Continuing Extracurriculars in College

How I found my niche at IU

“Are you going to cheer in college?” was a question I was frequently asked in high school. I had been a cheerleader for almost 12 years and had danced since I was 4, so naturally my family and friends wanted to know how I would give that up after committing myself to it for long. I always replied “no, I want to focus on my studies,” thinking extracurriculars would never be a possibility with a college work load. I was so wrong.

One night I was sitting with a friend. I had just finished my last season as a cheerleader and was approaching graduation. They asked again, “Are you going to cheer in college?” I quickly replied no.

Then they asked about dance. I grabbed my computer and looked up “IU dance team” to see what I would find. I found a list of IU’s spirit teams and saw “IU RedSteppers,” and in that moment I began the next chapter of my life.

The Next Chapter

I found that the RedSteppers had auditions every April and decided to try out. I didn’t know anyone at IU and didn’t prepare at all, so I felt like I didn’t have anything to lose. I didn’t tell a soul and made my way to Bloomington from Dayton, Ohio for the 1 day audition. I walked into Marching Hundred Hall filled with 70 women, stretching and talking amongst themselves. I grabbed a sticker with #17 on it and I made my way to the back.

The clinic was intense. We learned 3 dances: a jazz routine, a hiphop routine, and the choreography for IU’s school song, “Indiana Our Indiana.” I remember the hiphop routine being very intimidating. It was a long dance and I didn’t have a lot of background in hiphop so I had some trouble. We then had a break for 2 hours where we could review the dances and get some food. I must have ran the dances 50 times, trying to get them perfect for the final audition.

I came back in with the dances half down. I did my very best, and thankfully it was enough because they called out #17 and I was immediately thrown into the adventure of a life time. They laid out the expectations and the gravity of the commitment we just made. Dancing in front of 60,000 people, doing appearances, representing IU, and attending practice Monday through Friday for 2 hours.

Managing Your Time

The time commitment initially felt like a lot, but participating in extracurriculars in college is much different than in high school. I wasn’t going to school from 8am-3pm and then going straight to practice like I did the 4 years prior. I would attend 3 classes for about and hour each on the average day, and would get to hang out around campus or my room for several hours. By the time I got to dance every evening, I wasn’t bogged down or tired, I was well rested and had a great balance of doing school work and letting my mind take breaks. Honestly, if I didn’t have dance every night I don’t know what I would have done with all the free time!

If there were days when I had an exam or a lot going on school wise, it was nice to take a break and do something I love for a couple hours before returning to school. Dance is very therapeutic, and it gave me some time to turn my mind off and get some exercise in.

Participating at the Collegiate Level

Participating at a collegiate level has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to new places, meet new people, and achieve dreams I didn’t even know I had because of IU.

I’ve danced on 3 Big10 fields, in 2 NFL stadiums, and performed in the same arena that has hosted artists like Beyonce and the Rolling Stones

I’ve watched myself dance on BTN and ESPN.

I’ve dance at the Gator Bowl and traveled to Florida with the IU football team.

I have a poster of myself with my signature, like, come on that’s so cool!

Not only have I had some amazing experiences, I have been pushed to my limits and become the best version of myself. Being a RedStepper has given me tools to be successful in a multitude of ways, on and off the field. With any extracurricular you choose to participate in, you will gain some sort of experience. This experience changes your perspective, gives you opportunities to learn, and adds something special to your resume that describes who you are and what you’re interested in. Extracurriculars are important for your future and for the time you spend at IU, and I can guarantee it will change your life for the better.

Continuing What You Love

With this being said, there are nothing but benefits to gain from participating in extracurriculars. Whether its intramural sports, science clubs, or women’s organizations, engaging with peers that you have a common interest with is rewarding. Especially as someone who is out-of-state, it made it easier to make friends!

IU has over 700 ways to get involved, so there is something for everyone. There’s more broad subjects like the Cycling Club and then some more niche groups like the Chinese Calligraphy Club, and everything in between. You can dedicate 1 hour a month to an organization, or 2 hours a day. You can dance for 60,000 fans, or for a contemporary dance group. But no matter what you choose, it will be yours and you’ll be happy you did it. College can be hectic, but it’s worth it to slow down and enjoy something you love with people who will share that love with you.