When you begin university, you quickly realise that the experience is not only about academics. While lectures, seminars, and deadlines take up a large part of your time, there is another, equally important side of the journey: finding your community. Adult life often requires us to learn how to be adaptable and flexible, but it also demands that we cultivate a sense of home and belonging. When you are away from family, that feeling of familiarity often comes when you find “your people”—and one of the best ways to do that at university is through joining a society.
For many students, societies provide the first real opportunity to connect with others outside of their course. These are people who can walk alongside you in the challenges of academic life, as well as celebrate the highs with you. Some of these connections will be built on shared cultural backgrounds, while others may stem from similar interests, hobbies, or worldviews. Whatever the starting point, societies open doors to new friendships that feel grounding and affirming in the often overwhelming environment of higher education.
Beyond friendships, societies also serve as spaces of growth. They allow you to try new things, even as a complete beginner, and to develop skills that you might never have imagined gaining. Whether it is through playing a sport, learning a dance style, joining a debate team, or volunteering with a student-led initiative, the experience pushes you out of your comfort zone. In doing so, it strengthens confidence, resilience, leadership ability, and teamwork. Some societies even help sharpen skills such as public speaking, creativity, and project management, which are invaluable both during and beyond university.
Another dimension to societies that is often overlooked is the wealth of opportunities they create through networking. Many societies host events where alumni return to share their experiences, or where professionals speak about industries students may aspire to enter. These moments provide invaluable insight into life after graduation. But networking is not only about senior professionals; it is also about your peers. University is full of ambitious, passionate students with bold dreams. Building relationships with those who are equally motivated can be inspiring. Iron sharpens iron, and working alongside people with similar ambitions helps you to keep striving towards your own goals.
At the same time, societies help maintain a much-needed balance between academics and social life. University can easily become consumed by coursework, essays, and exam preparation, leading to burnout if one is not careful. Societies offer a healthy counterweight: events, socials, and activities that give you time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the experience of being a student. Far from being a distraction, this balance actually makes it easier to return to studies with renewed focus and energy.
For me personally, joining societies had an unexpected impact. When I joined the Salsa and Bachata Society, I thought I was simply going to learn how to dance. Instead, I found myself learning resilience – particularly the ability to embrace mistakes and keep going despite setbacks. Later, founding the East and Southern African Society connected me to my cultural roots in ways I had not anticipated. It deepened my appreciation of heritage while giving me a platform to share it with others. Both experiences shaped me beyond academics; they made university feel far more like home.
Looking back, I can confidently say that joining societies transformed my time at university. They gave me community, growth, opportunities, balance, and lessons that I will carry long after graduation. University is about much more than simply earning a degree, it is about becoming the kind of person who can step confidently into the next stage of life. Societies played a central role in that journey for me, and I would encourage every student to explore them.
