At the beginning of every school year, students can take advantage of Club Rush to become involved in the Mater Dei and greater Orange County communities. Students have the opportunity to join or establish their own clubs at Mater Dei and grow as professional leaders and communicators. Clubs such as academic teams create spaces for students to get help on their work and places where students can build community.

Collaborating and managing clubs requires dedication and commitment from these student leaders. Current club presidents have often imparted advice to students interested in establishing their own club. Senior Stella Pham, president of The Badminton Club, shares her own guidance to future club leaders.

“You need to have passion in what you’re doing,” Pham said. 

Club leaders need to be on top of their work. They need to make sure everything is in order and things are running smoothly. Another part of their job is finding ways to promote and get people to join their clubs.

These student leaders often have to overcome challenges in club meeting attendance.  Club presidents often promote their weekly gatherings or events through social media, by word of mouth, or via the annual Club Rush. Bryant Johnson, Co-founder of The Financial Literacy Club, describes his own marketing strategies for increased attendance. 

“We have created an Instagram page [for our club], and we were thinking about flyers to keep getting the message out,” Johnson said. “I also have some friends who chat and spread the word.”

Clubs not only provide a fun way to meet new people, make friends, and share your passion with others but can be a way to grow as an individual. These valuable experiences could be implemented into school life and better prepare you for academics. Junior Jenny Nguyen is a co-president of the SciHOSA club which appeals to those interested in the health care field in the future. As a club leader, she finds organization helps her both with the club and her other work. 

“I learned how to manage my time and be more confident to talk in front of everyone,” Nguyen said. “And being a leader teaches me how to be patient, determined and not indecisive in our decisions. That taught me a lot, especially for my future, my career, or for college in general.”

Preplanning and organization go a long way in forming a club, finding and maintaining members, and making an impact on the community. Once you preplan everything and know what to do the process becomes easier. You finish everything faster and you’re one step closer to starting your own club.

“I would say find a moderator as soon as possible [is key],” Johnson said. “Because once you find a moderator, your issues kind of go away.” 

Some students may have a vision for a club but don’t go through with it, either due to worry about acquiring members or worry about the amount of work involved. Yet these clubs could be unique additions to the Mater Dei community and both the Activities Office and other Monarchs recommend just putting yourself out there.

”I would say just go ahead if you have any idea, if you have anything that would be good for Mater Dei, and if your club has a direct purpose, or a mission and vision, just go ahead for it,” Nguyen said.

There are many experiences to gain from joining or starting a club and these experiences can help us grow and know a part of ourselves that we might not have otherwise found.