In the hallways during lunch, or classrooms after school, Anderson is home to a myriad of dynamic and enriching clubs. Many of these clubs are advertised on posters around the school, and are amazing ways to explore new interests and develop new skills. They can provide social opportunities, academic enrichment, as well as community service, and are always looking for new members. While amazing clubs are abundant at Anderson, which can be found through the Anderson Community Blend Course, in this article I chose to highlight three different clubs, Anderson DreamCatchers, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), and Model UN.
Anderson DreamCatchers is a club that was started a couple of years ago with the express purpose of putting a little more joy and goodness into the world. According to a devoted club member, DreamCatchers is “a club dedicated to fulfilling end of life dreams for hospice patients.” Through working with local hospice care facilities, the club helps “spread joy to older members of [the] community.” If you or any of your friends have been looking for good community service outlets, or want to be part of a program that focuses on members of the community you may too often look past, this club is an amazing option. The club helps facilitate bonds and friendships between hospice patients and younger generations. If you are interested in joining, club meetings are Friday during lunch in room 331!
While many clubs at Anderson are a great way to become more active in your community, clubs can also be a great way to meet and interact with like-minded peers, such as the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) club. According to President Ananya Arora, “WISE Club is a great way to meet and collaborate with other like-minded individuals, especially women, interested in the STEM Field.” Ananya and her fellow officers started the club to not only increase awareness about future career paths for aspiring STEM professionals but also to introduce discussion on the unique challenges encountered by women who choose to pursue these fields. However, the club is open to both men and women and welcomes any new members who wish to join. Lastly, Ananya concluded by saying that “WISE is a great way to hear from a diverse group of guest speakers who talk about their career experiences, while also finding new volunteer opportunities!” If you want to be more involved in science clubs at school, learn about future possible careers, or just meet other women and people interested in the field, WISE club meets every other Thursday during lunch in room 100.
Lastly, many clubs at Anderson also provide opportunities for academic stimulation and competition, such as Model UN. Co-President Zoe Nagro describes the club as an amazing way to “study international issues while also learning to write better, research better, have more confidence in public speaking, and [get] an opportunity to socialize with people who are also interested.” The club participates in two big conferences throughout the year, one in the fall and one in the spring, although participation isn’t mandatory. Model UN generally entails conferences where members take on the role of a delegate of a specific country and discuss issues and create solutions on an international scale. Co-President Maiya Olsen concedes that “it can be a little daunting at first” but “can often be very gratifying.” If you want a great opportunity to explore new academic pursuits or are interested in politics, current events, and public speaking, join Model UN in room 241 after school on Thursdays!
These three clubs are just a small introduction to the unique club opportunities present at Anderson. While it may seem intimidating to just show up to a club one day, posters are hung and announcements are given for a reason, so if you are interested in joining, please do! More than that, if you want to explore more clubs outside the ones in this article visit https://anderson.austinschools.org/students/clubs, which gives you information about all of the clubs here at Anderson!
