Org Profile

Forrest Rapier

When Forrest Rapier couldn’t find the type of organization he was looking for, he took the opportunity to create it.

Name:

Forrest Rapier

Year:

Junior

Major:

Anthropology & Pre-law

Organizations Involved in:

Oshkosh Secular Student Alliance & OSA Senate

Organization Role:

Oshkosh Secular Student Alliance Founder & President

Why did you decide to get involved with your organization?

When I first arrived at UW Oshkosh, I found that there was no place for students like myself. It seemed to me that there was an over-representation of religion on our campus and that the concerns of the secular individual were wholly ignored. And so, I took it upon myself to create an organization that would address the concerns of the secular student; an organization that promoted humanism, secularism, and rationalism as better alternatives to religious ideology, as well as provide a social network.

How long have you been involved with this organization?

This is the second year that the Oshkosh Secular Student Alliance has been active, and I've loved the ride so far.

What have you gained from being involved with student organizations?

I have gained so much by being involved on campus! Besides leadership experience, organizational skills, and time-management strategies, I've really grown as a person. I've made lots of new friends and have had the opportunity to contribute to my community at a level I never thought I'd be able to.

What is your favorite activity that your organization hosts and why?

I love - absolutely love - doing our charity events. It's incredibly gratifying to help those in need and it serves a second purpose that's every bit as noble.

With our most recent charity event, held in conjunction with our Festivus celebration, we managed to raise more than $150.00 in cash donations and 25 cans of food - all to be given to the Oshkosh Area Community Food Pantry. That's a lot of food that will be going to feed the hungry. I feel good about that.

How does being involved with student organizations benefit your education and future?

Being a student leader is a heck of a resume-builder. I've done so much with the Oshkosh Secular Student Alliance and the OSA Senate that has helped me professionally. You learn leadership skills, how to work in a group, and organizational and time-management techniques. Join an academic club if you'd like to go farther in your major and be more competitive in a chosen field. Join a charitable organization to give back and build your resume. Join a group that's involved with student programming to learn how to organize events and plan ahead. The world of student involvement is a world with infinite opportunities, and I would strongly encourage every student to explore what the college community has to offer.