Fresno State abounds with opportunities

THE FOURTH WEEK of the semester is already upon us. Before we know it, midterms will be over and then it’s just a slippery slope to finals week.

At some point we will graduate, say our good-byes and begin the search for that good paying job we studied so hard for.

It’s all good. But there is a lot more to education than attending required classes and getting a diploma in hand.

The university offers so much, if only we take the time to smell the roses. I mean that literally, and figuratively.

I suppose every student knows there is a rose garden on campus, but does everyone know there are over 200 clubs on campus that one can join?

There are also several organizations we can pick from, if we want to volunteer some of our time and there are many events we can take advantage of.

Whatever our passion might be, students can also broaden their education by following it. For an example, I love writing fiction, but have not taken any classes in writing fiction.

I love horses, but until this semester I haven’t taken any equine classes.

I think lack of time, planning and money, as well as responsibilities we have outside of our studies, prevents students from exploring their own passions within the educational system.

Number one reason is probably a lack of time. Most of us are very busy. Some students are single moms who have little help with childcare as they struggle to get an education.

Many of them also work a paid job to get by while attending college. So they have three jobs, college, motherhood and paid employment. Of course, this also applies to any single fathers who are in the same boat.

Students also don’t take the classes they think they might be interested in because the course doesn’t fulfill a requirement.

And of course, many of us want to graduate as soon as possible. I respect all of these reasons, especially since some of them apply to me.

We all have taken, or will take, lower and upper division general education courses. And sometimes we do discover that we love a subject that we would have avoided if we weren’t forced to take it.

This is how many of us end up changing majors two or three or more times. But we can’t always fit a class into our life for any of the reasons given earlier.

So what’s a person to do? Well, I for one am taking a class that will not fulfill any requirement for graduation.

I’m taking it credit/no credit, so the pressure is off. I am taking it for pleasure and to expand my knowledge of horses.

It does require more of my time, but when I’ve graduated, I will take this knowledge with me and apply it to whatever I already know about my passion for being around horses.

I want to also note there were a few openings left over after the time period to enroll was over, so I didn’t keep anyone else from taking the class.

But how does one do it?

There must be ways for more students to pursue their passions, or find it, and have it fit into their personal lives while getting the rest of their education, be it a club, class or whatever.

While I can’t answer the how, perhaps some of you will and find that the enrichment it brings to your education will be worth it.

And perhaps one of you will find that there is a need and will work to get curriculum changes made. If not now, then when?

I just hope at least some of you will be inspired enough to seek out something that you love too.

Comment on this story in the Opinion forum >>