Joining a society

Attending university can be a daunting task. Initial problems for freshers include moving to a completely unfamiliar town or city, being unsure of what to anticipate, and the difficulty of making friends. Fortunately, almost everyone is in the same situation, and there may be an all-encompassing answer to these issues.

Being a new international student at the university was really daunting for me. The most comforting feeling was realising that thousands of other overseas students had started this adventure alongside me. We all came from different backgrounds and countries, but we shared the same goal: to make our university feel like home.

You may have noticed vibrant posters and stands that appeared out of nowhere during your first week at university. You hear voices pleading with you to become a member of society. You may view societies as an obstacle if your top objective is education. However, students frequently forget that there are numerous advantages to becoming involved in a club while at university.

Discover your interests

Universities have a wide variety of ethnocultural and interest-based societies as well as sports clubs that would tick anyone’s boxes. In our society, students can locate exactly what they need. You also have the option to explore if you are unclear about where your interests lie. The majority of societies provide people with the chance to try out their activities for a short period of time. This will enable you to assess whether they are a good fit for you. Perhaps you'll discover that you have interests in areas you had no idea you had!

Platform to Socialise

Making new friends in a new place is a bit of a challenge for anyone. But hanging out with friends makes your time at university so much better. You might wonder how you can make friends in a foreign country or university. Well, apart from your classroom, a society might be the next best thing. In fact, society might be exactly where you find your new best friend.

Societies match you with people with the same background or interests as you. One of the many benefits of joining a society at a university is that you get to meet new people. Sharing an interest in the same society is a massive conversation starter. Socialising on Saturday nights at a society event would make your university experience a lot more lively and memorable. You might even make friendships that could last a lifetime.

I formed a close relationship with the societies of my institution as well as the staff of resident student assistants. The projects created by the clubs and groups I was a part of, coupled with the warm smiles and cheers behind them, showed an unending network of love, generosity, and support.

Societies I worked with

I joined societies of my interest, for example, "the Islamic Society" (ISOC). This society aims to raise awareness about Islam and support both Muslims and non-Muslims within it. Other than supporting the university and its faculty, staff, and students, there are groups that assist regional concerns. This comprises the liberation of Kashmir. The goal of this society is to raise awareness about Kashmir's reality and ways that we may help the locals there who are most affected by the ongoing conflict. Since there is so little media coverage of the region, the society's goals include raising money to aid the victims, planning awareness campaigns, and holding events to inform the public about what is happening in Kashmir right now.

I was also lucky enough to find the Pakistan Society. The aim of this society is to represent the Pakistani community and provide opportunities for members to meet each other and socialise. They welcome all, regardless of ethnicity or religion, and host fun events frequently, such as Chai nights, Game nights, dholki, and so much more.

My Experience

It is safe to say that getting involved in the community spirit of clubs, societies, sports, activities, and events on campus can make one's university life much more rewarding due to the extensive network of community and chances to develop self-confidence and a sense of belonging.

During the daunting days of my first year, the generosity and support I found through joining societies were a real game-changer.

Participating in clubs, societies, events, sports, or other student group activities offers students the opportunity to be a part of an experience that is bigger than themselves, whether it be performing on stage, competing in a competition, or organising an event.

These events gave me a lot of confidence and made me feel like the world was my oyster.