Jesuit is a fantastic high school, not only because of its superior academic and sports programs, but also because of its complete extracurricular experience. Jesuit has many student-run clubs ranging from the Medical Society to the Ultimate Frisbee Club, and also provides many opportunities to travel on immersion trips to regions as far away as Peru and Alaska. In order to open these opportunities to as many students as possible, the student council continues with their annual generosity and has donated $20,000 to 22 clubs and immersion trips this year.
Clubs are important to Jesuit Life because they allow students to follow their interests and make the most of them. A student cannot take a robotics class, but that does not bar him from the skill. The world championship Jesuit Robotics Team allows him to follow his passion and succeed. Similarly, the Jesuit Cycling Team grants students the opportunity to compete at the challenging sport. “Clubs provide students the opportunity to express their talents and give their time,” explains Mr. Colin Hanley, Student Council Moderator. Through the student council’s donations, students can follow their interests and enjoy their success.
Of the 22 organizations that received donations, 8 are immersion trips to locations across the world. Some students will go out of state to New Orleans or Los Angeles, while others will travel around the globe to Ecuador, Peru, and Nicaragua to aid burdened communities. “School is not just about academics,” explains Mr. Hanley. Through Jesuit and the money raised by student council, students will be able to participate in programs that benefit others as well as build their own character. “[The money] goes to forming the whole student.”
As well as forming character, clubs are a way for students to get together and have fun. For example, the Ultimate Frisbee Club welcomes all students to an afternoon of throwing the disc around for a bit of fun. Activities such as Frisbee complement a demanding sports practice in the morning and a difficult day of work at school, perfecting the extracurricular experience. Also, the Video Game Development Club provides a fun way to work together on an enjoyable project. Mr. Hanley notes that “clubs are really just a good way to make friends and have fun,” an aspect of the best Jesuit experience.
Besides benefitting the individual student, Jesuit clubs and activities create a tight-knit school community. Michael Boyson, Junior Class Vice President, remarks, “[Clubs] help bring other students together, students who may not know each other.” By creating friendships between students who otherwise would not have met, clubs promote brotherhood, a trait which bonds Jesuit students together. Michael Pontikes, Junior Class Representative, states, “It is all about getting involved.” When students connect with the rest of the school through activities they enjoy, they take full advantage of their high school opportunities. Jesuit’s extracurricular activities give the school its identity, an identity of success through the seizure of every opportunity.
The Jesuit student council achieves its goal of growing the community by helping Jesuit clubs and activities. Michael Pontikes explains, “the student council was founded as a service organization,” and by giving money in support of the Jesuit community, “it helps our community grow.” The student council accomplishes its purpose by taking care of the community it was entrusted to lead. Through benefitting the Jesuit community, the student council opens the opportunity for Jesuit students to help the larger community and become men for others.
