Dear Sherpa,
I’ve only been back at school for a week, but I already feel like I need another break. Everyone seems to be excited to be back in DC, or to be studying abroad, or to have a cool new internship, but I feel like I’m stuck in a rut. Even Netflix seems boring! I feel like there are a lot of things I could be doing with my time, but I’m just not sure where to start. Help!
Love,
Not-Necessarily-Sophomore-Slump
Dear N-N-S-S,
Everyone definitely has those times where nothing seems exciting. However, you’re in luck to have written to me! The wisdom of the Sherpa can provide anyone with a solution.
There are so many ways to get involved in GW and the larger DC community!
Check out the hundreds of student orgs at http://studentengagement.gwu.edu/student-organizations. With hundreds of groups including religious, academic, Greek, political, volunteer, performance, cultural, and athletic, there’s something for everyone! Many orgs also have events, shows, or lectures that are open to everyone, so if you aren’t ready to commit, drop by to see what life with that group might be like.
Did you know Lerner (Hell Well) is open at 6:30 am during the week? Get cracking on those New Years resolutions and finish your workout before that 8 am. You can also get a group fitness pass for only $89 as a student and use it for anything from yoga to kickboxing. Many of the sport-specific areas also offer open play, so grab some new friends from that student org and have a game of pick-up! More info here: http://campusrecreation.gwu.edu/.
If you have study abroad envy, get in touch with the Office of Study Abroad! They have massive lists of all the programs available to GW students. Or, you can always find your own!
If you’re a foodie, you won’t want to miss DC Restaurant Week. Over 200 of DC’s best restaurants offer fixed menus at (fairly) student friendly prices. It’s a great opportunity to eat amazing food without breaking your wallet! You can check out participants, menus, and even make reservations (recommended) here: http://www.ramw.org/restaurantweek.
DC is full of great sports venues, from our very own Smith Center to the Verizon Center. We all know the Wizards are on the up and up, so snap up some student tickets before they get expensive! Or stick closer to home and support our very own Colonials – most games have free seats for students.
If you can’t find that internship that feels right, try volunteering! The Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service has a ton of resources related to service initiatives in the area: http://serve.gwu.edu/. You can also look for opportunities on local or national databases, especially if you’re interested in a long-term experience.
So you see, N-N-S-S, GW and DC both offer some amazing opportunities. Sometimes, there’s so much out there that you don’t know where to begin! I hope this has come in handy with some ideas, and as always, you can write back if you need more help.
Sincerely,
Sherpa
