In high school, there are many students who may feel that they are out of place and do not have a anywhere to “belong” to.
A great way for them to find a community and that sense of belonging is to join clubs, especially cultural clubs and honor societies.
AHS is proud to have an extremely diverse student body, where the clubs and activities offered reflect the demographic. There are several cultural clubs and honor societies available for students to join, such as the Vietnamese Student Association or the French Honor Society.
These clubs and their members are from all around the world, and they teach students about their respective cultures. They provide many benefits to students and can bring everyone together to learn about their own culture and other cultures’ history.
“Being apart of French Honor Society benefits me by being able to educate myself and others. I am also able to build better connections with my classmates,” senior Keira Bennett said.
To many, the clubs are important because it gives them a way to communicate with others who have similar backgrounds. They are able to meet new people and connect with those they can relate to.
“I joined VSA because I feel like it would be good socially since I can meet more people,” said freshman Jacqueline Dinh.
These clubs are not exclusive either. Even students who are not a part of culture can learn about it and expand their knowledge of cultural diversity. It’s also a way for students to reach out to their peers who have common interests.
“The Vietnamese Student Association is a place where students can share and learn about Vietnamese culture, even if they aren’t Viet because it’s more about the community and having fun with everyone,” said senior Ngan Luu, the Vietnamese Student Association’s communicator.
Additionally, students can form relationships with their teachers and classmates through these extracurriculars outside of the classroom.
“One of my biggest connections I’ve made has been with my French teachers who have helped me learn more of the culture and language,” junior Esperanza Christian said.
Whether students want to gain a deeper understanding of a certain culture or want to form deep connections with their peers, joining clubs and societies is a great way to discover new things and step outside their comfort zone.
“Through cultural activities, especially community service activities, students are afforded the opportunity to work together with like-minded people towards a common goal,” said French teacher Jacquelyn Costa.