When students are on campus, they can find student-led clubs and organizations where they can start to explore their interests for involvement. If there isn't a club that already exists, students are also able to create their own.
Getting involved on campus and building community is important because it motivates people to take action for a cause. For example, one of the many clubs or organizations on campus might contribute to a food bank. In fact, Whittier College's chapter of the Food Recovery Network has donated thousands of pounds of food to a nearby soup kitchen. When other people notice that involvement, that might just be the inspiration for them to get involved, too.
Getting involved in clubs can also provide opportunities to share personal experiences and knowledge in the community. For example, someone on a panel might share a time when they experienced discrimination, and this might lead to further dialogue on the topic. Having a conversation about critical topics affecting the community is important because people become educated and aware of an issue. In a respectful manner, people can figure out ways to become an ally of a cause or to people being affected by an issue.
When we get involved in the community, we also interact with people from different backgrounds, ethnicity, and genders. Diversity and inclusion in the community is crucial because it's a way of not suppressing minorities and helping people feel included. It's important to point out that when we are uplifting each other in community, we are not the only ones to benefit—but the community does, as a whole.
Getting involved can have an impactful experience on your identity. You get more out of the experience when you do more than show up and give of your time. Immersing yourself in the mission or movement, and trying to get to know the people around you, is part of the experience of getting connected and you don't want to miss out on it.
If you're thinking that your efforts do not have a significant impact, I would argue that your input in making a change matters because, without your presence, the cause as a whole weakens. It takes efforts from all of us to make a change. I would encourage you to find an organization that lines up with your values and figure out how you can start getting involved.
