Vikings are getting involved with the 59 and growing extracurricular clubs and sports this school has to offer.
Extracurricular clubs have been booming at high rates for Lake Stevens High School, and students are here for it. Based on a recent survey, the average student states they love the benefits of club membership for personal growth and well-being. Furthermore, the variety of clubs here at LSHS allows students to find a club that best fits their interests.
In 2015, Lake Stevens High School offered a total of 29 clubs and/or extracurriculars, but this year the high school accommodates 59 clubs and is continuously growing.
“I think it’s really good, we have a really good diverse atmosphere here,” Amelia Stahlke, president and co-founder of Girls Who Code for LSHS said.
With more clubs being added year after year, people can join one that fits their interests, more now than ever.
Out of the current 2,230 students at Lake Stevens High School, 30 people responded to a survey about clubs and extracurriculars. 85% of those who responded think there is a good variety of clubs here at LSHS.
Most of the students mentioned that they enjoyed the numerous activities available, and they emphasized their belief that LSHS has one of the best varieties.
However, 15% of the students said LSHS could improve the variety of clubs offered.
Students mentioned that they didn’t think LSHS clubs represented their hobbies well enough.
“I think we’re missing a few things on subjects that people care about and how they are presented,” Tabletop Club President Maximillian McColl said. “A lot of people have interests and a bunch of hobbies that either the school does not provide or the school does not represent well enough.
According to a few students from the survey, they’d be interested in joining a cooking club if it were available.
The school indeed hosts a variety of clubs, but not everyone has the same interests in the available activities, and that’s okay.
Some students don’t have time to join an activity after school, while others are fine without extracurriculars.
Many clubs provide leadership opportunities for students to learn how to communicate well with others, solve problems, and handle responsibilities.
“We try to have field trips or conferences or opportunities to compete in DECA, that allow students to see what it’s like in the business and marketing professional world,” DECA Advisor David Marques said.
Clubs are not only activities, they can help students connect with the real world and what they will be facing in the future.
Extracurriculars are perfect for building relationships and skills related to a student’s chosen career path.
Colleges not only look at a student’s grades and test scores, but they also look at the clubs they’ve joined to learn more about the person they are becoming. The admissions want to know what makes the student unique, what makes them stand out from other applicants.
Building relationships are also a vital piece of after school activities, and what some people enjoy most about them.
“The comradery. Hanging out with like-minded people, whether they are introverts or extroverts, just everyone hanging out together,” junior Jake Li said.
Building relationships with people that students won’t normally encounter increases social skills.
Similarly to what Stahlke said before, a club’s atmosphere is made up of not only decor, but people who participate.
Clubs are an outlet for many things; building relationships, skills and one’s future.
“I think that everyone should join a club if they have time because each of them will build a talent or a skill regardless of what it is, it will give you something in return for learning that skill,” McColl said.
