As students start a new school year, they start to think what clubs or after school activities they should join. We asked a variety of students about their opinion on getting involved and a majority of the students agreed that people should really join clubs or activities that interest them. Remember you don’t have to be in the clubs your friends are in, explore outside the box and find what activities best fit you. We learned about which clubs people have joined and the best tips for getting involved.

There are a variety of clubs to join here at West that can interest any student and are a great way to meet new people. It’s best to experiment and try an assortment of clubs in order to figure out which ones you are really passionate for.

“This year I joined Prism, Student Council, Theatre, and Spanish Club,” says Yael Navarro, freshman, “I am enjoying all the clubs I started so far and it helped me meet a lot of new people.”

For freshmen especially, it’s important to join clubs right off the bat. You get to meet new people and learn about different clubs and activities you might not have heard about before.

“I joined marching band this year and it made starting high school a lot easier as it introduced me to new people,” says freshman Lauren Nibbio. “There is usually band bonding if you join band, you go to Dairy Queen, Oberweis, or maybe even to somebody’s house for an activity  after rehearsals.”

Sports are another great activity to join if you want to be apart of a close team and challenge yourself physically.

“I’ve been in cross country since I was a freshman and it’s a lot of fun,” says Jana Manalo, junior. “You get to meet a lot of new people and become like family with your team.”

Even if you are not quite sure what you are interested in, try out multiple clubs to see what you like. Joining a club may seem intimidating but members are more than welcoming and you do not want to miss out on the great memories you will make by getting involved.

“I’m in the math team, political science club, and a few more,” says Kezia Briones, junior. “Don’t be afraid, if you want to join a club, just do it. You will be glad you did in the long run because getting involved is a great experience that you won’t regret.”

Just remember that you should join a club because you want to join it and not because your friends do. In the end it is about finding what you are passionate for and pursuing that. Once you graduate, it is rewarding to look back at your involvement here at West; you will have made a lot of new friends and countless memories. West has a ton of clubs everyone should explore and at least one of them is likely to interest you.