The same things that make people love the city of Madison can also be serious problems for students, especially incoming freshman. Our city is full of things to do, places to go, shopping, eating, cultural experiences and if nothing else, a lake! UW-Madison is renowned for its number of programs, courses, departments, clubs, opportunities, you name it. Any type of dance, any sort of beer, any new hobby, any type of music you want to give a try… you can find it somewhere in this city. If for some crazy reason you can't, students especially are given every opportunity to pursue their own individual interests. Whether you start a student organization, custom create a major or simply do your own thing on your own time, there's no reason anyone can't do what they want.
The past couple of sentences have sounded copied and pasted from a promotional brochure for the university, and therein lies the problem. The claims of the administration, of unlimited opportunities for growth and success, are completely accurate. Students are told constantly to ""get involved,"" ""pursue this opportunity,"" ""pursue that opportunity,"" ""join this club,"" etc. We're told, ""this would be great for your résumé,"" ""volunteer experience is vital,"" or the infamous ""grad schools are looking for well-rounded students."" What you hear less often is the important part of any résumé building, graduate-school preparation, horizon-broadening plan… STOP.
Last time I checked, Superman and Wonder Woman were copyrights of DC Comics. No, kiddies, this does not mean they're real. I'm sorry if I've crushed you. What this does mean though is that no one is capable of the impossible. In other words, you can't do it all. So, no, don't pursue every single opportunity you happen upon. Sample this and sample that, but avoid over-committing yourself.
Especially for students born and raised in Small Town, USA and variations thereof, it's pure exhilaration when one day you realize you're facing limitless possibilities for exploration. Whether it is a brand new independence, a move to this great city or possibly just a new mind set, you can't beat this feeling. Embrace it, but choose a few pursuits at a time to focus your energies on.
One such pursuit must be classes. An especially endearing characteristic of the student body at this university is that there are very few of us who scorn academics. In high school, there's the dreaded ""nerd"" label. I'm not proposing that what others think should ever affect your decisions, but let's be honest. It was high school. For the vast majority of UW students, academic success is why we're here. The actual number varies for each person, but the recommendation I've heard most often is 4 hours of study outside of class for every hours in class. They are not kidding. You actually have to study here, ask anyone. Filling your time with extracurricular activities will prevent you from succeeding in your classes, and that's why you're here.
Résumés need attention too, don't get me wrong! Choosing one or two organizations is the best way to go, working into positions of leadership. Choose ones that you are especially interested in, and are particularly related to your field of study. Spend the rest of your time exploring and partaking in small samples of other cultures and hobbies. An evening of salsa dancing here and there, dinner at a Thai restaurant one night, a day-long sailing workshop, and exploring knitting as a hobby when you get a chance is one thing. Jumping onto a ballroom dance team, signing up for a semester long cooking class, joining Hoofers sailing and declaring a fourth major in Apparel Design is an entirely different matter.
If you are going to do something, do it well. Do not attempt to do everything at once. My advice would be to make a list of your priorities, and put it up on your wall. (Protip: School should be near the top.) Look at it when you're making decisions and ask yourself if what you're doing is going to get you where you want to go in life. There's nothing wrong with exploring! If you look at the italicized words after this article, I've yet to declare a major. Sometimes it takes time to discover exactly where you want go or what you want to do. The trick is to take small samples and not overwhelm yourself.
People say, ""live like there's no tomorrow,"" but if you're constantly thinking about what else you could or should be doing instead, you don't fully experience the moment you're in. If you rush from one activity to the next and sink into your bed exhausted every night, angry with yourself for getting even farther behind in your reading, that's a recipe for imminent disaster. Read those brochures, explore your areas of interest, and force yourself outside of your comfort zone as often as possible. But do so responsibly, remembering what your priorities are.
Heather Heggemeir is a junior with an undeclared major. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
