We all know that the Bunfight inspires us to join every society we could possibly imagine, but there will come a time to sift through the flyers and the Facebook notifications to choose which ones you are going to stick to. To help you along with that, here are some reasons why getting involved at university is the best thing you can do.
Meeting people
Whether you’re a Fresher or a finalist, it’s always great to have a group of friends outside of your house – even if you love your housemates dearly. Joining a society will give you a whole new friendship group, and the more people you make friends with, the more choice you have of who to live with in future years.
Keeping busy
Everyone misses home at some point, and societies are a great way to take your mind off of anything that is going on and remember that everyone is in the same boat. Societies are generally very flexible in terms of time commitments, so you can fit them around your studies.
Stress relief
It’s great to have a stress outlet whilst at University, especially when exam and deadline seasons hit. It’s the perfect way to schedule a well-needed revision break and be productive at the same time.
Whether you choose to delve into one of the Students’ Union’s 90 sports clubs for stress relief, or you’d prefer to let off steam in the performing arts or student media side of things, societies can be a great way to keep your mind occupied and allow you to keep a balance between your studies and social life.
Other benefits
Societies are beneficial for your CV too. Being involved with a club at University shows that you are proactive, and will allow you to develop more skills that will be transferable to the career that you end up in.
You’ll also get the chance to run for committee positions, which is an added bonus. Committee positions will give you invaluable leadership skills, and it’s also great to be part of a closer team within a society.
Fun
Ultimately, the main element of societies should just be that they are fun to do. It’s not just sports: no matter what you are interested in, there’s probably a society for it – and if not, get enough people together and you can apply to create one.
How to join
For Freshers’, your best bet for signing up will have been the Bunfight. But if you missed out, or you’re a returning student, it’s easiest if you seek out your desired society on the Students’ Union website and register your interest online.
You don’t have to join a society straight away though, so no need to panic. Most clubs will let you join throughout the year too.
Student lifestyle posts which reflect the interests of our students are written by Student Communications Assistants and do not reflect the research, guidance or opinions of the University of the Southampton. If you have feedback or want to suggest ideas for this section, please submit an email.