A horde of underclassmen poured into the Student Activities Center (SAC) on a Wednesday afternoon. Tables covered in flyers, t-shirts, and poster boards surrounded the room, staffed by students from clubs. Organizations energetically drew in potential new members with candy, games, and free merchandise. Throughout the building, clubs packed into hallways and classrooms, engaging with Titans and broadcasting what their organizations had to offer.
This was the Student Activities Fair, a showcase of what holds South together: student involvement.
In previous years, the activities fair was held in the winter and included the Athletics Department, Dr. Mark Maranto, Assistant Principal for Student Activities, said. This year, however, the fair was moved to the beginning of the school year to encourage students to get involved earlier, Principal Dr. Barbara Georges said.
“Maranto changed up the activity fair to make it a little more approachable at a time of year where interest is freshm,” Georges said.
If students are unsure where to start in the search for their niche at South, the best place to go is the Student Activities Office (SAO) outside of the East Cafeteria; there, students can talk to Maranto who will match them to a club that suits them. Additionally, students can research clubs on South’s website, hallway bulletin boards, and the daily morning announcements. With over 120 options, South has a club for everyone.
“[South] is so big, it is like a small city,” Maranto said. “To be able to find your community within that huge setting is challenging. We’re trying to remove that barrier, but once [students find clubs they like], lifelong friendships get formed.”
To better encourage freshmen involvement in different school organizations, the administration is working to better communicate all of the opportunities available at South, Maranto said. They reach out through the club fair, the Glenbrook South Report, a compilation of the month’s activities created by Advanced TV and Film, and the Principal Newsletter to get more students involved, Maranto added.
Brendan Gomez, Student Council (StuCo) President, like many students at South, has gotten involved in activities that have shaped his high school experience. StuCo, Titan Nation,
PE Leaders, Advanced TV&Film, Public Art Collaborative, Student to Student, and Assyrian Club are among the extracurriculars that motivate him daily, Gomez said.
“Freshman year, I didn’t really care about my classes and school,” Gomez said. “After freshman year, I actually started taking my role [as president] more seriously, taking more classes, getting my grades up, [and] focusing on the future. [Extracurriculars] shaped me [into] who I am.”
The clubs at South give students, regardless of grade, an opportunity to expand their interests and meet people who are similar to them.
It is important for upperclassmen to create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for newer Titans, Gomez said. Since upperclassmen are the students who set the tone at South, it is crucial that they connect students to their new home.
“[Club leaders] have to embrace [underclassmen],” Gomez said. “You have to talk to them. You have to tell them that they’re wanted here, that we want [them] to join the club. It’s important to make them feel welcome.”
While South is actively working to relay information of available opportunities, and even if upperclassmen are welcoming, it is still vital for students to seek out these opportunities if they want to make the most of their Titan experience.
When it comes to high school and going beyond just academics, you get what you give. Through activities, students can find an enjoyable way to pass their time after school and are able to create a community unlike any other, Gomez said.
“Sometimes you have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations to become comfortable,” Gomez said.