Find your passion. Find yourself. Get involved.
Our students are passionate and immerse themselves in every aspect of Wildcat life.
With more than 500 clubs and organizations on our campus, there is something for everyone. From clubs related to your major to student government to CatCall A Cappella and Elevation Ski and Snowboard Club, there are endless opportunities for student involvement!
Getting involved means more than fun and friends. Many of our students unlock lifelong passions when they take the leap and embrace new opportunities. James Allen, Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA) Student Body President, is living proof that you never know where college, and getting involved, will take you. “When I first went to apply to college… I had no idea where I would end up,” says the senior from Northern California. “I was looking for a true college experience, with a strong sense of community.”
So how exactly did James go from that uncertainty and nervousness to student body president? And how did he manage to find that sense of community he was looking for?
He got involved.
During his sophomore year James took those important first steps, “I started my involvement with ASUA as the Safety Executive Director on the Student Body President’s Cabinet.”
It was that first necessary bit of action that unleashed a passion James never knew he had. “Through my position, I first realized how much I enjoyed student advocacy and representation… I started my junior year working directly under the President as Chief of Staff… I knew by the spring of 2011 that I wanted to run for office as Student Body President.”
Beyond the excitement of representing the entire student body, James found an environment where he thrived and that gave him opportunities to discover something he truly loved. “ASUA is a second home and an organization that I care deeply about.”
James now looks back upon his uncertainty as a prospective student with a new understanding, “The University of Arizona offered a niche for every type of student,” he says. “Whether one sought leadership development opportunities, rigorous academic challenges or a social atmosphere that embodies the spirit of what college is all about.”
And when it comes to advice for students who may be nervous about diving in, James recommends keeping it simple. “Trust your instincts,” he advises. “You can never be absolutely certain before you take the plunge, but chances are if you are looking into the University of Arizona, there is something within you that recognizes the awesome experience here. If you apply and attend our university with an open mind and a bit of courage, you will see that this is an experience you’ll wish would never end.”
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