Student Clubs & Involvement with Lio

Transcript

Let’s meet Lio, who is here to tell us about their love of art and how extracurricular activities in campus life can give students an outlet for their creativity on campus. Shawnee State has over 60 student clubs, ranging from interest and hobby groups to academic honor societies. In short, there’s something for everyone. Tell us all about it, Lio. Take it away.

– Thanks, Alex. I’ll take it from here. I was five years old when I decided I wanted to be an actor, but I went to a really small school that didn’t have the resources that other schools had for theater or other extracurriculars like afterschool clubs. Then I came to Shawnee State University. I’m the fourth person in my family to choose Shawnee, but instead of majoring in English or science like my family, I decided to pursue my lifelong passion by majoring in the Fine Arts. I’m an actor, a poet, a songwriter. I’m able to nurture my creativity here and make so many different friends. Shawnee has that small-school feel while still giving me the opportunities to build a community through different types of clubs, and I’ve been able to create some, too. If someone would’ve told me years ago that I would be the co-captain of SSU’s new dance team, I would’ve laughed in their face. If it wasn’t for SSU, I wouldn’t have discovered my deep passion for dance, or for all the glitter. I keep myself busy on campus in other ways, too. In the past, I’ve been a resident assistant and vice president of the Transgender Coalition. Currently, I’m the president of the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club. We hold meetings and events specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies because everyone deserves to feel loved and wanted. Through Saga, the dance team, and my major, I’ve made some of my best friends. I came to college wanting community, and I learned that being your authentic self will attract people who love those parts of you. That’s all from me. Take it away, Alex.

– Thank you, Lio. That was fun. Student involvement is important on campus, and at a small school, a familiar face is always just around the corner. Students find themselves forming new networks, developing leadership skills, and taking a break amongst friends, all on Shawnee State’s campus. Thanks again, Lio. That was great.