Six students of Marc Garneau CI bringing back plaques and medals from the business competition Deca.

Is it lame to get involved in clubs at your school? This seems to be a theory proposed only by Marc Garneau students. It’s quite disappointing since we’re offered more than one hundred different clubs, varying from arts to science to business competitions such as Deca. More than half of the school population at Marc Garneau are not part of any club.

Apparently, people don’t join clubs for three main reasons; it is “uncool”, they don’t have to waste an extra hour in the school building when they could be hanging out at Tim Horton’s, and because they don’t want any extracurricular activities to interrupt their academic lives in school.

“I don’t think it’s lame,” a grade 11 student responded when asked the question, “I just think if I invest all the time into studying and reviewing my notes, it will be more beneficial for me.” Something students may not know is that certain universities will not accept someone with a 95% average who has no extracurricular experience. They may, however, accept a student with an 89% average with many extracurricular experiences. Universities want to make sure that the students they are accepting are capable of not only achieving high marks, but also capable of being independent and skilled in more than just academia.

Clubs also help create the sense of unity and community in the minds of the students. Students can meet new people with the same interest at clubs, enjoy new experiences as well as receive recognition from the club they have joined. It sure feels great to be recognized by joining a club, especially if that club is about something you dearly enjoy as a hobby or support as a belief. And when a club earns awards like many of the clubs at Marc Garneau, students can be proud both of themselves for being a part of that club and in their school for helping such clubs begin and grow.

Clubs can be found during lunch as well as after school, which makes it easier for some students to participate who may have things to do immediately after school, for example, pick up a sibling from elementary school. Clubs help students grow their talents and gain more experience. “Take a break from the heavy studies,” Ms. Munro advised, especially to Grade 11 and 12 students. “Students should join one or two clubs each year; one for a charity, because it feels good to help others, and one for your own personal interest.” Students can create a club online here, or sign up for one at club fairs, which take part twice a year in the Galleria at the beginning of each semester.