It would seem that experiences of failure are honed during the golden college years. This is doubly true when making and inevitably breaking New Year’s resolutions. This year, your formula of failure should be in the form of a new club.
There are many clubs to rummage through and successfully fail at participating fully, but one thing is certain – you will meet new people and forget old habits.
When it comes to joining clubs it’s actually easier said AND done. The follow through however, is a coarse path with an ambiguous ending.
If you are stumped with myriads of choices, start with what you know and hate. If you despise numbers, this year is perfect for the math club. You might find someone willing to share that expensive math textbook or better yet, you might finally find out what the Pythagorean theorem is. If you feel that your same group of friends are getting old and you need some Oriental or Hispanic flair then join the English conversation club and help teach others how to speak eloquently.
“I once joined the nature and hiking club,” said Josh VaninWagen, a digital media major. “Nothing really happened but at least when I walked down the hall, I was like, ‘Hey, you’re that nature guy.’”
Let’s not kid ourselves – our resolutions last as long as melting snow. What once seemed like motivation now feels like a bad aftertaste. This is why clubs were invented. To create a support group to do something and anything besides what you are already not doing. If you are going to fail, you might as well fail with something to brag about or something to put under you belt, put on your resume and probably forget immediately after graduation.
Alicia Bergquist, a sophomore, agrees that joining clubs is mostly about just joining them. “I never really showed up to anything but I still get emails, to this day, from random clubs I thought were interesting,” she said.
Getting out of your comfort zone is the idea. Whether you just sign up or go to the meetings, you are still making progress.
Here’s an idea; for family home evening plan to attend a meeting of the Gay Straight Alliance club. Sit in, say a few words, pledge your allegiance and break down your walls – if only for one night.
Did you vote for Mitt Romney? Join the Revolutionary Student Union. Debate to your hearts content. Remind yourself why you’re not a communist or even more interesting, become one.
If you can’t seem to find your dream club, create one. A glorious club where failing is encouraged and club meetings are frequently cancelled two minutes prior; or if things go well, a club where you make friends, organize a group and eventually learn something. Give it a catchy name and witness your fellow peers join your quest for failure.
