. Just to name a few, there are academic clubs, political clubs, theater and arts, and cultural clubs. The most popular are the academic clubs. I highly recommend them because these people are the passionate people who will likely go on to make waves in their industry. After all, it’s not what you know, but who you know that will ultimately help your career.
Nervous about joining? Check out their websites or their social media page first. This way you can get a good feel for their core values. Let me suggest, if you’re still not sure if you want to join one of these clubs, attend the first meeting. This will also help give you some insight on what truly happens in a club. Don’t worry about whether you’ll fit in, you decide if you are a good fit for the club.
College clubs are a huge part of a student’s social lifestyle. This is a fantastic way to start looking for like-minded friends, especially if you’re new to the community. You’ll meet interesting people that you can have great conversations with. When you join college clubs you can develop lifetime friendships. Reaching out to socialize will keep you from becoming lonely, especially if this is your first year away from home. We’ve all been there, don’t worry!
Joining these clubs is networking made easy. It’s a great way to enhance your collaborative skills and your self-confidence. When you walk through these club doors, opportunities start knocking on your door. Another great thing about networking is it will help you build your skillset and marketability.
Are you one of those people who are highly driven and motivated? You’ll feel more successful when you’ve been able to share your knowledge with others. Another good point is that this could also help you find your future niche. If you’re looking for career guidance, you may just meet the right person at the right time. You will want to schedule networking into your daily routine.
People tend to feel intimidated when they start a new job. Your stress level of meeting new coworkers will be a whole lot less once you’ve mastered the art of networking. And the more you engage with professors, classmates and friends, the more at ease you will become with starting new adventures.
Cafés
Cafés are around every corner. They are an excellent spot to sip and chat with friends. My experience has been that the best conversations happen over a hot cup of your favorite flavored coffee. What’s your favorite brewed coffee? Blonde roast, dark roast or maybe you even prefer an espresso shot. Hot coffee and close friends warm your insides. Not to mention, that just walking into a coffee shop smells heavenly.
Starting your morning off with a strong cup of coffee is highly recommended. Sipping on an aromatic cup of steamy hot liquid at the beginning of the day, is good for the soul.
You don’t like coffee? Not a problem, they also serve hot chocolates, flavored teas, Lattés, Macchiatos, Mochas and Frappuccinos. There’s something for everyone. Coffee shops even offer snacks, which are great if you need a pick-me-up especially after a long day. Who doesn’t love muffins, croissants and sandwiches? Trust me, college life is tough, you will need plenty of coffee breaks. Take that coffee break!
Libraries
Do you prefer a more low-key social life? Then a local library will be a fantastic place for you. It just so happens that they will be one of the most extraordinary places you will ever visit. They are full of information, even the librarians are extremely knowledgeable. Libraries are overall an essential resource for college students.
Need some peace and quiet? Librarians are notorious for shushing people. Libraries are the perfect place where you and your friends can sit on a comfy couch, read and peacefully discuss the newest books. If you get enough friends together, consider forming your own book club.
On a student budget? Libraries not only offer free books to checkout but also audio-books, movies, video games and eBooks. They also offer a multitude of free services and a variety of free classes such as basic computer and email skills. Best of all, they also have computers that you can use for your convenience.
Libraries offer small rooms where you can hold a study group, play games or even host your college club meetings. Maybe you’re into local author book signings, small vender shows or even free movie nights. Libraries act as binders to hold the community together.
Fitness Clubs
Another great social place for meeting new people is a local fitness club. What makes this a great social place? You can accomplish two things at one time; chatting with your friends and exercising. Also, you can let your mind wander while your eyes take in some seriously defined, muscular physiques.
Working out at a fitness club is a great way to meet new people. Join an exercise class, a workout group or even a boot camp. Not much into cardio or hard-core workouts, not a problem, join a yoga class. And you can develop a healthy lifestyle with friends. Picture yourself forming good habits with positive results while you’re chatting with friends.
Need a stress relief? Exercising is always a great way to relieve stress. If you’ve just crammed for an exam, your muscles may be feeling tension. Your shoulders are tight; your back is in knots, and your legs are restless from sitting so much. Get in there and get in some cardio and maybe a steamy, hot shower to relax after a hard workout. Did you know that gym fees are usually covered when your college tuition is paid? So, you may also want to check out your university’s campus fitness club, pool and walking track.
Night Life
Night clubs are a fantastic way to wind down after a long week at university. Not only is it a break from day to day uni life, it’s a great way to let off some steam! It really depends on what your personal preference is, there are lots of different types of clubs today. There are the more traditional clubs where you can dance to your little heart’s content with the latest edm tracks. Or maybe you want something a little slower and atmospheric? How does jazz sound? There are some amazing jazz clubs around that are definitely worth a look. Or maybe you want to try something different? There is a new rave at the moment called silent discos and if you’re looking for a good time while also trying something new, this is a must.
There are loads of different types of drinks and everything else you can try but alas we are not like our European cousins so unless you’re over 21 you won’t get much luck in that department. But many clubs offer amazing mocktails, these are simply cocktails, but without the alcohol. You may wonder what’s the point but let me assure you, you will enjoy all the different exotic fruits and combinations. Regardless of whether or not there is vodka in it.
Final Thoughts
College life is one of those weird phases of our lives where we are often transitioning from being dependent on our parents to becoming more independent overall. But one aspect that can be overlooked by some students is the social life. It can be easy to be bogged down by exams and other commitments but having a healthy social life will increase your overall quality of life and therefore your grades too. So, go out there and live a little!