Sanad bin Said Al-Zawawi

Student, College of Arts and Social Sciences

Based on research from the University of Arizona (2023). Full citation available upon request.

What makes a student show up to a club meeting once, then again, then every week for multiple semesters? I didn't have an answer when I first walked into the Speaking Club on 8 November 2022. I was just curious—curious about who would be there, what we'd talk about, and whether I'd even open my mouth. Now, after more than two years of sessions, I think I do.

And it was fun—genuinely fun. Not because we discussed anything profound or life-changing. Honestly, I can't even remember most of the topics. We just talked, played some games. Simple conversations about simple things. And somehow, that simplicity made it special. It was a break from lectures, from grades, from pressure. Just people, in a room at CPS, talking. I kept coming back because it never asked anything of me—except to show up and speak.

That club, and others like it, are part of something bigger at SQU: the Extracurricular Activities Centre. Operating under the Centre for Preparatory Studies, the ECA was established 15 years ago by Julia Davies, CPS Student Support Coordinator. According to Davies, the centre runs a variety of student and teacher-led clubs and events every semester with a clear mission: 'to support SQU students by offering opportunities for skills-building and independent learning outside of the classroom, in alignment with SQU values.' The goal, she explains, is to promote a positive attitude and growth mindset so that students become 'more effective, autonomous, lifelong learners.

Davies sees the ECA as more than just a collection of clubs. In her words:

“In my opinion, ECA is a vital part of campus life, as it allows students to discover their passions, learn teamwork and leadership, develop time management, and boost self-confidence and resilience. ECA activities not only enhance academic performance, but also help students build crucial life skills, as well as improve their social and emotional growth."

What I learned from the Speaking Club—and from talking to students in other clubs—is that participation isn't about numbers. Some weeks we were five people. Some weeks we were two. But the quality of the conversation, the connections we built, had nothing to do with how many chairs were filled. Across ECA, from debate to drama to casual conversation, the same seemed true: the students who kept coming, even when it was quiet, were the ones who found something real.

Sometimes I wondered if I was just wasting time. Then I came across a 2023 study from the University of Arizona that found students involved in extracurriculars had GPAs nearly a third of a point higher than those who weren't. They also reported feeling more confident in skills like communication and leadership. It was validating, honestly, to know I wasn't making it up. What felt like just hanging out and talking was, according to actual research, making me more ready for life after university.

I walked past that booth in Week 3, back in 2022. I didn't stop. I had reasons—or at least excuses. It wasn't until Week 8 that I finally showed up. Looking back, I wish I hadn't waited those two months. Not because the Speaking Club changed my life overnight—it didn't. But because those weeks I spent walking past were weeks I could have been having fun, meeting people, and finding something that felt like mine. The clubs are still there, every semester. You don't have to join in Week 3. But maybe don't wait as long as I did.

 Rosemond, M., & Smith, C. (2023). Extracurricular involvement in college: Its effect on academic success, mental and social health, and preparedness for life after graduation. The University of Arizona.

 https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/668745