Escaping your comfort zone: Why joining one of GH’s 17 student societies can help build new skills, launch success

Did you know the University of Guelph-Humber (UofGH) has 17 student groups, known as societies? There is truly something for any student of every program – and getting involved has major benefits. 

Each society is academic-focused and student-run, with a staff advisor to oversee the group’s activities, often including networking events, talks given by industry professionals, and community initiatives. But students are the ones who take the lead with organization, outreach, collaboration, event planning, and more. 

“It was really one of the things that kind of helped me get to where I am today, for sure,” Kinesiology alum Lianna Montanari says, who was the Kinesiology Society president in her fourth year and a member throughout her undergrad. Montanari is now working on her Master’s Degree in rehabilitation science at the University of Toronto, conducting research at the University Health Network’s KITE Research Institute, with dreams of pursuing a PhD.

For fourth-year Business student and Guelph-Humber Accounting Society President Gino Lucente, being part of this society has allowed him to sharpen his leadership, project management, and public speaking skills. 

He says with his business studies focused on accounting, an area where students have “their head down in the books, solving equations,” he doesn’t get the opportunity to practice presenting to audiences often. Lucente adds that over his four years at UofGH, being part of the Accounting Society and prior to that, the Guelph-Humber Finance Society, his public speaking skills have strengthened since he addresses large groups in this capacity.

Moreover, Montanari says being active in the Kinesiology Society helped her learn how to effectively work with a team, be mentored by older students with upper-year insights, and be a mentor to younger students, which she says was “important” to her. Serving on the society also exposed her to unique facets of her field she says she felt she wouldn’t have seen otherwise, as well as different career paths she could take with her kinesiology degree by connecting with industry professionals.

Through networking at society events, students practice their communication skills by forging connections with professionals in order to bring them back for future events or for personal aspirations. Through exposure to such guests, students craft valuable relationships that can lead to mentorship opportunities or possible job prospects, a notable aspect Lucente strongly values.

Plus, joining a student society unites like-minded students. Being part of Alpha Phi Sigma, a Canadian chapter of the international honours society for students interested in a career in law or policing, also allows President Caitlin Brodie, a fourth-year Justice Studies student, the opportunity to meet and “pick the brains” of fellow Justice Studies peers, including older students with more experience in the program who could share their wisdom.

But students don’t have to be in society leadership positions to reap the benefits. “Everything that you put into it is everything that you’re going to get out of it,” Brodie says. “The more hours you put in, the more events that you come to, the more things you’re going to learn.”

Second-year Community Social Services student and Vice President of Events for the Community Social Services Society, Kaitland Waind, believes students may worry they don’t have enough time to be part of a student society – but the time required is only as much as a student is willing to commit. “I think the benefits of joining outweigh that time,” she says.

Feeling any hesitation to join a society? “Get out of your comfort zone,” Lucente encourages. And Brodie’s advice? “The best thing that you can do is try something. Because if you try something once and you don't like it, you never have to try it again...As long as you are open-minded and you give it a chance… you will always get something out of it as long as you're open to it,” she says.

To learn more about Guelph-Humber’s societies, click here for a full list.

Interested in joining a society? Complete our society member registration form to get more information about becoming a member. If the society you are interested in is listed as inactive, please contact life@guelphhumber.ca for more information.