Coming back to school after a month-long break can be a drastic transition. Having to get back on track and navigate a new schedule can throw us all for a loop. For Case Western Reserve University’s spring admits, this transition can be even more jarring. There are, however, ways we can all stay engaged and active now that we’re back in school.
First, CWRU offers a plethora of wonderful and exciting student organizations and clubs to engage in. The Student Activities Fair (SAF) took place this Thursday, allowing all interested students the opportunity to explore the diverse areas of student involvement. There are organizations such as CWRU Film Society, which offers movie showings every Friday and Saturday throughout the semester. CWRU Footlighters provides students the opportunity to engage in their love of musical theater. Their musical this year is “9 to 5,” based on the 1980 movie starring Dolly Parton. There are also academic clubs such as the Case Rocket Team, which participates in student rocket-building competitions. And of course, there’s us, The Observer, which is always welcome to new and interested students.
This list is certainly not exhaustive. CWRU has many more organizations to offer—and even if you weren’t able to make it to the SAF, you can still sign up for clubs throughout the year. Visit their websites or browse CWRU’s listing of its student organizations on CampusGroups.
Additionally, the winter weather at the start of this semester can challenge our ability to get engaged on campus. But that doesn’t have to stop us from making the most of the weeks ahead.
There’s nothing wrong with staying in with your friends or roommates and watching a movie or catching up on a show you’ve been binging. These can act as relaxing moments when you can enjoy a shared interest with the people you care about. As we move further along in the semester and face increasing academic challenges, these simple moments can help keep us motivated and allow us to live in the present moment. If you’re itching for competition, consider learning a new board game or even joining CWRU’s Tabletop Empire, which is dedicated to tabletop games such as Warhammer 40,000 and Catan. Card games are another college staple—Euchre is certainly a midwestern favorite.
Getting engaged can also mean exploring your own hobbies, or even developing new ones. If you’re a writer, pick up a pen or pencil and a piece of paper and write that story you’ve had in your mind that wants to get out. If you’re musically inclined and have an instrument that you haven’t played in a while, pick it up again. Learn some new songs on guitar or piano, or try writing your own. CWRU is home to a vibrant musical community and is right next to Severance Music Center; there are bound to be plenty of students who are as excited about music as you are.
No matter your interests and how you express your hobbies, there are many ways to get involved on campus. While the year is still new and there are many more months ahead of us before the semester ends, let’s all find ways to get engaged in student life. There’s a place for all of us; you just have to find yours.