It’s no secret that high school clubs are becoming increasingly popular and have gained more notoriety and participation from students and faculty alike. But what has contributed to this sudden rise in popularity? It’s most likely due to the plethora of benefits that being in a club or clubs can do for students. Two noteworthy benefits of school clubs are the forming of communities and improved student socialization skills.
The first benefit for students participating in high school clubs is the communities built around these after school activities. The definition of community is “A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” Clubs are the literal definition of communities with students coming together over shared interests and ideas. When asked about his personal experience with school clubs and communities form, Board and Video Game Club sponsor and teacher at Menchville High School, Mr. Arram Dreyer had this to say : “I have been the sponsor of the video game and board game club for two years. Many years ago I was a co-sponsor of a service oriented club that did service projects all over the community such as collecting food for the food bank and helping homeless people. (as a student)I have not (participated in clubs), but many kids have been a part of clubs and then gone on to college or jobs and been better prepared.” According to Crimson Global Academy, these school communities can lead to more consistent school attendance and more prosocial behavior.
Staying within the topic of prosocial behavior, another benefit for students participation in high school clubs is the improvement of student social skills inside and outside of school. The definition of socialization is “The activity of mixing socially with others.” Going along with communities, students’ social skills can also develop with the participation of school clubs. Benjamin Franklin International School (BFIS) said that, “School clubs are key to developing critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, leadership, and collaboration skills, among others.” In addition to this, Mr. Dreyer also commented on his opinion on if these skills are impactful long-term : “I think clubs are very important for improving social skills, especially in this modern world where kids are constantly online at home. They don’t get the socialization they used to and this can lead to depression and detachment. Any sort of human interaction is important.”
In summary, clubs have many benefits, but a sense of community and improved socialization are the two of the most notable and visible. These skills and communities can help students break out of their shells, make new friends, and meet new people.
