With over 800 RSOs and the largest freshman class to date, the University’s student body could form a not-so-small army. For reference, we’re about as big as the country of Monaco.
And yet, it’s not an uncommon sentiment to feel a bit lonely in college. According to a survey by Active Minds, nearly two out of every three college students have reported feeling lonely. With so many opportunities and different faces to meet, exchange Instagrams with and never talk to again, it’s easy to feel lost on this near-6,400-acre campus.
So enter sports RSOs. From boxing to underwater hockey, there is something for everyone, and it is a quintessential component of a great college experience.
While all of them host practices at organized times, there’s a wide range of commitment.
For the night owls, it could be Illini Speed, a speedskating RSO that meets at the ice rink for weekly practices from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. For the all-rounders, it could be the Illinois Triathlon Club, which alternates between running, biking and swimming seven days a week. For me, it’s been joining the Illinois Cross Country Club on its Tuesday and Friday easy runs when I can.
With the nature of how often these RSOs train, compete and have a shared goal of pretty much “getting better,” each practice boasts a sense of community that’s impossible to find anywhere else. As any individual teammate improves, the team as a whole becomes stronger. It’s in everyone’s best interest to be as encouraging as possible.
Even if you dreaded P.E. in high school, sports RSOs are some of the most welcoming groups on campus and offer a rare opportunity to befriend others in vastly different majors.
Sports are also great for your ego! When I first started running, I recall being hooked by the objectivity of my times dropping with each practice and feeling incredibly validated by the notion that my effort was directly correlated to my performance. It’s a good philosophy to develop, especially when midterms and internships can make your academic life feel completely out of control.
I’ve found it hard to feel okay investing time into commitments outside my professional goals. Sure, college is a place to discover yourself, but I’m not sure I see myself in the Summer Olympics anytime soon. And yet, sports are a much-needed break from the pre-professional hustle. We are not one-dimensional beings, and it’s healthy to allow yourself to indulge in many different passions.
Sports RSOs remind you that college isn’t just a pit stop before the “real world.” You’ll find yourself part of a team, yes, but also part of something even more important: a community that values effort, fun and human connection over perfection.
So, if you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I should try that intramural thing,” consider this your sign. By the end of each cross-country practice, with each small act of rebellion against a resume-hungry world, I am dehydrated, dreading the soreness of the next day. But most importantly, I’m reminded that it’s OK to just live.
Carolyn is a freshman in Engineering, and perhaps ironically, she likes running … and turtles.
