Meramec offers students opportunities to get involved
By: ALEX KENDALL
Photo Editor Emeritus
STLCC-Meramec offers students a range of club opportunities on campus. Clubs give students with a variety of degree programs and interests an outlet to share and learn from one another according to Campus Life Manager Steve Brady.
“[Being in a club] gives them the opportunity to be involved in organizations that have the same interests that they do. The interest can be along a particular academic curriculum like nursing or occupational therapy or business. Or it can be something that is special to them like something as goofy as Humans Vs. Zombies. But just because something is an academic club doesn’t mean that they don’t have fun,” Brady said.
Along with the opportunity to partake in activities and discussions within the clubs, students also have the opportunity to meet fellow students who share the same interests and give each individual an outlet in their field.
“More importantly they can feel that connection [to other students]. They can talk to students that are in that curriculum,” Brady said. “We try and make it as easy as possible for students to get plugged in.”
According to Brady, just taking classes and maintaining the discipline necessary for school is tougher when students are not connected to the campus. “School is hard enough. For somebody to do that without any kind of connection, one way or the other, to the campus makes it more difficult. It can be much easier if you have a group of students beyond the classroom that you can relate to,” Brady said.
Clubs also give students the chance to continue their learning outside the classroom, and present opportunities to branch out in the community, according to Arielle Byington, president of Sky Club and former vice president of Service of Phi Theta Kappa.
“There are a lot of benefits [to joining a club]. It enhances your personal experience with the college and you meet other people with similar interest. So that is a big plus,” Byington said. “You can continue to learn in an area of interest that you have and network with professionals in that area as well.”
Clubs such as the Sky Club, can create events, bring guest speakers to the campus and use the skills they have learned to develop themselves professionally.
“I feel like I have learned a lot and acquired such a wide range of skills that you don’t really realize until you are actually doing it. You have to establish goals for your club; you have to act as a leader for a club. I have learned a lot as a leader and also as a student,” Byington said.
Students have the option to join a club on campus that fits their academic or social need and have the option of starting a club if one does not presently exist. To start a club stop by the Campus Life office in the Student Center.
“We try and make it easy [for students to join a club]. We have our club days, which would be the second week of classes. There’ll be about twenty-five different tents and there’ll be displays from most all of the clubs on campus,” Brady said.
