{"id":39,"date":"2021-02-22T08:38:03","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T08:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/2021\/02\/22\/finding-your-wolfpack-student-organizations\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T13:29:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:29:16","slug":"finding-your-wolfpack-student-organizations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/2021\/02\/22\/finding-your-wolfpack-student-organizations\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Your Wolfpack: Student Organizations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Pauline Bulala first arrived at NC State as a freshman, she felt a little lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone expects you to find your people right away, but that wasn\u2019t my experience,\u201d said Bulala, a senior in biological sciences. \u201cIt was kind of hard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bulala reached out to her orientation leader for advice on making connections. He recommended getting involved in student organizations and helped her find some that fit her interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, Bulala helped restart the Filipino American Student Association<\/a>, joined the Pre-Physician Assistant\/Nursing Club<\/a> and the Catholic Campus Ministry<\/a>, and became an orientation leader<\/a> and a Chancellor\u2019s Aide<\/a>. She\u2019s now the vice president of the University Activities Board<\/a>, a student-led organization that plans a wide range of virtual and in-person student events that foster advocacy, awareness, inclusivity and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGetting involved in organizations on campus, and helping other students do so as an orientation leader, really helped me find people on my wavelength,\u201d she said. \u201cNow I love giving back to that student who\u2019s feeling the same way I did my freshman year and helping them feel like they can thrive here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a>
Pauline Bulala (center left, in gray shirt) with fellow 2019-20 University Activities Board members.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Making Connections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Darrius Barrow, associate director for student engagement in the office of Student Leadership and Engagement<\/a>, NC State has between 600 and 700 active student organizations<\/a> at any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barrow\u2019s office supports these organizations with resources like mail services and trainings on relevant topics like financial issues, technology and hosting events. They also serve as a resource to student organization leaders as questions arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have been meeting virtually and occasionally engaging in safe outdoor events. Barrow says this is especially important with so many students having fewer of the in-person interactions that often lead to relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n