A vital part of many students’ high school experience is attending clubs at the school. Whether it be Spanish Club, where students learn about culture, or Robotics Club, where members create ingenious machines, each club holds its own special value at LFHS— and each club brings students together towards a common cause.
However, the goals of many clubs tend to overlap and they are forced to compete with one another. This leads to less money raised during fundraisers and less success at events.
An example of this is the common goals shared between the Animal Conservation Club and the Environmental Club. Both clubs strive to protect the environment and species that may live in those areas, taking similar steps to alleviate these concerns.
Additionally, Interact Club, Human Rights Club, Women’s Club, and Crafts For a Cause Club all focus on addressing human concerns by completing service projects in various locations and holding events such as food drives. LFHS alum Sydney Kirages, who now attends the University of Illinois, thinks it’s important for clubs to work together.
“It’s amazing and impressive that so many people want to start clubs that reflect their passion. What would truly be incredible if there was a way for the clubs to work together to increase impact, and similarly grow membership. Perhaps each club could agree to take on at least one crossover event with another club each semester,” Kirages said.
Not only would this increase club membership, but it would also diversify ideas for various events and introduce students who may be unfamiliar with their peers to each other.
Neighboring schools like Highland Park High School have grown club membership to impressive heights. Interact Club, which focuses on community service projects, is a part of the larger International Rotary Club. At HPHS, Interact Club has a student membership of nearly one hundred members— much larger than any LFHS club.
The Rotary Interact Club has enacted real change and has helped at several local community service organizations including volunteering at Feed My Starving Children and helping out at events at Equestrian Connection and Elawa Farms.
The success of Interact Club can be attributed to the number of members who participate in events. Kristen Carlson, the head of the English Department at LFHS, believes clubs should combine their efforts to continue to make these greater impacts.
“I think there are a lot of clubs and activities that do so much for those in need, but sometimes it’s hard to generate community and student support because there are so many clubs. If those clubs could streamline their communication and efforts, there would be a big payoff in that,” Carlson said.
With the focus of our clubs in mind – whether that be women, children, animals, the environment, or those in need – we have to think about what will help us succeed as a community. With higher membership, we can make real change.
