When coming to college, students often find themselves with time to discover new activities and hobbies. Whether it be artistic or athletic, there are plenty of options to fill time and meet others when picking up a new activity.
“I got to campus and started doing more walks and jogs in between classes,” said Jaden Sturdivant, a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering. “It’s just something to keep me active while I’m here.”
Sassy Mednikow, a UA alum who graduated in spring 2026, said she picked up water color painting after making a picture of one of the songs she performed as a final project.
“It was something I had never tried and I found it to be really relaxing just to create something for the fun of it,” she said. “Whenever I’m really feeling stressed, whenever I feel like I’ve kind of lost control of my life, it’s something that can ground me.”
MySource, a database of student, faculty and staff organizations, also has over 600 registered groups, ranging from specific focuses on things such as politics to more learning-based groups focusing on languages to get involved with. The database also lists upcoming events for the various organizations students can join when they enroll at the University.
Most organizations also table at Get On Board Day, a University sponsored event held at the beginning of every semester. Each one comes with opportunities to meet new people, learn about a new activity and even grab some free stuff from tables.
If nothing currently on MySource seems like a good fit, students may also create and register their own organizations with The Source. Organizations can also receive funding from the Division of Student Life and the SGA upon request.
The Center for Service and Leadership also has opportunities for volunteering, hosting various service events with multiple outreach programs to engage with the University and greater Tuscaloosa community. Students may also log their service hours with the center, making it a great way to keep track of volunteering when applying to internships and other positions.
Conor Legere, a second year law student, said he took up golf on a family vacation after his first semester of college, and has played ever since.
“It was just a good way to force myself to have to spend four hours outside, not in front of a computer, and it was a way to get a break from studying,” he said. “When I got into law school, a lot of people there played, plus some people I met in undergrad started too. So I’ve gotten to play with them socially as well.”
