Why you should try a Give it a Go this year

At Imperial, we are incredibly lucky to have some of the most diverse and active clubs and societies around us. With more than 400 to choose from, there is almost certainly something for everyone. But from a student perspective, that amount of choice can sometimes feel just as overwhelming as it is exciting.

Which society should I join? Do I actually have enough time? And perhaps most importantly: is this really something I will enjoy?

That is where Give It A Go comes in.

The idea behind it is deliberately simple: come along, try something new, meet new people and see what feels right.

This year, that might mean trying your hand at dodgeball or a cappella, joining an open philosophy discussion, going on a pub crawl, or simply joining a social activity you might never have considered before. There is no expectation that every session has to become your new passion. You might love it and come back every week. Or you might decide it is not for you. Both are completely fine.

One Give It A Go session I still remember was a boxing session I went to with two of my coursemates. I had done a little bit of boxing before, but I wanted to experience what the club was like at Imperial. I was actually quite exciting but also nervous beforehand, especially because it was my first time going along to one of their sessions.

Once we arrived, I quickly realised there was nothing to worry about. Everyone there was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the whole session felt really relaxed and easy to get involved in. What made it even more memorable was finding out that the coach was actually a student in the year above me. We ended up chatting after the session, got to know each other much better, and eventually became really good friends.

For me, that is exactly what Give It A Go can be about. Trying something you are curious about and get something probably much more than just the activity itself.

We want Give It A Go to help create a low- or no-cost, no-commitment environment where students can simply try something new. So if something catches your eye this year, you do not need to have it all figured out. Just have a look on union what's on page. There are already plenty of Give It A Go sessions waiting for you to explore.

Turn up. Try it. See how it feels. You never know where saying “I’ll give it a go” might take you.