The alarm clock goes off. She stretches out her arm, desperate to regain silence. It’s Monday morning and she thinks ahead to her day: a math test third hour, a Spanish quiz fifth hour, and that boring notes packet in eighth hour science. Groaning, she gets ready for the start of another tedious day in the same building, with the same people, and the same schedule. She is not alone with these feelings. Everyday students voice how boring and uneventful their school lives are. Without an activity to get excited about or an event to look forward to, things can get pretty dull, each passing minute feeling slower and slower, each hour feeling longer and longer. However, many students do not know that there is an easy solution to this perpetual boredom — joining school clubs.

With over 30 clubs at NCHS it is easy for everyone to get involved and feel excited about being a part of the Ironmen family. Students could be participating in a new activity virtually every day.  Key Club meets on Mondays to talk about new volunteer projects. German Club meets on Tuesday, Mindful Iron on Wednesday, FCA on Thursday, and Strategy Cub on Friday. Clubs change the ordinary pace of a regular day, allowing students to make movies, sing songs, or even try their hand at acting. The large number of opportunities can seem overwhelming, making it difficult to find which club is the right club. But once informed, the possibilities will seem endless

Monday: Iron Hookers crochet club

She walks in on Monday morning, her crochet needle and yarn in hand. Looking around at the other nine members she sees them all working on their own projects. Some are making large sweaters while others have only a few stitches on their needle. But they all talk together and give each other new ideas of what to do next, sharing experience and creativity to make each other better.

“That’s the whole point of Iron Hookers,” said Katie Kennedy (12) a member of the Iron Hookers crochet club. “We just want more people to know how fun it is to make something yourself.”  

Started last year by two seniors, the Iron Hookers crochet club was formed to promote a shared passion and encourage others to learn as well. The club does not just work on perfecting their skills, but they also teach beginners. No matter the skill level, any student can learn how to crochet their own hats, mittens, and blankets with help from the club sponsors, Mrs. Budak and Frau Schnabel.

“Crocheting isn’t just for Grandma’s anymore,” Kennedy says. “It’s for everyone. People think that crocheting is hard, but it is actually really easy once you learn.”

Even though they meet at 8 o’clock in the morning, Kennedy says the club is always full of energy and excitement, making it the perfect start to a Monday.

Tuesday: Chinese Culture club

After school, she makes her way to room 241, eager to see what the activity will be for today. Last month, she learned how to play a new Chinese game and had been playing it with all of her friends. When she gets there, Ethan Schuller (12), Emily Shi (12), and Felicia Jia (12), the students who started Chinese Culture club, stand at the door, handing out pieces of paper. She takes one and sees that on it are Chinese characters and translations, showing her how to write in Chinese. Activities like this are done every month with Chinese Culture club in hopes that more students will be able to experience the unique culture of China.

All three club founders have strong Chinese heritage, with all of their parents being born in China. Last year, Shi, Jia, and Schuller began to notice that many students were disconnected from their own heritage at school, and even more had no knowledge about other cultures. The three seniors sought to connect this gap of school and culture by giving everyone the chance at a new experience.

“Not many people know about Chinese culture,” says Jia, “so it’s cool to get to share it with other people.”

The club meets once a month to discuss a specific topic regarding Chinese Culture. Games, writing, and even Chinese food are all used as ways to help students appreciate and understand a culture that is such a large part of many students’ lives. Club members suggest that anyone with Chinese heritage or anyone interest in China’s traditions and lifestyle should think about coming to a club meeting.

Wednesday: NCHS Pride

Walking in, they did not know what to expect. Would they be accepted or judged? Welcomed or turned away? Embraced or denied? Formerly called GSA, NCHS Pride is a club meant to support students in the LGBT community. Not only that but the club looks to teach more students about the importance of equality in the school, in the community, and in the world.

“We want people to know more about all the rights the LGBT community has,” said club member JP Vitor (11). “We just want people to feel welcomed and supported,” he added.  

Vitor and other students meet after school on the first Wednesday of every month in the IMC to talk about issues regarding LGBT rights. They host student panels and discussions in hopes of making all students feel valued with their opinions and know that somebody cares. The club lets students share their thoughts and ideas openly without fear of judgement.

“We are the most open group,” said Vitor. “If you need a safe place, this is the club to be in.”

While they are a pride group, the club is committed to helping all students feel loved and accepted no matter who they are. For anyone who is a part of the LGBT community or wants to learn more about the LGBT community, NCHS Pride is the perfect place to find answers and support.

Thursday: Voice Male

He auditioned last spring, waited for results, and now it was finally his first practice. Walking in, he felt immediate camaraderie. Everyone was laughing and having fun, making him see that already, this club was the perfect choice.  As one of two acapella singing groups at NCHS, Voice Male has a lot to offer.

The club was first started in 2008 by choir director Mr. Luginbuhl to help students learn different styles of music to perform at choir concerts and various musical events. Using only their voices, the club sings “anything from jazz to classics,” says Prudhvi Kalla (12). The group this year has learned “Let It Go” by James Bay and “The Pokemon Theme” from Pokemon along with a few other titles.

Meeting every Thursday after school in the choir room, Voice Male gives its members a pastime of making music along with good friendships.

“We’re really like a family,” says Kalla of the other members of the group. “We all support each other and the different levels of singing abilities and musical talents.”

Voice Male is an auditioned group and auditioning singers must be enrolled in a choir class, so it does take some practice to become a member. However, for the right person, Voice Male is the perfect match. “Creative people who like to explore music — who are passionate about singing —would really like Voice Male,” Kalla says.

The eighth hour bell sounds. They race out of class, weaving through the crowd to get to their meeting. The boredom of eighth hour notes vanished as their excitement built up to share in the club activities. The entire day felt like a breeze and now they understood what was missing before. For the first time in their high school careers, they felt engaged and encouraged by the people around them. They were excited about things going on at school and now felt a sense of community around them. So many clubs offer so many opportunities to be active and engaged in the Ironmen community. Which one will you choose?