Clubs are where students can learn more about specific hobbies and cultures, clubs get into detail about specific techniques for a certain hobby and traditions for culture. It is highly recommended that students participate in clubs throughout their high school years. Not only do students learn more about the activities they join, but clubs are also a way they can come together as a community and connect with others.
At the beginning of every school year, FHS hosts a gallery walk featuring various clubs, allowing students to select the ones they are interested in joining. Club members advertise their club and try to encourage others to participate with treats and presentations. If students are interested in a specific club, they will write their full name and their email on a signup sheet in order to receive a treat. If people are signing up, they are interested. In reality, that is not always the case.
In some cases, students use this opportunity to get free candy. While free candy is excellent, do people actually go to the clubs after signing up? There are no rules requiring students to attend, nor are there any consequences for not doing so. The only time a club leader might email students is to update them about meeting times, but they do not specifically track attendance. There are no consequences if a student chooses to simply drop out without providing any specific reason. In most cases, students forget they signed up or lose interest.
During the first year of high school, many freshmen begin joining clubs and extracurricular activities as a way to start their year. Some freshmen enjoy their clubs while others stop going. Over time students may eventually lose interest, causing them to drop out during their sophomore year. Since most of the meetings are held during students’ free time, such as lunch or after school, most students who are busy use that time for themselves to enjoy lunch, work or relax. For students who have time to spare, they usually start out with one or two clubs, then proceed to join more clubs throughout the years.
Some students go and some do not. Understandably, some students may not want to use up their free time, and some may have found it not as interesting as implied, but many students do enjoy the clubs they are in. By participating in clubs, students are able to find a new passion, make new connections and learn about specific hobbies and cultures.
