With the many different clubs at Vel Phillips Memorial now in session, there are a lot of options when it comes to joining a club of interest or relatability. Thanks to some of our amazing students, Memorial has a club for pretty much everything, from race and culture to knitting and writing. However, there has been a general census reported from the club founders, officers, and leaders that many people are hesitant to join clubs because they feel they “aren’t what the club stands for”. For example, clubs like BSU (Black Student Union) Latinos Unidos, and Asian Club are all clubs centered around the events, culture, and people of those different races and ethnicities. However, this does not mean that you can’t join or won’t be welcomed if you aren’t “of that race.” In a conversation with one of the Presidents of BSU, he stated that a lot of people shy away from the club and phrase “Wouldn’t it be weird if I joined? I’m not Black.” The same things have been said about Asian Club, where many turn away because they aren’t of Asian heritage or ethnicity. This is the exact kind of thing that affinity groups like BSU and Asian Club are looking for. Not only are they about promoting social change and cultural diversity, but they are also about sharing ideas and culture with others, and more importantly, ones outside of their bubble. Spaces like these clubs aren’t just meant for people of that characteristic, but rather about sharing these things with everyone, so that we may learn and grow together, not alienate each other. Even with a club like Multicultural Club, one person (a white girl) claimed “I feel bad being in there, it feels like I’m intruding on a space for Black and Brown people” which simply is not the case. As minorities (in any aspect, whether it be women, LGBTQIA+, etc.) we would rather build bridges with other people, instead of being with the same people we’ve spent the last decades having to be with because they are like us. 

If you are a student who wants to make new friends or join a club because you are interested in what they present, do not be afraid to do so. In fact, you will be grateful and happy you choose to go, because all of the clubs at Memorial High School are amazing ones, and each is special in its own way.