What are 234 students doing that others at Elkhart High School currently are not? Attending after school clubs.
If wanting to make new friends, learn how to speak up, or just stop being bored because there’s nothing to do at home, then join a school club. It could be the best decision ever!
“When joining a high school club,” notes the Princeton Review, “always know your options. Usually at the beginning of the school year, you will get an introduction to all of the available clubs. Make a list of the ones that intrigue you,” the article advises, “and attend their first meetings. When in a club, you have the opportunity to develop important skills and stand out on your college applications.”
Based upon her own experiences, Junior Jade Buelna can attest to that. “I think joining school clubs can help make new friendships; it brings people together with similar interests.” Commenting further on those friendships, Buelna adds, “I made a few new friends [who are] in the same club I’m in this year called Music Club.” Additionally, Buelna has taken on a larger leadership role this year. “I’m actually taking over, because the seniors last year left.”
That is not to say that these student leaders are unsupervised. In fact, each club must have an adult sponsor. This club advisor serves as a mentor and advocate. He or she offers personal encouragement, acts as a positive critic, and provides feedback to help students grow. It’s important to have an advisor for clubs, because these advisors provide support and guidance for student leaders and help students develop important skills.
The Music Club, for instance, has Ms. Holli Ness guiding them. And, Ness is delighted to see such student interest. “People should join school clubs because, if you want to learn how to speak up more and make new friends, it isn’t hard!” One of the more appealing aspects to clubs is their size. “Clubs aren’t as big as classrooms and usually start with around five kids. And, you soon learn how to build up your confidence with more and more kids later on. Then, once in the club for a bit, you might have made a couple new friends!”
Ness warns that club names can sometimes be deceiving, though. Students need to actually attend a few times to see what really goes on within the group. “For our Music Club, we did fun things like karaoke, made a playlist of songs we like so we can listen to it, and we even talked about a fundraiser so we could go to a concert!”
In an article posted on Understood.org, it states how vital it is for students to engage with activities outside of the classroom. “Extracurricular activities are a great way for kids to focus on their strengths and passions.They can help kids improve their social skills, develop their interests, and inspire them to try new things,” it states. “They’re also a good way for kids who struggle in school to learn in a fun, low-stress environment.”
Buelna does caution that school work comes first. Therefore, if attending a club meeting after school means that an assignment won’t get completed, then the student may need to think twice about going that night. ”When joining a club, it depends on the person: Not everyone studies when they get home.” In these cases, clubs become an ideal way to spend a few hours.
But, what happens when a club one would like to join simply doesn’t exist?
Start one, of course!
Junior Kayle Hruby has one in mind she would like to organize at some point. “A club I would like to see happen here is badminton because, when I was younger, I played it all the time. It was the only sport that I took an interest in.” If not that, however, Hruby has another idea. “Anything that has to do with games [would be good], because I just want to hang with friends after school and have fun!”
Buelna encourages all to at least try out a club or two while in high school. “It is a very fun thing to join, because seeing your friends and doing activities with them after a long day of school is fun and exciting!” Even Buelna wishes she could start another club. ”I would like to see a baking and cooking club here! I know that we have a class for it,” Buelna admits, “but I would also like to see it as a club. It would be a fun way to bake and cook, make friends, and not have to worry about grades!”
Regardless of how many people are in the world, there is a club just waiting for each. Some, however, have just yet to be formed.
Check out some of these clubs?
- Academic Bowl
- Bowling
- Bring Change 2 Mind
- Chess Club
- Dungeon and Dragons
- FBLA
- FFA
- GSA
- JROTC – Raiders
- Key Club
- Latino Student Union
- LSAC
- Move to Stand
- Multicultural Club
- Music Club
- National Honor Society
- Roaring Blue
- Rocketry
- Science Olympiad
- Speech and Debate
- Spell Bowl
- Society for Better Earth
- Student Government
- SSAC
- Theatre
