On Tuesday, January 14th, PGHS put on their second club rush of the school year. Nine clubs attended including the Philosophy Club, Spanish Club, Model United Nations, Newsbreaker, T.A.S.K Club, Crochet Club, Badminton Club, Volleyball Club, and Asian Student Union. This article will allow you to learn more about these clubs and why you should consider joining them.
The Philosophy Club meets in the PGHS Library on Mondays during Lunch, offering a time to discuss various topics with other students. Micah Orozco (11), explained the club as “pretty casual, you just meet in the Library and talk about different stuff”. Asian Student Union, organized by Mrs. O’Donnell and Grace Gorman (12) allows students to apply for scholarships and extracurricular opportunities such as the APYLP (Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project) Conference. The four-day conference, which selects 50 AAPI seniors and juniors in California based on an application process, teaches students skills such as “knowledge of the legislative process, community leadership, and political activism” according to the APYLP website.
Pacific Grove High School is also home to two sports-related clubs. Badminton nets are set up every Wednesday during Lunch in the gym to host PGHS’s Badminton Club, where members can expect exciting Badminton play. Club President Amy Kim (11) also stated that, if the club can garner enough interest, the club will hold a tournament with prizes for the winners. The Volleyball Club meets to play Volleyball in the gym every Friday during Lunch. Co-President Kai Bishop (11) said, “(Depending on attendance) Games are usually either 6V6 or 3V3 King of the Court (winner stays on)”, continuing on, “It’s mainly trying to have fun”. Milo Nothnagle (11) adds, “Sometimes people want to play serious volleyball, but a lot of the time it’s just silly and having fun”.
Crochet Club offers a chance for students to work on sewing and knitting skills. Even if you have no prior experience, Crochet Club allows students to develop their crochet skills with help, Cora Galer (12) told me, “We encourage creativity and everyone is welcome”. Spanish Club, headed by Mrs. Brutzman and Angelique Vargas (12), allows students to learn more about Hispanic and Latino culture and improve their Spanish-speaking skills. Students will engage in many activities such as bringing in traditional food and desserts, watching Spanish movies, and playing games like the Spanish version of Bingo.
Founded by Mrs. Gamecho, the PGHS T.A.S.K Club meets on Tuesdays during Lunch focusing on four directions of service, school, community, county, and global, by taking part in projects such as working at local community centers and hosting events such as the “Water Walk” to teach about water scarcity around the world. Model United Nations returned to the PGHS club scene this school year, led by Mrs. Nicholson, Jonah De Leon (10), and Sergen Serttunc (10), offering students the chance to work on their debate skills, critical thinking, researching, and leadership. During live conferences, MUN members work to solve the real-world issues debated by the United Nations today.
Lastly, Newsbreaker, organized by Mrs. Selfridge and editors Antony Gabrik (11), Conor O’Brien (11), and Meredith Evans (12), offers students the chance to write articles on areas of their choosing and interest. From school events to worldwide politics and sports, all topics are available to Newsbreaker members as they continue to improve their writing and learn about journalism on a professional level.
Clubs allow students to blossom their interests and creativity and now more than ever are seen as extremely valuable in the eyes of colleges and universities. Extracurriculars are the perfect opportunity for students looking to bolster their college application, address their hobbies, improve their skills, or just to have a good time.
If you have any extra questions about the clubs mentioned in this article, please contact the people mentioned in the article, teachers or students, and they will probably provide an answer.
