Hidden Gems

When looking at lists of clubs for Jefferson Academy, there are many well-known ones that pop out, such as Mock Trial or Brain Bowl, but what many do not see are the hidden gems underneath the surface, such as the Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB), which is a great opportunity for students who love to read.

“[At SLAB,] everybody sits at a table, we all get our lunches, and then we talk about a fundraiser we're doing, the next movie we're doing, [or] if we need to do concessions for money,” Caroline Landvik explained. “We have a book club too now, so we talk about our books. We ask questions and stuff, but it's pretty chill. It's super informative, and you just talk about what our next meeting is gonna look like.”

Although some clubs are more formal, laid-back clubs are definitely a safe option, and some students like to go crazy and have some fun. Trevor Johnson-Cunningham is in Gaming Club and finds the banter after school on Wednesdays to be a fitting place for himself.

“We just yell at each other,” Johnson-Cunningham said with a smile on his face. “It’s a lot of strategy games so we just figure out who's lying and stuff.”

Not everyone has familiarity with clubs and many don’t know what to expect when joining something new, which could make them nervous. Rylee Cox was asked about her hopes and expectations for a club she is new to: Tri-M Music Honors Society.

“I like music a whole bunch and I've been playing the piano for a while, and I was just thinking if I could do something related to that and have, like, a community around me, then it would be kind of fun,” Cox shared. “Hopefully I can do a few open mic nights. I just want to make a good impression on the place.”

Sometimes, a common interest is what sparks attention from people and convinces them to join a club and embrace what they love to do. 

“I think the community [of SLAB is amazing],” Landvik stated. “Everybody's there because of their love for literature and books. And they're all really passionate about it.”

Passion is something that can be stronger than anything physical, and GSA, or Gender and Sexuality Alliance, sometimes only has passion if not popularity. They are still lingering in the shadows of other clubs and have been trying to break out for a long time. Thomas Hartmann is clear with his concern to get the group out there and recognized.

“We've been a lot more in the background. I feel like this group has really put us out there in ways that we haven't before. It's still not really where I want it to be, but it's growing. It's getting there,” Hartmann explained. 

Sometimes it is harder for clubs to really make a name for themselves because not everyone agrees with what some clubs may be doing, which can be discouraging for the people in the club.

Mr. Hartmann continued, “I think it's hard sometimes for this group because there are, unfortunately, people, even in the JA community, that think that we shouldn't exist, that we shouldn't be here. That we shouldn't give these types of supports to this community and it's disheartening, but the fact that we persevere is amazing.”