Many schools have after school programs for students to find a group they click with through personal interest. Here at BASH, we have many clubs. We have art clubs, drama clubs, newspaper clubs, community clubs, we have a club for almost every student’s interest. But how do students benefit from going to clubs? Are clubs important to the student mind?
Scientifically, clubs are very beneficial and important to students. It allows the mind to relax and wind down after a stressful day of schoolwork and running from class to class. That all being said, there have been quite a few studies that say that students do overall benefit due to their extracurriculars and after school activities, including clubs. A survey conducted by NCES, or National Center for Education Statistics, states that, “Almost every high school in the U.S. offers some type of extracurricular activity, such as music, academic clubs, and sports. These activities offer opportunities for students to learn the values of teamwork, individual and group responsibility, physical strength and endurance, competition, diversity, and a sense of culture and community.
Further studies even claim that clubs prepare students for college and even the real world by teaching students life and well-needed social skills. Aislynn Weidenmoyer, a member and former president of the art club, says, “I benefit from my club. It allows me to be creative and to relax while exploring different art mediums” Art club gives students the opportunity to just pick up a pencil or paint brush and create to their heart’s content.
Clubs are quite popular among students of BASH. One popular club in particular is TSA, which
stands for Technology Student Association. TSA is a program where students from 6th to 8th grade and students from 9th to 12th grade compete in a series of chosen events based on their skills and preferences to win ribbons and trophies depending on the level of competition they are at.
The events participants compete in range from science and technology to engineering and mathematics, and depending on their placements at a regional level students can advance to state or national levels of competition. Students will travel to compete in these conferences and earn chances to learn new social skills, how to manage projects with strict deadlines, and how to talk to people in a professional setting.
Drama club is a club where students can come together and perform a story while learning coordination and creativity. Clubs like this are a great way for students to find the people they can be themselves around and actually click with. Ava Peterson, a student at BASH, says, “I think I benefit from Drama Club for sure. It’s allowed me to be more confident in myself as well as helped me with public speaking. It lets me find people who truly care and share the same passions as me, as well as people who have helped me find myself.”
This year, 2025, the BASH music department is put together a musical based on the children’s tale, The Princess and the Pea. The show is called Once Upon a Mattress and it was performed from the 13th to the 16th of March. Maya Lopex, who played the lead role in the musical, recalled that “the musical is always a really fulfilling experience and is something I can focus on and put my energy into. They require a lot of hard work, especially when preparing for auditions, but it all pays off, even if you don’t get the role you want. Overall, it’s an amazing way to meet new people and make connections as well as pursue a passion for music.” Clubs help students in many ways. They help students find their people, new friends, and even allow them to just be themselves. Clubs help students relax after a long and stressful day of school instead of going home and immediately having to worry about homework, chores, jobs, and or other responsibilities. Clubs give students the ability to take some time after school to work on a hobby and spend time with people of similar interests. So consider joining a club today, it’s always worth trying new things.
Clubs help students in many ways. They help students find people they can relate with, new friends, and even a place where students can be themselves. School clubs also benefit the student mind. Clubs help students relax after a long and stressful day of school instead of going home and immediately having to worry about homework, chores, and/or jobs. Instead students can take an hour afterschool and work on a hobby and spend time with friends that they can relate interests with. Most kids say that they really do benefit from their clubs mentally and it helps improve their relationships with friends.
Join a club today! They’re worth it.
