Story by Alani Gonzalez-Embriz ’28
As an 8th grader applying to SHC, one of the key highlights that stood out to me was the variety of clubs they offer. Clubs range from finance to cheese, each having a unique and fun quality. Once I finally attended SHC, I couldn't wait for the Activity Fair and to join clubs I had been interested in. The two clubs that stuck out to me the most were Art in Action and Model UN. Being a part of clubs was a great way for me to build friendships, and it was a way for me to put myself out there while being a new student. For every freshman who enters SHC, I highly recommend joining a club, which is why I want to introduce some of the new and current clubs and what they have to offer.
The first club I want to introduce is the ASL Club, which is a new addition to the clubs at SHC. The club is run by Instructor of American Sign Language Annika Daley ’15, Winnifred O'Callaghan ’27 and Mary Juliena Gomez ’27. One of the questions I asked to get to know more about the club was, “Since your club will be new, what is one goal you hope to achieve this year for your club?” O’Callaghan tells us, “A goal we hope to achieve this year would be to open exploration of deaf culture through fun and engaging ways. We also have students in our club who don't take ASL as a class but would like to learn some conversation skills through our club.” If you don't take ASL but are still interested in learning, the ASL club is a good alternative if you're taking a different language. Another question I asked was, “What will people be doing and learning in your club?”O’Callaghan said, “For our club, we hope to apply the ASL we learn in class to our club. We also plan to have movie meetings where we watch movies interpreting deaf culture and movies that have ASL interpreters.”
Architecture Club is another new club run by Instructor of Visual Arts Hannah Donkin, Kylie Leung ‘28, Vivienne Austin ‘28 and Skylar Anastasia ‘28. I first heard about the architecture club at this year's Activity Fair, and I was intrigued. I got in contact with the leaders and asked some questions. The first question I asked was, “What inspired you to create an architecture club?” Leung said, “I’ve always been interested in architecture and wanted to create something at school where other students and I could explore that interest together.” An additional question I asked was, “What will participants be doing in your club?” Leung commented, “Participants will explore architecture through hands-on activities such as building models, sketching layouts and engaging in small challenges and competitions. We’ll also discuss how architecture connects to daily life and history. Eventually, I hope to collaborate with local organizations and provide opportunities for participants to contribute their ideas to help the community.”
The final club I will highlight is Art in Action, which Instructor of Visual Arts Brian McHugh has run for 11 years and counting. Art in Action is one of my favorite clubs because of the relaxing atmosphere and chill vibe. Mr. McHugh said, “One of my favorite things about AIA is that it gives students a place to come in and hang out, try out new mediums and techniques, or just do the art they want to do.”
Clubs at SHC offer something for everyone, whether you're passionate about art, interested in learning ASL, or curious about architecture. Joining clubs not only helped me explore my interests but also made my transition into high school much smoother by connecting me with my new friends and experiences. To every incoming freshman, don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
Calling all students and athletes ages 8—14! One-week summer enrichment courses and sports academies are just a click away. Courses run from June 8 to July 17. Visit the Summer Institute page today.
