There are many exciting new clubs coming to MBHS this year– from Interact and SAGA to Art Club and Antisocial club, they vary from extremely interactive to seldomly meeting at all. Every year, hordes of people attend club rush and sign up for multiple different clubs with their friends– but not all of them show up.
I’ve found, as a MBHS senior, that each year many people join clubs or other extracurricular activities for the sole purpose of putting it on their college application as one of their ‘achievements’ outside of academics. Some people join clubs and only participate when it is convenient for them, or only when required.
I myself am guilty of this. I joined FNL, or Friday Night Live, out of necessity. I figured I needed more to put on my resume, more to tell my family, etc. I figured I would just take some minor role in that club, and skate by without having to do much participation.
However, there is so much more to be gained than just becoming a member of one of our school’s various clubs. A club opens a door to meeting a group of people you may not have interacted with otherwise outside your circle of friends.
As a member of FNL, I’ve found myself interacting with underclassmen that I would not find myself interacting with in any of my classes or during the day as a senior. I’ve made friends with people that I never would have had a good conversation with before- not because I don’t like them, but because we’ve never been given a platform to do so. For me, joining a club has bridged the invisible gap between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen.
But why does this matter?
I’ve found that being a high school student can unintentionally keep people from meeting one another. Students are given a routine each day or each week. We attend the same classes with the same limited pool of people. We walk with the same people during passing period. We stick with the same sports teams or go home right after school. This immediately slots people into various groups, because it is easier to stay with your friends than to seek someone new out in the crowd. This cycle doesn’t leave a lot of room for change.
However, with the amount of clubs this year, there’s a place for everyone. Joining a club easily taking away the fear of meeting somebody new because you already know that you share a similar interest with someone. So why not?
Another benefit of joining a club is the learning curve that comes with it. One might find themself participating in events they wouldn’t usually participating in– whether you’re learning a new style of art in art club, or sharing your creative writing work with a group of your peers, or volunteering in your community. A club can open many more opportunities than you’d think and bring to your awareness to different events you might not have participated in before.
So, instead of joining a club for the sake of becoming a member, students should really take the time to make the most out of it. There’s a lot of leeway in how a club runs and the kind of activities that are available, so it is easy to shape a club that fits your needs, and have some fun along the way.
Sure, put it on your college applications- but make sure the words on that application aren’t empty. If you made the commitment to be part of something, make sure you’re making it worth your while.
