The Value of Involvement
and How Parents Can Encourage It:
Stories from Ben and Kelsey

Cornell students are deeply engaged in coursework, but also committed to developing skills and learning more about themselves and others through involvement in student organizations and campus activities. The more than 100 student clubs provide opportunities for any student to connect with personal interests, and many students to explore matters new to them. Dianne Timm, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Life, works closely with students every day. She recently interviewed a couple of students regarding the value of their involvement outside of the classroom and how their parents influenced their approaches.

The two students are Ben Melanson and Kelsey Chigas. Ben is a senior political science and sociology/anthropology major from Boston, Massachusetts.  He is the vice president of Mu Lambda Sigma, vice president of the Cornell College Literary Society, president of Greek Council, and is a bike mechanic with the Purple Bike program.  Kelsey is a sophomore majoring in theatre and anthropology/English from Chicago, Illinois. She is an active member of the theatre department and its numerous productions, a Peer Advocate with the New Student Orientation program, a member of Phi Omega, Concert Choir, Theater 4 Social Change, and Power Strangers (an improv team). Not only have they found fulfillment and their niches at Cornell, but they have learned to balance priorities in order to be successful.

According to Ben, "Too much time hitting the books and you miss the social growth and unique experiences that come with a college education". Ben and Kelsey recommend that students get out and sample things they already have a passion for and things they have a slight interest in. They encourage students to talk to friends to identify groups they might be interested in joining, seek out group members to learn about their clubs, and attend meetings and events to sample groups.

Participating in out of class experiences not only provides students with social outlets, but helps them mature and grow as people.  Kelsey shares "Cornell has so much to offer in terms of involvement, and if you're going to be spending time doing activities outside of class, it should be something that's worthwhile to you.  But don't take on too much, too soon - you have four years to try out a little bit of everything!"  Both Kelsey and Ben stressed that parents should encourage students to get involved, find areas they are passionate about and explore them further. Kelsey's parents encouraged her to find things that "sparked her creativity" and would be beneficial to her.

Being involved does have its limits, especially on the block plan. One course at a time is intensely engaging and some courses are more demanding than others.  This requires students to learn about balance, time management, and the importance of setting priorities.  Kelsey shared how she has struggled to give 100% to all that she does and that it can really wear a person out.  Learning to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities is an important life lesson that students learn through their experiences in and out of the classroom.  Ben remembers his parents sharing with him the importance of self-discipline and self-motivation.  He recommends that parents encourage their sons and daughters to take time to get to know college staff.  No one is constantly looking over students' shoulders telling them what they should and should not do, but there are faculty and staff who can help us learn these skills.

Kelsey sums up the purpose of getting involved at Cornell this way: "There's no better time and no better way to experience new things and seize the extraordinary opportunities available at Cornell than to just jump in! Despite being in the middle of a small town in Iowa, you never know where Cornell will take you."