For many students, high school is a time of great discovery, as youngsters begin to think—in earnest—about how their academic passions and interests may influence their decisions about future college and career paths.
But not all learning takes place within the classroom.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, EHS students participated in the high school’s annual Club Fair, visiting booths operated by each of the school’s 46 extracurricular clubs,
Running the gamut from Robotics to Film, Habitat for Humanity, and Chess, the booths offered information about each club’s goals and structure, while student representatives hoped to recruit new members who share not only an interest in the club’s stated aims, but also in each group’s sense of community.
Although some students may already know exactly where their interests lie, it’s never too late to expand your horizons, explained 12th grader Elli Fafalios, who was among those operating the booth for EHS Jazz Co.
Fafalios began performing with Jazz Co. as a fourth grader—the club is one of the few in the district that offers a level of participation for elementary students—but was adamant that a background in dance isn’t a prerequisite for membership in the high school’s long-running club.
“The biggest thing has definitely been the sense of community that we’ve established,” said Fafalios. “Whether you have a lot of dance experience or not, you end up growing closer with new people and try a lot of new things, which is really fun.”
Cindy Cabrera, an 11th grader who joined the Future Business Leaders of America last year, noted that while FBLA members are indeed passionate about business—and the various regional, state and national competitions the group participates in throughout the year—the ability to collaborate with like-minded peers is one of the reasons she is so quick to encourage younger high school students to join the club’s ranks.
“Sure, the club is called Future Business Leaders of America, but it’s about more than just business,” said Cabrera. “You learn leadership skills, you get to meet new people, make new friends, and participate in these competitions which are great.”
But while fun and camaraderie are important, noted fellow FBLA member Alexander Chirico, the opportunity to expand one’s horizons and learn new skills are also an important part in joining a club.
“Eastchester High School offers a lot of business classes, and this club is one of the best ways to take advantage of those resources,” said Chirico. “And getting the chance to travel to these competitions in different states and compete against other high school students is a great experience that can help to make your resume stand out from someone else.
“Not every student takes full advantage of the resources at EHS,” added Chirico. “But this is a great way to go that extra mile.”
