Student Issues / Attending College

Whether you are new to campus or simply looking to broaden your social network, your community college’s sports teams are an excellent way to meet friends and get healthy.

Nearly all community colleges offer students team sports and casual athletic venues to have fun and interact with fellow students. Regardless of your athleticism, all community college students can equally enjoy leisurely athletic opportunities by joining social teams at local community colleges.

How to Participate in Community College Sports Teams, Clubs, and Groups

While students who have earned athletic scholarships certainly possess a unique set of skills and physical talents, the general student population attending community college generally seeks out sports as a way to relax, meet new friends, and have fun.

Most commonly, community colleges provide students with clubs or intramural sports. “Intramural” teams are common offerings at community colleges that provide students with more casual and leisurely interactions. As “intramural” is derived from the Latin word for “wall” (muris), intramural sports generally allow any interested participants to engage in the “mural” or variety of school offerings.

To find out about these social and casual opportunities at local community colleges, students can simply seek out information from their Student Services / Student Activities Centers. If these specialized offices or services are not available, a student can always meet with their campus advisor to find out more details about potential opportunities. Oftentimes, community colleges have full-time professionals

While joining any community college club can help boost your chances of employment after graduation, students participating in debate clubs tend to possess even greater hiring odds!

A community college’s debate club teaches members how to research, articulate arguments, and clarify ideas. Subsequently, individuals actively engaging in debate club activities are often more prepared to speak clearly during interviews, demonstrate a professional presence, and clearly explain concepts and abilities. Indeed, there are many reasons why debating in college can lead to you debating all the job offers on the table post-graduation!

Matthew Lynch, writing in The Advocate, states: "Research, reasoning, and even public speaking skills are just a few of the many benefits that come with learning to be a good debater. From planning your argument – even if it’s one you disagree with – to choosing your words with care, debating can prepare you to take on any challenge life may present to you.

Debating is, by no means, the same thing as engaging in a full-blown argument. Instead, you will have to prepare a compelling, concise argument, which will gain support and backing, rather than simply attacking your opponent blindly."

Networking with the Professional Community

While each community college’s debate club may focus on its unique topics, most debate clubs strive to boost students’ investigations of community and social issues.

For example, Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC), located in Panama City, Florida, is one of the many community colleges providing students

With only two years spent on campus, community college students often find that graduation is upon them before they have taken advantage of all the valuable opportunities available!

To make the most of your community college experience, consider volunteering with community college groups and organizations. Volunteerism can help boost your experience, your resume, and your professional network while providing you with an array of additional perks.

Build Your Resume

Most community college students and graduates are aware of the highly competitive tensions in the job market. To ensure that your resume stands out from the rest, boost your credentials by including various volunteerism activities. Volunteering lets employers know that you care about your community and work well in teams. Also your volunteerism experiences can also provide employers with more insight into your interests, as groups that are devoted to environmental, regional, or other specific causes can say quite a deal about your character.

Include your various volunteerism activities on your resume to show more about yourself as a personable applicant. Include these activities to show how you have gained valuable work experience. For example, if you were the leader of your volunteerism group, explain how this experience has better prepared you for the career in which you are applying. Leadership and involvement are key attributes that can help boost an application and resume.

This video from the Times Higher Education discusses the benefits of student volunteerism.

Could being social and involved on your community college campus lead to better grades? According to the Community College Survey (CCS), there is an inherent link between student involvement and academic performance.

Based on the CCS, student involvement in campus opportunities lead to better learning and academic performance. While many school leaders are devising new ways to increase student participation, community college students should be self-motivated to become more involved in the full collegiate experience.

Benefits of Engaging in Campus Opportunities

According to researcher Christopher Chaves of Community Colleges Los Angeles, the earlier a student engages in campus participation, the better the results. For example, nearly all community college students who participate in a freshman orientation program tend to hold greater retention rates, complete their degrees, and earn overall higher grades than individuals who did not participate in orientation.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, four local North Carolina community colleges revealed: “that involvement in a freshman orientation course improved student performance regardless of race, age, gender, major, employment status, or entrance exam scores.”

Studies support that community college students utilizing campus opportunities tend to experience greater developmental benefits than those who do not participate in such venues.

What Else Students Can Do: How to Get Involved

Utilize Academic Support Centers

According to Chavez, students who take advantage of campus-wide learning centers tend to experience greater academic benefits and performance results. Whether you are struggling with a specific topic or simply want to be fully

Whether students choose to study theater and performance as their major, or students simply want to pursue acting as a part-time hobby, community colleges provide students with an array of performance opportunities. With formal audience-based stage events, and small-circuit drama clubs, students can become involved in the study and practice of acting, drama, and theater by engaging in some of the diverse opportunities at local community schools.

Acting and Theater Opportunities

Seminole Community College (SCC)

At Seminole Community College, students can engage in an array of performance opportunities with the SCC Theater Program. Here, SCC “Combines the education and expertise of an outstanding faculty with a well-rounded curriculum that is built on the foundation of a liberal arts education.” During the instructional school year, students are provided with multiple opportunities to act and perform on stage, while students can also participate by working in one of the many technical positions. These hands-on opportunities are designed to provide students with faculty and expert guidance in order to prepare students for their futures in the performance arts.

As SCC asserts, the greatest benefit and advantage of their unique program is, “The opportunity for immediate student involvement both onstage and backstage. From set construction to sound design, we stress active participation from our tech students and those interested in performance.” If working on the technical elements of theater, students will gain experience by utilizing equipment, learning about the different responsibilities, while also learning the