Whether you join the sports club, participate in cultural events, or engage in community service, every extracurricular activity offers unique benefits. Breaking a sweat on the ground keeps you physically and mentally fit, performing in fests boosts self-confidence, and volunteering fosters empathy.
Then, have you ever wondered how contributing to the annual college magazine could benefit you? (And no, you don’t need to be a literature enthusiast to get involved!) Let’s look at five reasons why joining the college magazine team can be a game-changer for personal and professional development.
A platform for creative expression
A college magazine is a collection of all things creative: campus activity reports, poetry collections, short stories, personal reflections, opinion pieces, thought-provoking essays, interviews, photographs, illustrations, artwork, and comics. You can awaken your inner writer and express your thoughts, feelings, and emotions instead of bottling them up.
Sharing your views on complex issues such as climate change, wars, inflation, and gender equality can help you develop research and critical thinking skills. If you are a visual person, you can let your art, graphics, or photographs do the talking! A college magazine is like a blank canvas for students to paint in their unique, imaginative way.
Boost in self-confidence and self-esteem
Seeing your creative work published in your name can significantly boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. On top of that, receiving appreciation and recognition for your writing, photography, or artistic skills by your faculty and peers can further make you feel good. Whenever you doubt your abilities or feel low, your published work can remind you of your talent, hard work, and potential.
Networking and community engagement
Putting together an annual college magazine is a mammoth task. It involves so many steps, such as deciding a name, conducting research, fixing a theme, encouraging college participation, collecting written and visual material, and designing the layout, to name a few. The logistical and creative tasks require collaborative effort from faculty and students across different disciplines. The rigorous networking can help develop lasting professional relationships.
Working on a shared goal also helps realise the importance of everyone’s unique abilities. Without an editor, a magazine would lack consistency, quality control, and direction. Without a writer, there will not be any material to publish. Without a photographer and illustrator, a magazine would miss visual appeal, making it less engaging. Without a tech-savvy person, it will be challenging to publish the magazine online, limiting its outreach to the college audience. In short, every individual working on the magazine plays a crucial role, and community engagement is the only way to publish a good college magazine.
Time management and leadership skills
Being on an editorial team of the college magazine fosters various soft skills, which are excellent additions to your resume. Developing a publication requires you to prioritise tasks, improve focus, and meet deadlines, enhancing your time management abilities. Students involved in managerial roles such as editor or design lead learn to communicate with team members, delegate tasks, overcome challenges, and make quick decisions, among other leadership skills.
Unlock future career paths
Working on the college magazine can encourage students to pursue journalism, marketing, mass media, content writing, graphic designing, public relations, or other related fields. You can build a strong portfolio with your published work and apply for internship opportunities with established magazines, publication houses, or agencies. Using the experience and skills gained, you can start a blog or newsletter, continue practising your writing skills, and share your work with the world.
A memory to cherish forever
A college magazine gives students something beyond personal and professional growth: sweet memories to look back and cherish. Imagine stumbling upon your college magazine hidden in the corner of your bookshelf years after you pass out. Wouldn’t it be a delight to read the poem you wrote in your teens? Imagine an old friend discovering your published artwork online and sharing it with you. It would be wonderful to reconnect with them and reminisce about the good ol’ college days, right? That’s the power of a college magazine—it allows you to walk down memory lane and indulge in sweet nostalgia. That’s why, whether it’s an op-ed, photograph, or painting—make sure to contribute to your college magazine!
A Glimpse into Utkarsh
The annual online publication by S K Somaiya College of Arts, Science and Commerce, ‘Utkarsh’, showcases achievements, department reports, and committee news, reflecting the institute’s progress over the past year. The ‘Creative Expressions’ section features articles and poems written by students in English, Hindi, and Marathi. Towards the end, an elaborate photo gallery offers a visual recap of campus activities such as sports, cultural fests, nature conservation, alumni meetings, and placement training.
In the 2023-24 issue, the college Principal, Dr Purushottam Wadje, perfectly summarised the efforts of the contributors and editorial team: “The Utkarsh Magazine is not merely a collection of writings but a testament to the rich tapestry of creativity, insight, and intellect that each one of you brings to our college community.”
Leave a Comment