Going to uni only to study? No way!

My name is Patrycja and I came from Poland to study BA Computer Animation Art and Design at BU. It turns out that studying is just one part of the university life. There are more things to do here than just keeping your head in textbooks or sitting in front of a computer. One of the great opportunities that can make uni life a little bit more interesting is joining one of the clubs and societies on campus.  I highly recommend doing so to all undergraduate students that might feel a little bit lost and lonely in a new environment.

Ways to find your dream club or society

I found out about the existence of clubs and societies from the SUBU webpage before I came here. I was astonished by the number and variety of them, but I did not know how half of them worked and what they were all about. I made up my mind about what I wanted to join this year during the Fresher’s Fair.  They all advertise at this fair so you can talk to students that are already a part of them.

Art Society

ArtSoc is a great place for me to develop my skills that are essential for my course and to force myself to draw but I also find the time I spend there every week is very relaxing. We draw, listen to music and talk. Being a part of this society enabled me to make friends with people who also study animation as it is run by second year animation students, so I know now where to go when I need some advice about my course or when I want to talk about an amazing new animated film.

Ballroom and Latin Dance Society

This is the complete opposite to the calming and chilled atmosphere of the art society. There is a lot of friendly shouting, energy, movement and social activities involved. It was a society that I could not wait to join as I previously danced for 6 years and it is great having the opportunity to do things that I love so much again. Ballroom and Latin dancing is also a sport so it helps me to relieve stress and keep in shape. The dancing classes are run by students or sometimes by professional dancers that come to teach us once in a while. There is quite a mixture of people there, both boys and girls, undergraduate and postgraduate students from BU and AUB, some came to dance for the first time to try something new and some have been dancing for years, but what is most important is to have fun.

Why is it so great to be a part of a club or a society at BU?

Clubs and societies can be a great opportunity to try something new or develop your current skills. They can also give you a chance to go somewhere like on an organised trip or a take part in a competition. It’s an opportunity to meet people from different courses, countries and backgrounds.  Being a part of a group of like-minded people is simply great.

Most of the clubs and societies have Instagram or Facebook pages, so take a look and see what catches your eye!