Spring Break is just around the corner, and, unfortunately, so is registration. Registration can be a stressful time. Hours are spent meticulously planning out the perfect schedules, only for the system to completely reject them, resulting in all 8 a.m.’s, 5 p.m.’s and professors notorious for the strictest attendance policies. So before you have a meltdown and consider changing majors (like that would help), let me ease some of the frustration by informing you about the least stressful classes Clemson has to offer: leisure skills.
According to Clemson’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management website, “Leisure skills gets you more involved on campus and broadens your network.” Clemson has over 140 sections of one-hour courses, offered at times that will fit into anyone’s schedule, no matter how hectic. Leisure skills were originally designed to help incorporate physical activity into students’ schedules, but now courses are offered in everything from rock climbing to cycling, dancing and even turkey hunting. For those that aren’t very physically inclined, they also have courses in subjects such as photography, budget travel, fly tying, sports officiating and first aid, just to name a few. Everyone should take a leisure skills class before they graduate from Clemson University. Here are the top reasons why.
First, leisure skills classes are a great way to destress during the week, and since attendance is mandatory, you have no excuse to not take time for yourself. They force you to take a brain break from all the hard computing, analyzing and evaluating you have to constantly do in your other classes. It’s the perfect way to decompress in the midst of a stressful week and to spend an hour or two not thinking about your upcoming tests, projects, social events and work schedule. All you have to think about is the task right in front of you.
Second, taking a leisure skill introduces you to a new group of people. It is easy to get stuck with the same people in all of your classes, especially if you’re in a small major or a living-learning community. Taking a leisure skill allows you to branch out from that core group and forces you to meet students of all ages, from all different majors and origins. It is a lot of fun to take a low-key class with people who are interested in the same things you are. The classes are usually pretty small too, so you have an opportunity to get to know everyone in the class at a deeper level than you would otherwise.
The best part of leisure skills classes, however, is the grading. There are no tests, no quizzes and no homework. If you simply show up to the class, you’re golden. That being said,, if you’re one of those people who have a tendency to skip class, leisure skills may not be for you. After all, it will be embarrassing to have to tell your parents and future employers that you failed yoga class.
Finally, taking a leisure skills class gives you a credit hour. If you already have a stressful class load but are short of the required credit hours, it is the easiest way to get extra hours on your schedule. Plus, they count as the elective credits that every major requires.
Few students ever regret taking a leisure skill, and you won’t either, so do yourself a favor and add a little you-time to next semester’s schedule. A complete list of all leisure skills offered can be found in Clemson’s course catalog located in iRoar.
