Clubs and societies spotlight – my experience at YSJ
Ellee is a first year student, studying Psychology with Counselling, and in this blog she shares with us her experience with clubs and societies here at YSJ.
If you’ve thought about joining a club or society here at York St John but find yourself feeling hesitant or intrigued as to what that entails or the initial steps to get involved, then this is the blog for you. I’m going to give you an insight into my personal experience of being a member of the EmpowerHer Society and fill you in on all of the skills and positives it has led me to gain!
So, why did I decide to join a society/club?
At the beginning of the academic year, I took some time to explore the different societies and clubs that YSJ had to offer; you can find a list of these on the YSJSU Website. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and join a society as I knew it would improve my confidence, help me build new friendships (which as a first-year student felt important to me) and give me a fun outlet from my university studies. The EmpowerHer Society captivated my attention as they offered a safe and supportive environment for women to meet and socialise through fun, mindful activities.
How easy is it to join a society/club?
It is a fairly straightforward process to become a member of the club/society you’d like to be a part of! However, some clubs, such as sports, may require you to participate in a trial of some means in order to secure a place on their team. However, in my case, I simply visited the YSJSU website and purchased my membership for the year and then I was good to go! The Chairs of the committee, Sav and Eve, kindly welcomed me and added me into the members WhatsApp chat and I instantly felt like part of their community. I then kept my eyes peeled on both the Instagram page and the WhatsApp chat as that is where most societies choose to advertise the upcoming socials they are hosting.
My experience of being part of a society:
If you’re feeling nervous about going to a social for the first time, don’t worry, it is natural to feel that way. Before the first EmpowerHer social I attended, I also remember feeling anxious as it was a new environment, new people and a change. However, it was the best decision I ever made. Not only have I attended some super fun socials but everybody I’ve met are so like-minded and supportive. I am blessed to have created some strong friendships through being part of the EmpowerHer society. Over the last few months, they have hosted movie nights, glass painting, bouquet making and so much more! In December, I attended their fundraiser, of which the society raised a fabulous £198.69 for SafeLives; it felt a privilege to have been part of that event knowing we made such a positive difference.
I am now one of the Social Secretaries for EmpowerHer; a role which involves working with the committee to plan and organise our bi-weekly socials. This role, and being part of the society as a whole, has massively improved my confidence, communication skills and overall wellbeing. I hope that reading about my positive experience has helped you out if you’re thinking about joining one of the many incredible clubs or societies that YSJ has to offer!
To discover more about our clubs and societies, read Grace’s blog where she has shared with us a few of the most popular ones here at YSJ.
