High school is the period where you find yourself, the pathway between childhood and adulthood. Your upcoming four years of school will set the stage for your future. While classes give you knowledge, clubs play a major role in finding your passion in life; teaching valuable life skills and enforcing habits essential for any person.

If your goal is to make more friends and build a community, clubs like pre-med, peer mentoring, culture clubs, or merely any club that involves your interests, will connect you with people who share your interests or identity while also providing you with resources. Clubs dedicated towards community service might not seem like the first choice for gaining friends, but you can actually build a strong connection with your fellow peers as you work together for a greater cause, and get to know people you might not otherwise expect to.

“Even though a lot of different groups of friends attend our meetings the group has helped connect students across grades,” senior Chanel Alexander said.

Creative clubs usually offer a totally calming environment to let you simply indulge in your craft. Most creative clubs focus on workshops to help and guide each other through their work.

“The relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of creative clubs makes people want to discuss and share more in meetings,” senior Julianna Sweberg said. “Our interactive workshops are a big stress reliever.”

Zine club, for instance, simply provides you with the supplies and environment to create art. There are little to no expectations.

Competition-focused clubs such as the Debate team, Science Olympiad, Quiz bowl, Math team, etc. come with heavy responsibility and workload, but they’re specialized in knowledge of subjects with thorough detail while preparing you to confront high stress situations. Academic clubs like these are especially useful for people who want to take up challenges in a subject they’re truly passionate about. However, it’s crucial to remember the investment these clubs come with and manage your time accordingly.

“Especially in DECA, I’ve learned time management and quick decision making are the most important qualities,” sophomore Elenor Li said.

All club information is listed on the North High website under Clubs & Activities. The first meeting you attend can be the entrance to much more than you could expect. Trying new things in a new environment can seem daunting, but the reward of making new friends and being a part of a special community beyond scores made these decisions makes it worthwhile. There is much more to school than grades and assignments, clubs are testimony to that.