Trying out new things at school is the perfect way to put yourself out there and find your crowd. If you like a club, great! If not, it’s not the end of the world. If you don’t click with the first kids you decide to interact with, there’s so many other places to make friends in FHS.
Why should you put yourself out there, anyway? Meeting new people can create a number of opportunities for you as your high school experience progresses. One advantage to making new friends is being informed, given insight or even getting a new perspectives on classes, teachers, students and so much more!
Xin Qi (a Senior here at Flushing), once a shy, introverted and self-conscious girl, moved to Flushing from New Jersey. She transferred during her sophomore year and joined many extracurricular activities. She started with an internship with CSS, joined the tennis team, became a youth leader as a junior, and is now president of Key Club this year. She felt it was easy to settle in and socialize, “I find everyone to be so accepting and nonjudgmental.”
Another student, Lindon Nikac (Senior) was recruited by a lunch-buddy (Billy Encalada; member of the varsity football team, #33) to start hanging out and practicing with the football team during their junior year.
Soon, Lindon became an official member of the football team. “I felt good because I knew I could get along with everyone… I felt welcomed because they gave tips to help me do something better,” he says.
The extracurriculars you join shape your high school experience because of all the wonderful people in that activity. It all starts by checking out and attending that first club meeting, practice, game, or organization’s event. Step outside your comfort zone and try it!
