Blake Tretter: What Clubs Teach that Classes Don’t
But looking back now as a senior, the most valuable things I gained from clubs were not what I expected, and are things no class could have taught me.
1. Clubs taught me how to lead before I felt ready.
The first time I experienced real responsibility in college wasn’t in a classroom. It was when I took on a small leadership role in my AKPsi pledge class, where I was responsible for bringing people together and helping build a sense of cohesion.
It didn’t sound like much at the time, but it was the first moment where others were relying on me to deliver something that actually mattered to them. There were no instructions and no fallback plan. I had to figure out what people needed, listen carefully, and put their experience above my own preferences.
That experience taught me something fundamental: leadership isn’t about being in charge; rather, it’s about being responsible for others. It’s about listening, adapting, and serving the group, not yourself. That realization shaped how I’ve approached every leadership role since.
2. Clubs taught me how to operate without a playbook.
In classes, even the most open-ended assignments come with some semblance of structure and instruction. In clubs, that structure often doesn’t exist.
When I stepped into executive leadership roles early on, I found myself responsible for improving systems that didn’t have clear answers or established best practices. I had to make decisions based on incomplete information, try things that hadn’t been done before, and accept that some of them wouldn’t work perfectly.
There was no rubric to follow nor a professor to confirm I was on the right track.
Through those experiences, I learned how to operate in ambiguity. How to trust my judgment, iterate based on feedback, and move forward even when there wasn’t a clear “correct” answer. That ability to create structure where none existed was something I had never truly developed in a classroom setting.
3. Clubs taught me that leadership is about giving back.
As I became more involved over time, something unexpected happened. I went from being someone who was learning from everyone around me to someone others were learning from.
Whether mentoring newer members, helping underclassmen navigate recruiting, or guiding younger students in their own leadership roles, I found myself passing down the same advice and support that older students once gave me.
This shift helped me realize that leadership isn’t defined by a title. It’s defined by your willingness to invest in others. Some of the most fulfilling moments of my college experience have come not from my own achievements, but from helping others grow and succeed.
That sense of responsibility to give back is something I never anticipated when I first joined these organizations.
4. Clubs taught me to embrace discomfort and uncertainty.
One of the hardest parts of joining clubs, especially early on, is simply putting yourself out there. Applications, interviews, and unfamiliar environments can feel intimidating, and it’s easy to convince yourself you’re not ready.
I experienced rejection. I dealt with imposter syndrome. There were moments where I questioned whether I belonged.
But those moments were essential.
Clubs taught me that your value as an underclassman isn’t defined by what you already know. It’s defined by your willingness to learn and grow. You’re not expected to have everything figured out. You’re expected to show initiative, curiosity, and effort.
The simple act of putting yourself in uncomfortable situations accelerates your growth in ways that comfort never will.
5. Clubs didn’t just prepare me for my career; they shaped how I operate.
Yes, clubs helped me build my resume. Yes, they helped me land internships and prepare for my career.
But more importantly, they taught me how to take ownership. They taught me how to lead peers, make decisions without clear guidance, and navigate real responsibility. They taught me how to operate in environments where outcomes weren’t guaranteed and where my actions had a tangible impact.
Most of all, clubs have helped me understand the kind of leader I want to be. Someone who listens before acting, takes ownership when others are relying on me, and measures success by the growth of the people around me, not just my own. When I joined my first club freshman year, I was looking for instructions. Now, I’m happy to say I feel comfortable operating without them–taking initiative, creating structure, and helping others do the same. That’s something no classroom alone could have taught me.