Did you know that there are almost 100 clubs at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB)?
From pre-med to kayaking, equestrian to poetry, game developers, pre law, anime, gardening, and everything in-between, there is something for everyone no matter how eclectic or specific your interests. “Many of the CSUMB student body participate in a club,” according to Kristen Vega, CSUMB Coordinator of Greek Life & Community Engagement. “But some students are not aware of the wide range of clubs we have and the great opportunities they provide.”
Joining a club at CSUMB is not only a good way to enrich or explore a professional or recreational interest, but a practical way to add depth to your curriculum vitae and professional portfolio. It is also a great way to enlarge your circle of friends and network here and beyond.
Here are seven reasons to join a club:
Resume Building
Club membership demonstrates to an employer that one is able to participate (or better yet, lead) an organization or activities while still taking care of academic and often other responsibilities.
Team Building
All careers and life itself require knowing how to work as a team and be a team player. Although united via a similar interest, membership in clubs is diverse and an excellent opportunity to learn how to relate and connect with others of varied experiences and backgrounds.
Network Building
It is not only the Greek organizations that provide long-term opportunities for career and friendship that enrich both our professional and personal lives. All clubs are great networking opportunities!
Leadership Skill Building
There are many opportunities – for an entire club or specific projects – to serve and take on roles in a club that strengthen leadership skills, build self-confidence and develop public speaking.
Personality Building
Self-education and personality development are life-long goals for successful, well-adjusted individuals. No matter the professional field or non-occupational choices, club participation helps us to learn about ourselves and our interests/goals. Club participating also facilitates the development of “soft/people” skills which include communication, attitude, and work ethic.
Community Building
Most of the CSUMB’s clubs have service projects that give back to the community, be it a one-time food or toy drive, or on-going outreach.
Fun Building
Having a break from studies – with opportunities to engage socially with others in non-required activities – increases the endorphins, builds friendships and adds value to the overall CSUMB experience.
A list of clubs with brief descriptions is posted on the CSUMB website’s club pages, a few are as follows:
The Performers Club provides opportunities for students to share their talents in acting, singing, dancing, poetry, etc. Students have the opportunity to grow in leadership, teamwork and creative expression.
The American Medical Student Association Club views its members as more than premedical students, and aims to provide its members with needed tools to successfully achieve their goals, as well as those of the school and community.
The Garden Club is a group dedicated to building and maintaining the campus garden and providing free, organic vegetables to students at CSUMB. The recycled organic garden promotes community involvement, healthy eating habits and sustainable lifestyles.
The Design Studio Club was created as a place for students to experiment with the latest techniques and theories related to design. Away from the classroom setting, Design Studio offers a collaborative environment and open forum for critiques and discussion. Most importantly, the Design Studio embraces failure as a building block for future successes.
The Anime Club shares Japanese culture and language through the viewing of Anime. In addition, day trips to Japan Town in San Francisco and various other cultural sites and events in the Monterey Bay area take place throughout the school year.
The Equestrian Club Team provides access to equine activities on a proper horsemanship level including: equine care/appreciation, a safe environment, understanding of the English riding discipline, leadership and an overall sense of good sportsmanship. It is the intention of the program to increase physical, mental and social development of its participants through a well-rounded base of knowledge and interaction with the equine and team members. The CSUMB Equestrian Club Team combines both competitive and non-competitive members into one team. The Club Team also provides opportunities for students to compete against other universities in equestrian sports through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
The Information Security Club’s main goals are to represent CSUMB in cyber security competitions, form a community to develop and hone information security skills, and promote positive ethics in the Information Security field.
The Game Developers Club provides students with the resources and tools to learn about Game Development, as well as provide a forum for those interested, along with individual and/or group projects.
The Sailing Club promotes competitive sailing in the vicinity of CSUMB, particularly along Monterey Bay.
So, clubbing anyone?