As a freshman, making friends and connections is a top priority for most. While Pennridge High School offers a variety of clubs to do just that, students often feel reserved about joining ones out of their comfort zone. As a freshman, Ariana Porter was hesitant to join the Unified Club despite her brother being the president, as she lacked confidence that she knew how to interact with students with learning disabilities. As her brother insisted she join and get out of her comfort zone, Ariana would later discover the joy of meeting friends of all backgrounds and the smile that club would put on her face. By seeking new experiences, she opened her world to various possibilities and created lifelong memories.
Often, people limit themselves from trying new things due to fear of the unknown. A person can be their own worst enemy in that sense. But getting involved in a person’s community can bring out such joy and a sense of pride. Though very fun, clubs can also have a serious message behind them. Certain clubs focus on helping raise money for those in need or bring awareness to important topics. While doing those significant things, clubs provide a space to make amazing friendships. For example, the Unified Club is a place where everyone is welcome, and it is a great way to get to know everyone in your community. Students at Pennridge interact with students with learning disabilities through fundraising events, games, and parties. Some fundraisers that Unified Club has done have been April Showers and Polar Plunge. These allow Pennridge students to connect with everyone in their community. Everyone is there for the sole purpose of trying to find new connections and get out of your comfort zone. This is important because everyone makes up the community, and clubs like Unified help you meet people within your community with whom you might not have crossed paths otherwise.
The cliche, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” is a perfect example of what Arianna did. She made presumptions about what it meant to be a member of the Unified Club and thought she was not a right fit. After nervously stepping out of her comfort zone, Arianna realized that the club was welcoming to so many different types of people. Arianna’s love for the club quickly grew as she continued making more connections as time went on. She grew into a larger, more involved club member and is now the president. These connections have become a huge part of her life and something she is very passionate about. Ariannas’ experience is a prime example of how trying new things can pleasantly surprise you. When interviewing Arianna, she talked about her interest in continuing to work with a similar club when she attends college. By using her past role in Unified and participation, she can flourish in any other clubs she chooses. This would be similar to others who get involved with clubs since it helps expand your abilities and allows you to grow as a person.
People sometimes limit and prevent themselves from discovering new passions because they fear trying new things, failing them, and lacking faith in themselves. When talking about her experience in Unified, Arianna said, “This club brings out personalities that people didn’t even know they had.” Not only referring to herself but to the students with learning disabilities. Together, they learn from each other how to simply better themselves, all thanks to the Unified Club. Recalling her past doubts, Arianna worried, “ I didn’t think I had the patience and was afraid to say something to upset someone.” While her hesitations may have been valid, they were also her constraints. These worries were holding her back from a plethora of opportunities she now has opened herself up to.
High school is a time for people to change and find new passions. Unified Club advisor Angela James stated, “I am very proud that something I am so passionate about is being experienced in a school building.” Being a Special education teacher at Pennridge, James can witness the interactions between all students and notice how they flourish throughout the year. Ultimately, when more people become involved, a greater yield of awareness around the community is created. A chain reaction of goodness and self-discovery is found by being slightly uncomfortable in your situation. Everyone should live in the moment and make the best of every situation. Everyone reading this article should take away from this: to try new things because they could surprise you for the better, and even if you don’t find your new calling in life, at least you can say you tried it.
