Clubs are what bring diverse communities together, especially in the later years of youth. They’re a home away from home, a place to be yourself.
Students rushed into the cafeteria on Sept. 12 to attend the club fair. What awaited them was over 50 different clubs ready to showcase what they had to offer. In the 40 minutes of flex time provided, the cafeteria remained crowded for the entirety.
Although the Ida B. Wells High School club fair was a one-day event, there was lots to see and enjoy. Many clubs were able to display what makes them worth joining. However, some students are wondering, “Should I join a club? If so, what club should I join, and if not, why?”
Even though the club fair has passed, many clubs are always accepting new members.
Clubs can be generalized to find your interests in a much wider spectrum. There are various subcategories of clubs: sports, sciences, arts, music, games, cultural groups, engineering, extracurricular activities, etc.
Clubs are an easy cure for boredom. “Clubs give you something to do at lunch, people to sit with, and activities to talk about,” says IBW sophomore Niko Fisque.
If you find yourself alone at lunch, checking out clubs can be a great way to integrate yourself into a community.
During a club meeting, everyone is focused on one thing. Whether it’s a sport, activity, or other piece of entertainment, it’s something you all love. Believe it or not, other people in this world — more specifically, in this school — share that interest.
With clubs, you can meet these people and engage more with your community. Getting to know people is very important. Having connections provides opportunities for getting into events and meeting other people.
On top of meeting people, academic-related benefits are available. Joining clubs looks good on resumes and college applications. It shows how you get involved with your community and that you know your interests. Certain clubs provide academic lessons on their topic of choice, e.g., varying science lessons from the Science Olympiad Club or varying chess tactic lessons from the Chess Club.
However, joining a club may not be for everyone. Some can be a commitment and require a lot of time and effort, but more often than not that won’t end up being the case. Even if they do end up being a burden, there’s always the option to back out.
If time is not something you have too much of, but are interested in joining a club, there are some clubs that give options for club activities for people who can’t attend meetings. This can be with Canvas, online websites and other at-home-friendly methods.
Clubs overall have had a positive impact on multiple communities. Many students have met people they ended up becoming friends with and people they would have never met if it weren’t for clubs. “It’s a great way for you to connect with people you might not normally talk with or know,” says IBW chemistry teacher and Science Olympiad Club Advisor, Emily O’Loughlin. “I think it’s a great way to try out different things in a safe way.”
Clubs are an easy way to get together with and find your people; consider joining one.
