At a community college, can you “get a life?” You bet. Many community college students are surprised to discover that campus life is rich and busy, even on “commuter” campuses that don’t have residential halls. Rarely does a day go by at most community colleges without a performance, lecture or athletic competition. Activities range from the offbeat to the highbrow, and for many students, the social and extra-curricular aspect of their college experience is as important as their academic program.
Volunteering in the community is a popular activity at two-year colleges. At San Antonio College, a two-year public college in Texas, a group called "Into the Streets" sponsors various community projects. Recently, they gathered over a weekend with the Texas Adopt-A-Beach Program to “Give Texas Trash the Boot,” cleaning debris from beaches and coastal waters.
Students at SUNY Rockland Community College in New York State spent part of their spring break organizing a food drive and delivering food baskets to needy families.
Student government provides an important opportunity for leadership. These groups typically oversee budgets of as much as US$1 million comprised of student fees, making important decisions about allocations. Student leaders serve as liaisons to campus administration and hone their leadership skills at town meetings, student senate retreats and college board meetings.
Athletics are an integral part of community college life. Teams compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association and other regional groups in sports for men and women. Men’s teams usually include soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, golf and bowling; women’s teams are fielded in softball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and bowling.
Most colleges have modern weight and fitness centers, swimming pools and other athletic facilities where students can stay physically fit and have fun.
Young Mbagaya, a SUNY Rockland student from Kenya, discovered that soccer was not only a way to exercise his body, but also to connect with a diverse group of teammates and to discover his own leadership potential. “The great thing about becoming co-captain of the soccer team is that being in the role of a leader motivates you to be a better person, to be somebody who can inspire other people.” In fact, Young went on to become president of the Student Government Association. “Once you unite the group of people, you achieve more; the fruits are even better.”
Students looking for a creative outlet can join performing arts groups or student publications. The Campus Players at SUNY Rockland present several shows each year, including a yearly outdoor summer Shakespeare festival.
Off-campus adventures are a popular feature of student life. This fall, a group of students from Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, went on a leadership retreat to Lake Placid, Florida, where they participated in a group activities designed to foster teamwork and the leadership abilities. One activity even involved breaking a wooden board in half by hand or foot.
Many community college students travel to various locations in the US on house-building trips with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit housing ministry. Students join people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
Volunteering in the community is a popular activity at two-year colleges. At San Antonio College, a two-year public college in Texas, a group called "Into the Streets" sponsors various community projects. Recently, they gathered over a weekend with the Texas Adopt-A-Beach Program to “Give Texas Trash the Boot,” cleaning debris from beaches and coastal waters.
Students at SUNY Rockland Community College in New York State spent part of their spring break organizing a food drive and delivering food baskets to needy families.
Student government provides an important opportunity for leadership. These groups typically oversee budgets of as much as US$1 million comprised of student fees, making important decisions about allocations. Student leaders serve as liaisons to campus administration and hone their leadership skills at town meetings, student senate retreats and college board meetings.
Athletics are an integral part of community college life. Teams compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association and other regional groups in sports for men and women. Men’s teams usually include soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, golf and bowling; women’s teams are fielded in softball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and bowling.
Most colleges have modern weight and fitness centers, swimming pools and other athletic facilities where students can stay physically fit and have fun.
Young Mbagaya, a SUNY Rockland student from Kenya, discovered that soccer was not only a way to exercise his body, but also to connect with a diverse group of teammates and to discover his own leadership potential. “The great thing about becoming co-captain of the soccer team is that being in the role of a leader motivates you to be a better person, to be somebody who can inspire other people.” In fact, Young went on to become president of the Student Government Association. “Once you unite the group of people, you achieve more; the fruits are even better.”
Students looking for a creative outlet can join performing arts groups or student publications. The Campus Players at SUNY Rockland present several shows each year, including a yearly outdoor summer Shakespeare festival.
Off-campus adventures are a popular feature of student life. This fall, a group of students from Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, went on a leadership retreat to Lake Placid, Florida, where they participated in a group activities designed to foster teamwork and the leadership abilities. One activity even involved breaking a wooden board in half by hand or foot.
Many community college students travel to various locations in the US on house-building trips with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit housing ministry. Students join people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.