Students have the opportunity to join a various number of different clubs. With around 45 different clubs to chose from, it’s important to know how they work. This guide will help you with what you need to know.

The first thing to know about clubs is how to sign up for them, what clubs there are, and what you have to do to be eligible to join one. In August when school first starts up on one day at lunch the SGA (Student Government Association) holds a club fair. Here you can look around some displays of the clubs and what activities they do. Not all of the clubs have displays, but there are lists at the front of the cafeteria with all the clubs on it and what days they meet.

Each student gets a form in their PREP class to sign up for clubs. To join the club you have to turn in this form to your PREP teacher or in the bin that will be out during the club fair. This step can’t be skipped, otherwise you won’t be able to attend any clubs.

To be eligible to join a club you must have a good academic standing. If you have F’s or low D’s you can’t participate in clubs, similar to how you can’t participate in sports activities if your grades are too low.

Clubs meet on Friday, and every Friday is a different club group day, A, B, or C. For example if you have a club in group A and in group B then the first Friday you’d meet in the group A club, the second Friday you’ll attend your group B club, and for the third day you wouldn’t attend any club because you don’t have a group C club. Then on the next Friday the cycle repeats.

The big flaw with this system is people forget what club day it is. As well as when students sign up, some of them don’t even show up. If you’re going to sign up make sure you keep the schedule written down somewhere, and make sure you actually attend the clubs you joined.

There are many clubs for students to choose from, and while the full list can be found on the Linganore High School website, here are some examples of a few club choices:

GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)

The Gay Straight Alliance club, lets students of the LGBT community and its supporters join a safe environment where students can be themselves without discrimination. The club has a dance each winter to support the LGBT community and the Trevor Project, which is an organization to help prevent suicide among the LGBT community. There are also parties held in the club to celebrate national Coming Out Day, as well as participating in the national Day of Silence to promote LGBT awareness.

Travel Club

In travel club LHS students learn about other countries and plan for trips. In the summer of 2017 they are arranged to go to Germany. The club helps students learn about multiple different cultures along with getting to possibly see those cultures in person. As well as helping students to learn some of the language of the country they plan to visit, along with other countries languages as well.

These are only a few of the various number of clubs to choose from! From Creative Writing club, to African American Culture club, there are plenty of clubs to pick from. One of them is bound to grab your interest.

Clubs are also a good way to put yourself into the lancer community. Friends can be made easily as you meet people in clubs with the same interests as you. Clubs can also give you learning experiences you wouldn’t get otherwise, providing you with even more knowledge you can utilize. Clubs are also just fun as a whole and they’re great for having a good time with fellow members of the school.

Clubs are also good to have in the long run, as colleges will look for extracurricular activities like clubs on applications. Clubs can also give you an idea of what you want to be in life as you can get a feel for what kinds of activities you like and don’t like. This can help you get a better grasp of what you want do later on in life. For example you may not think all that much about writing but after joining the creative writing club maybe you’ll find that you are actually quite interested in the subject. Or you could see it isn’t for you and try to find something else.

Much like changing jobs later in life, changing through clubs can be a way to see what you’re good at and what you need some practice in. While not all clubs are fun and games, and not all clubs are focused on preparing you for the world outside high school, they are all still a great opportunity for you to take.