Column:

Achieve a balance between fun and real-world experience

By Spencer Engel

Published Nov. 6, 2008

I'm a junior in college now, so apparently it's time to start getting serious.  According to the School of Journalism, I should parlay next semester's experience at the Columbia Missourian into an internship and/or study abroad program this summer. I should be getting as many clips and bylines as possible (thank you, The Maneater, for helping me out) and scouring the university and the country for contacts that will get my foot in the door.

Surprisingly, I'm fine with this. I've previously written about how the real world kind of scares me, and it does, but that doesn't mean I've grown up a little bit and acquired some experience for a future job. I've started getting involved with more student organizations, met with more teachers and advisers and have kept my ear to the ground for additional opportunities.

That being said, I'm still having a blast. This is college after all, and I'm an undergraduate student. Nothing is going to stop me from going out, having fun and socializing two to four days a week. Nothing is going to stop me from watching basketball all day during the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Nothing is going to stop me from going on awesome, crazy road trips to road football games. Nothing is going to stop me from hanging out and joking around with my friends.

I'm telling you this because through all the seminars, fairs and other events I've attended this semester, I've not only gotten the "get bylines and get an internship!" message ruthlessly beaten into me, but I've also seen a plethora of underclassmen wholeheartedly buy into this message. 

While this seems like a good thing on the surface, I urge underclassmen journalism majors, or any major for that matter, to enjoy college as well. Sacrificing your social life to work 15 hours a week at The Maneater, 15 hours a week at KOMU and spending two hours a week at four other random organizations on top of your academic obligations will dissolve precious free time that can't be regained for a long time unless you want to be a trophy spouse or live off your parents for the rest of your life. Most of us will do neither, especially with this economy, so I suggest you enjoy yourself while you can. However, this doesn't mean you should spend all your free time getting drunk or high and playing "Halo 3." Here are some rules for you underclassmen looking to join student organizations:

1. Don't join more than two organizations as a freshman. Getting involved is great, but ease into it.

2. Pick a few organizations and stick with them. Employers aren't going to be impressed to see you were a part of 12 organizations as a freshman. They're going to wonder how the hell you could've possibly played a significant role in any of those organizations.

3. Allot yourself at least two nights a week to go out. This doesn't mean you have to do anything way out of your comfort level, but it does mean you should step out of your comfort level enough to meet people and develop social skills.

4. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you should probably re-evaluate things and maybe cut down on your extracurricular activities. There is no reason to force too much stress on yourself this early in college. That's what the workplace and graduate school are for.