Mu Yumin had no idea that when he stopped by the computer club as a freshman looking for something fun, it would decide his career four years later.
大一时，穆玉明（音译）为了好玩，偶然间加入了计算机俱乐部。当时的他不知道，这个选择将会决定他四年后的职业。
The 22-year-old biology major at Huazhong University of Science and Technology found a job as an IT technician in Shanghai.
毕业于华中科技大学生物学专业、22岁的穆玉明最终在上海找了份IT工程师的工作。
"My experience in the club gave me another ‘diploma'," said Mu. "More importantly, I found something I am good at and can make a living from."
穆玉明说："我在计算机俱乐部里的经历给了我另一张‘文凭'。更重要的是，我找到了自己的长处，并能够以此谋生。"
Now campuses around the country have started recruiting fresh faces for all kinds of clubs. Upperclassmen and experts suggest a hobby-based selection of clubs, which might have a lasting impact on one's life and career.
现在，全国各地校园中各种社团纷纷开始招兵买马。学长和专家们建议根据个人兴趣爱好来选择社团，它可能会为你的生活和职业带来长远的影响。
Zhang Ling did not get many chances to write stories as an environmental protection major at Jiangxi University of Science and Technology. But this changed when she joined the university broadcast station.
作为一名就读于江西科技大学环境保护专业的学生，张玲（音译）本没有很多机会来提笔写文章，然而，当她加入了学校广播站后，一切都变了。
Her daily interviews with students and teachers expanded her horizon. Now she is determined to become a journalist on environmental issues with her degree in environmental protection.
对老师和同学们的日常采访拓宽了她的视野。现在，她决定利用自己的专业优势，成为一名致力于报道环境问题的记者。
"Journalism changed my life track," said 22-year-old. "I only wanted to be a science teacher in a local senior high school. But now I am applying for a graduate school in journalism."
22岁的她表示："新闻工作改变了我的生活轨迹。原先我只想当一名当地的高中理科教师。而现在，我正在申请新闻专业的研究生。"
Lan Yujie, professor at Anhui University of Technology, regards Mu and Zhang as good examples of choosing "what I like" instead of "what is practical" in finding jobs and seeking further study.
安徽科技大学教授蓝玉杰（音译）认为，穆玉明和张玲做出了良好的榜样，他们在找工作或继续深造这个问题上都选择了"个人爱好"，而非"实用主义"。
"Some freshmen don't know what to choose," said Lan. "Just following a hobby and doing something you like can easily give you the expertise that make you happy and special."
蓝玉杰说："有些大一新生不知道该选择什么。只要跟着兴趣走，做自己喜欢的事，你便能轻松获取专业知识，这会令你心情愉悦，同时与众不同。"
However, choosing a club related to your studies or career plans is not all negative.
但是，选择一些与学业或职业规划密切相关的社团，这种做法也不能一票否定。
Fu Yuheng is now working at a Beijing-based publishing house as an editor. As a freshman at Beijing University of Foreign Studies, Fu wanted to be an interpreter, so he joined the translation club. But he soon found that he was better at editing translated text into an organized format rather than interpreting himself.
付玉恒（音译）现为北京某出版社的编辑。早在北京外国语大学读大一时，他曾想作一名口译员，因此加入了翻译社团。但是，不久他便发现，与口译相比，他更擅长将译好的文章编辑成规范格式。
"Without the club experience I might have stepped into a field that I am not really good at," said Fu.
付玉恒说："要是没有社团经验，我也许会误入自己并不真正擅长的领域。"
Lan further says that joining clubs should not necessarily have a purpose. As part of campus life, a club experience will impact one's life and career in one way or another.
蓝玉杰还说，加入社团不一定要抱有什么目标。作为校园生活的一部分，无论如何，社团经验都会对你的生活和职业带来影响。
"The point of clubs is to have as much diverse experiences as possible so that students can explore more of their life," said Lan.
蓝玉杰说道："加入社团的关键在于，尽可能多地收获不同体验，这样可以探寻更多的生活乐趣。"