So maybe I'm bragging, but in high school, I was the president of every club I joined and the captain of every sports team on which I played. Life was just simpler, I guess.
I mean, sure, I was always busy, but it seemed like there was always someone telling me which club was meeting during activities period on Tuesday or how many balloons to blow up for Spring Fling.
Now, however, I find that there is no master list of what's going on, and it's up to me to get out there and be active on my own. When I got to college last fall as a freshman, I went to the activities fair and signed up at every booth.
OK, maybe not for the Hopkins Christian Athletes (Taiwanese Student Union), but for Kayaking club, I was so there.
Freshman fall, still caught up in the excitement of "getting involved," my e-mail inbox was constantly flooded with e-mails that had "FREE FOOD" somewhere in the subject line.
Only after I began running in circles and found out that all these clubs were meeting at the same time, but in different places, did I realize that I had to get my priorities straight.
After reflecting, I concluded that first, I was a student; second, I was an athlete; and finally, I was whatever else I had time to be.
That first month last fall, I decided that the "other thing" was going to be the vice-president of the class of 2008.
I made posters, I flyered, I quartered and I even went door to door -- before security became too tight, that is -- to get my name and face out there.
And guess what: After all that time, effort and hundreds of Kinko's copies, I lost. But fortunately, there were no hard feelings; there were still a million other ways to get involved at Hopkins.
I began sorting through my e-mails a little more carefully, writing down which activities met where and when, and then making a schedule with classes, practices, and meetings. I crossed off the list the activities that I didn't really think I could put my heart into.
I picked a handful that allowed me to get involved, still stay afloat and, if I'm lucky, sleep every once in a while. I decided that religion was important to me, so I started attending Hillel more often.
I joined women's group, the community service committee and went to Friday night services more often than not.
I decided community service was also something that I enjoyed and was important to me, so I got involved planning and volunteering at select Red Cross and Circle K events.
I then decided that Johns Hopkins was important to me, and those sentiments were something I wanted to share; so, I got involved as a Student Ambassador, a host, an ask-a-student e-mail replier and an open house greeter.
I decided I wanted to be part of a sisterhood, so I went to all the pre-rush events in the fall, and then went through the exciting rush rotations in the spring, making friends that I know I'll love for the rest of my life.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that last year all of the activities that I was involved in were just a drop in the bucket, a start of a new life.
This fall, I stepped up. I chaired the Freshmen Orientation at Hillel, I served as a student adviser for incoming freshman, I joined committees in my sorority and took on positions in other organizations around campus.
In doing so, I graduated from "member at large" to "active and involved," not just because I could, but because the opportunity arose, and I took it.
If I had to do it all aver again, I'd do it the same way. My advice to those looking to get involved is to sign up for anything and everything.
Treat activities like a new pair of shoes: Try them out before you accept full responsibility. Walk around the house with those stilettos the week before the party.
As the year goes on you'll find out which heels are too high and which toes are too pointy. Pretty soon you'll know which pair to keep, and you'll be dancing your way right up in the ranks.
Now that I've danced the dance, I can walk around campus and say "no thanks" to the guy quartering in the breezeway, and respond to the kayaking club list e-mail with, "Maybe next time I can come."
I am comfortable with who I am and how I am spending my time at Hopkins.
I have time to sleep at night, and I know that I am making a difference on campus as an involved student- athlete, but more importantly, l am learning lessons from my experiences that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
