Get ready to go clubbing

Since the start of school I have been thinking about clubs and the questions that go along with them: which ones do I join, when do they meet, how active are they?

When I was a freshman at Jackson Junior High, we toured the high school. Afterward, we were bombarded by the representatives of different clubs, each campaigning for our membership. As I thought back to this I began to wonder, which clubs am I going to join?

As I began to look into the clubs I felt more and more overwhelmed. There are just so many options! So I broke it down into different subjects of debate for the clubs.

First things first, some clubs are more active than others. Finding out when a club meets can change your decision on whether to join. This also goes along with how many clubs you should join. If you have a lot of homework, don't join a lot of clubs. School should always come first, so be sure that you can handle your homework load and the club. If you are in a sport, the meetings may conflict with practices.

Some clubs are selective, meaning you have to audition or apply to join. At Jackson High School, Hi-Step (High School Taught Elementary Program), drama club, publications, academic team and National Honor Society are selective clubs. But don't freak out, the applications usually only ask you questions about how many days of school have you missed and what your current GPA is.

Another thing to consider is how the club will affect your plans after high school. There are tons of clubs out there, and if you plan to go to college, it would be a good idea to join a club dealing with the field you plan to study.

Last, but certainly not least, the part I consider most important -- drum roll, please -- pick clubs you will genuinely enjoy. What's the point of joining art club if you don't like art? Teachers have been telling us for years to join clubs to make our high school years more enjoyable, part of what makes them enjoyable is making new friends by meeting new people who enjoy the same things you do. So why pick a club where you aren't going to have fun? I believe that this is the most important part of picking clubs and making your high school career more enjoyable.

At last, I think I've narrowed it down to the last one, or five, or maybe I'm still not decided.

Carlie Cattron is a sophomore trying to find her way through the halls of Jackson High School and documenting it in a monthly column.