September 11th, 2024 marked the beginning of a new full of leadership and opportunity for San Marcos students. On this day during lunch, student leaders, teachers, and ASB members transformed the quad into a bustling space for our biannual club rush, a day in which students of all grades are able to pursue individual interests and form new friendships with like minded people. This year’s club rush, however, showcased an unprecedented array of ideas and inclusivity with more than fifty clubs available to enrich student life on campus.
When asked about the variety seen at this year’s club rush, San Marcos sophomore and Commissioner of Organizations, Lane Danhauer said, “This year’s club rush was different from any in the past because there were 55 clubs! The clubs’ focuses ranged from hobbies, future career goals, philanthropic community service, and more.”
The Sustainable Sewing Club made its debut at yesterday’s club rush. Here, members can pursue their hobby of sewing and clothes making with an environmentally friendly focus.
“Our club is an opportunity for people to reuse, recycle, and repurpose their old clothes into something new that they love,” said club president and junior Sofia Yannovich.
The Beautify Santa Barbara Club, Dream Foundation Club, and the Students for Shelter Animals Club all had strong presences at yesterday’s event. These associations provide students with volunteer and leadership opportunities by helping students get involved with the Santa Barbara community and provide opportunities for community service. This year’s club leaders have been encouraged to host more school wide events and fundraisers in order to expand the impact of our organizations on campus.
The vast diversity of club membership options not only fosters students’ pursuits of individual interests, but also allows club leaders to demonstrate their organizational and creative skills. Additionally, club founders get real life leadership practice, at the same time forming valuable connections with their teachers and peers. Leading a club comes with numerous responsibilities that help prepare students for life beyond high school. Starting a club at San Marcos begins with mapping out its purpose and intended audience, coordinating meeting dates and times with teachers, and forming budgets. Students must then decide how to market their club in order to attract students with similar interests. At this year’s club rush, a wide variety of interesting marketing techniques were employed. Student leaders decorated signs to go along with the unique aesthetics of their clubs and handed out treats like baked goods, candy, and stickers to those who joined. Throughout the year, club leaders must form relationships with outside organizations. They arrange for guest speakers and plan valuable engaging activities, all while managing their regular school and extracurricular requirements.
This year’s club rush felt like it had a refreshingly inviting atmosphere. Students appeared very motivated to get involved on campus, help their communities, and establish new connections.
“The first step to getting involved is to attend club rush. There is a club for people of all different backgrounds, interests, and plenty of potential for new interests. Sign-ups for clubs at club rush are simple, just write down your email on the club’s email list and look for meeting times in your email inbox,” said Danhauer.
If you missed this month’s club rush or are interested in starting a new club later this year, a second event will be held on February 19th, 2025. This academic year is sure to be remembered for its increased inclusivity and representation of a broad spectrum of student interests.
