Hundreds of student organizations filled the Petersen Events Center as Pitt students gathered for the annual Involvement Fair, searching for new ways to connect, explore their interests and find their place on campus.
The fair brought together organizations ranging from academic and professional groups to cultural, recreational and service clubs, giving new and returning students the chance to discover what Pitt’s community has to offer. But with hundreds of opportunities competing for students’ attention, knowing where to start can be just as overwhelming as finding the right fit.
Julia Kline, a junior politics and philosophy major and vice president of Pitt mock trial, remembers feeling that uncertainty when she arrived at Pitt. Now, she sees the fair as an opportunity to help students navigate this experience.
“When I was a freshman, I was overwhelmed by how many clubs and new experiences there were going on all at once,” Kline said. “That’s why it’s so important for me to be here to connect with new students as someone who already went through everything they are feeling and dealing with right now. It’s good to be able to be here and talk to them about places they can come and try new things and find new friends, and help them not feel as scared doing it.”
For students navigating the fair’s many opportunities, finding the right fit does not necessarily mean committing to one organization right away. Taylor Schulz, a senior supply chain management and business information systems student and president of the supply chain management club, thinks that trying as many organizations as you can is the best way to find your place.
“Don’t feel like you can only be involved in one club,” Schulz said. “There’s so many opportunities here and I think that — especially for new students — it is good to keep an open mind and try new things because you might just end up finding that one club or group that you really click with.”
For some students, that willingness to try something new can lead to opportunities they never expected to find. Junior psychology student, Cole Perkins, said that getting involved with Aldercare, a student-run nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the generational gap between college students and older adults, ultimately helped shape his academic path.
“Now that I am a junior, I can see how seeing what new things I wouldn’t have ever expected to enjoy have to offer is really rewarding,” Perkins said. “Personally, I switched my major to psychology because of Aldercare — the club I’m here with — so I know firsthand how impactful involving yourself in clubs and organizations can be.”
While returning students like Perkins reflected on how their involvement had shaped their time at Pitt, first-year students at the fair were just beginning to explore what involvement might look like for them.
Anne-Marie Georgi, a first year student planning to study mechanical engineering, left the Involvement Fair with a shifted perspective toward what her time at Pitt could look like.
“After coming to the Involvement Fair, I realized that with so many different kinds of clubs and organizations active here on campus, you really can find whatever kind of group you’re looking for. And chances are there are so many other people who have those same interests,” Georgi said.
Like Georgi, Suha Rockwell, a first-year finance student, came to the Involvement Fair with an idea of the types of organizations she wanted to explore. But after being exposed to all Pitt has to offer, she found herself interested in opportunities beyond the academic clubs she initially had in mind.
“Walking around and seeing all the different groups and clubs tabling here, I definitely felt a lot more of a want to get involved in cultural and just fun clubs as well,” Rockwell said. “I think that it’s good to have a balance of things you’re involved in. Even if something doesn’t look good on a resume, it’s still good for personal development and growth.”
For students leaving the fair with a list of organizations to explore, the next step is turning those introductions into involvement. Rockwell is excited to dive into this process.
“Today has made me really excited to find my niche and make the Pitt campus and Pitt community feel a little smaller once I get into my groove and find my routine,” Rockwell said. “Finding so many good clubs and passionate people to work with today will definitely help me do that.”