By Lily Keeley

Ponte Vedra High School offers many clubs, which are all displayed during the club fair on Wednesday, October 25. With so many options, students have many ways to get involved. These clubs help to motivate students to better our community in multiple ways.

Olivia Hendry, a Sophomore at PVHS and vice president of Bake a Difference, explains how they use bake sales to raise money for charities of their choice; for the Halloween bake sale they are raising money for a breast cancer awareness fundraiser. The club usually hosts the sales during the holidays, and members are encouraged to either bake goods or donate supplies for cooking to receive service hours. Another club is Beaches Go Green, which is associated with arranging beach clean-ups to ensure that the shores stay trash free. Dishi Dewan, a sophomore at PVHS and social media manager for Beaches Go Green, explains that “The club is an environmental organization focused on raising awareness about the waste we produce and its impact on our planet. Our goal is to help others reduce plastic usage in their daily lives. We also work to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our environment by organizing beach and roadside cleanups!” The beach is a particularly key place for people in and around Ponte Vedra, which is why students and other citizens work to keep it as clean as possible.

Morgan’s Message is another club at PVHS that strives to eliminate shame surrounding mental health within student-athletes. The club is based on a student-athlete named Morgan, who had accepted an offer to play lacrosse at Duke University. During her senior year, she started to feel a lot of anxiety but had the proper help, so she was able to continue the sport she loved. However, she experienced a severe knee injury just before her sophomore season. She struggled with the abrupt change as her world began to plummet, she kept a happy face on for her friends, family, and community even though she felt she was not living up to her expectations.

While she had experienced these feelings before, this time she decided to suffer alone. This led her to commit suicide in July of 2019 at the age of 22. The club wants to help prevent events like this from happening. Other clubs at PVHS include Fashion club, Surf club, Fishing club, Biotech club, Debate club, SAT/ACT Prep club, GEMS, Hearts of Pv, FCA, Media Seminar club, and many more.

Clubs can play a significant role in college admissions by displaying commitment, leadership, passion, impact, and ability to collaborate. By holding a leadership position, it demonstrates the ability to manage responsibilities and lead the club. Showing long-term involvement in clubs shows dedication, perseverance, and commitment. Pursuing clubs related to your interests or intended major can show genuine enthusiasm with your academics and career goals. When making a difference in the club or community it highlights initiatives and drives. By collaborating with other clubs, it highlights the ability to work well with others and be a team player. Involvement in school clubs can help you develop skills and experiences that help applications stand out.

School clubs can help foster a sense of belonging and community in students’ lives. The clubs provide a platform for students to explore their interests and develop skills outside of the traditional classroom. Participating in clubs can enhance students’ social skills, teamwork, and leadership abilities, and help create a platform that many colleges look for. Clubs often offer opportunities for students to engage with their local communities, promoting responsibility, and social awareness. Ultimately, school clubs contribute to a well-rounded educational experience, helping students grow both personally and academically.

Pictured: Dishi Dewan (10) holding her “Beaches Go Green” club t-shirt