It is that time of the year students begin thinking about what extracurriculars they want to do during the school year. For some students, this includes participation on sports teams, dance, theater and clubs.
Clubs provide an opportunity to explore one’s interests, and joining clubs may help one to meet new people with similar interests and hobbies.
During all lunch shifts on Wednesday, August 29, Linganore held a club fair set up in the main hallway of Linganore High School (LHS) for students to look at the different options.
Each booth had a presentation set up for students to show their peers all about that specific club. The variety of clubs displayed demonstrated how many different opportunities there are at Linganore that allow the student body to engage with the community. There were a total of 44 clubs available for students to pick from; however, if none seemed appealing, students also have the opportunity to create their own club.
One club at the fair was the Pins and Needles club. This club is for those with hobbies such as crocheting and knitting to get to socialize while working on personal projects.
LHS junior Eliza Baker, the president of the Pins and Needles club, said, “This club is about growing a community where we all come [together] to learn and have fun, and we all share our skills.”
She believes the club gives someone a chance to connect with other students with the same hobby. Baker also shared that club members also have the option of service learning in which they make a project for donation to a charity and get service hours.
Another established club available to sign up for is the Black Student Union. This club was formed in hopes of creating an accepting community at Linganore, and club vice president, Kimberley Kelsie, discussed that shared value while talking to students at the club’s booth.
Kelsie said, “I know that being in a big new school can be hard sometimes, and I feel like the Black Student Union is, of course, not only just for Black students; it’s for everyone. It’s a place where you can have fun, connect with people, [learn about] great opportunities for scholarships, study spaces and movie nights.”
The members of the Black Student Union strive to create a better community and are even responsible for the Linganore motto’s fourth A, “Acceptance.”
“I feel like that’s our model for our club,” Kelsie said. “We do so many things that just bring people closer together, to know each other, and just create a better environment for our school.”
Student Voices is another club here at LHS which focuses on advocating for students who need a sense of unity and members also try their best to keep bullying out of Linganore.
Sophomore Sydney Hall, who is a second year member of Student Voices, said, “Student Voices is a safe place for students to talk about what is going on inside classrooms and provides a sense of community to anyone in need.”
Student Voices also sets up mentoring and support groups for freshmen and other groups of like-minded people. They meet once or twice a month and have discussions on how to make sure the student body feels safe and welcomed in class, while also talking about what students can do to help build community at the school.
There are many more clubs that do other activities which may spark an interest in students. However, if a student cannot find a club that suits them, they can email Marcus Allen or one of the other administrators and pitch a club idea. The club will need an advisor and a certain number of people willing to join before it can officially be approved.
So, if any student is interested in participating in an extracurricular or just looking for something fun to do, sign up for a club now!
