I have joined a lot of societies, but the most impactful one for me has been Surrey EARS (Electronics, Amateur Radio & Space Society), both for my career and my university life in general. I would never have guessed that joining a society could be one of the ways I would make meaningful friendships and work on real-life projects.

When I first came to university, I also explored a lot of the other societies around campus. I have been to the Photography Society, Gaming Society, Bengali Society, and Islamic Society, among others, and these experiences were really fun.

To give a little bit of context, I am studying Electronic Engineering, which involves a lot of practical assignments, lab work, and studying. This society, in particular, has its own facility near the electronics lab that is open 24/7. In terms of practical work, it has pretty much everything you need to make things, from mechanical engineering tools like drills, cutters, and files to electronic engineering equipment such as multimeters and power supplies, as well as smaller components and computing resources.

Having access to this facility gave me the flexibility to work on projects outside those hours. Beyond the practical benefits, working on these projects also helped me build strong bonds with my friends and group members, forming friendships that could last a lifetime. Examples include two separate second-year Electronics projects: the stereo speaker project and the radio project.

Another memorable experience was Surrey Scrapheap (making a RC car from scrap), where I had to form a team with people I had never met before, from different courses. I am still in contact with my teammates, which shows how these experiences can lead to lasting connections.

I am still an active member of the society and am currently working on a project with them to compete in a BattleBots competition (making robots and making them fight), where we will compete against other universities.

This society is also just a cool and fun place to hang out, meet new people, and work on projects. Looking back now and seeing how much of an impact this society has had on me, I cannot be grateful or thankful enough to the people who run it and continue to make improvements to it.

I also really enjoy the Surrey ArtSoc, and one of the reasons it is so important to me is that I am the Treasurer of the Art Society. This role allows me to apply my artistic knowledge to sourcing art supplies, managing inventory, and organising events. We hold weekly events on Tuesdays, each with different themes, plenty of art materials, and lots of fun!

So, my advice to anyone coming to university is to give societies a chance. You might discover a society that you really enjoy, even if it is something you never thought you would be interested in. It could end up having a significant impact on your academic journey and make your university experience much more memorable.

I would also encourage you to become part of a society’s committee. Taking on a committee role can help you develop valuable skills and looks great on your CV. Most importantly, make the most of all the opportunities that societies have to offer, as these experiences can add significant value to your portfolio and personal development.

Thank you very much!

Shiam