One of the best things about Tahoma is the amount of extracurriculars our school has. Clubs are a great way to branch out and meet new people with similar interests while also getting involved in the richness that our school has to offer. As a senior and a committed member of two clubs and even operating a leadership position in one of them, here is my foolproof(ish) guide to joining a club.
The first initial weeks of school often consist of different clubs being shoved down students’ throats, particularly freshmen. Morning and video announcements and hallway flyers are riddled with colorful invitations to join many clubs. It may seem a tad overwhelming at first but the key to tackling these tantalizing choices is first identifying your interests. What do you want to get out of your high school experience? If you’re into anything science-related, perhaps Chem Club is for you. Or, if you’re looking to be more involved in the Maple Valley community, you might consider joining Key Club or Interact Club. If you’re looking to improve your public speaking skills or just have an opportunity to give input on topics you’re passionate about, the Speech & Debate team is a great place to do just that. The THS website can take you straight to their extracurriculars page so you can see the entire list of what we offer here.
Another great way to get more information or even just motivation to join a club is to ask around, specifically, those you know are involved. Speech and Debate coach Mr. Davolt shares that “joining a club can make high school much more bearable. These four years are pretty often considered some of the hardest of people’s lives so surrounding yourself with like-minded people is a great way to make your overall experience more fun”. DECA member and student advocate Timothy Mcney advises fellow students to “not be pressured to make any decisions that you’re not 100% sure about. Being pushed to enter a space you don’t feel comfortable in is the worst and it can make you feel super negative towards joining clubs in the future which is the exact opposite of how we want people to feel”.
Of course, committing yourself to a club or multiple shouldn’t be taken lightly. But finding the right ones and strategically choosing how to get involved, can enrich your high school experience and make your college applications look good at the same time. So, don’t hesitate! Immerse yourself into the world of clubs and make your high school years as enjoyable as possible!
