On September 9, Dublin High students of all grade levels spent their lunch at the annual Club Fair to kick off the new school year and see all the opportunities the student body has to offer. The club fair itself was a spectacular sight, with hundreds of students waving flags, chanting, and proudly displaying poster boards as they tried to gather new members. With a record number of students on campus and a record amount of clubs, there was no shortage of activities to sign up for.  

Part of what made this year’s Club Fair so different was the inclusion of Emerald High School students as they continue their stay on the DHS campus. While Emerald High School did charter several clubs of its own, the very first being EHS Model United Nations, many students also chose to sign up for and participate in the 100+ clubs available at Dublin High. 

This activity of the Club Fair, moreover, proved beneficial in helping many clubs grow. Sophia Lee, junior and Archery Club president, said that “the Club Fair was really exciting and super beneficial. . . [her club] grew from around 25 members before… to around 90 members now.”

The Club Fair also provided an opportunity for clubs to communicate with their existing members, create meeting plans, and solidify their outlook for the year.

“Our club officers were able to meet newly interested members personally and share the plans that [they’ve] been working hard on…. Attending the Club Fair boosted [the Archery Club] more than we could’ve possibly expected, and we are so excited for the coming year,” noted Sophia Lee.

The wide variety of clubs on Dublin High’s campus allows students to join different clubs according to their different needs. For instance, one student needing academic enrichment might join a club such as DECA or HOSA, where another student looking to relax might enjoy DeStressions. 

Lasya Gangadari, a DHS senior, was happy to see the multitude of clubs at the fair. “I love to see the diversity of clubs on campus and so many passionate students! I treat clubs as fun spaces… so I spend my time in Drama and Improv club. Since we have a lot of clubs, there are a lot of opportunities to explore new interests and activities, which is awesome!” Gangadari reported.

In this same spirit, some students, rather than use clubs as academic extensions, chose to join clubs that allow them to find new friends and communities.

“Besides acting as academic enrichment, clubs can also add a spark of relaxation…. It has been really fun hanging out with friends and making new ones at [Card Game Club]” says Andre Lee, Dublin High senior.

Overall, many students find that the selection of clubs at Dublin High has a lot to offer. For those who were unable to attend the club fair, there are still many clubs available to join. While many clubs advertise on Instagram, sometimes word-of-mouth is a valuable tool for students to find clubs with like-minded peers.