By Kristen Cordero
Staff Writer
If students have hobbies that aren’t electives, they can join a club. Fashion Club, Gay Straight Alliance and Applied Theoretical Strategies are just some of the clubs offered here at Mira Costa.
According to Costa Principal Ben Dale, clubs are created to match all students different interests; the best part is anyone can join a fascinating club, and it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. The clubs offered give students the opportunity to find a way to connect with other people.
“So once in awhile I’ll get a kid that comes up to me, and we’ll start talking clubs,” said Costa Principal Ben Dale. “The way that I categorize is that, what place I know that I can talk to a kid and tell them to go to where they can be connected if there not finding their connection anywhere else.”
According to club president Leah McDonald, Fashion Club teaches girls how to become fashionistas and who know how to sew and it’s a great way to meet people and bond. The club teaches girls the basics: sewing, clothing, style, as well as how to make collages; each of their members with their own sewing machines.
“Not all the girls have an eye for fashion, but we teach them and anyone can do it,” said club president Leah McDonald. “Fashion Club is every Friday this year at lunch.”
The club host its own fashion shows; According to McDonald the club’s main goal is to host a huge fashion show in the main auditorium. The club, which meets in room 131, gets lots of freshman members and has about 12-13 members that stick with the program.
“I came in not knowing anything about fashion, but they taught me everything I know,” said Vice President Juliana Menendez. “The fashion shows are really big, fun and the best part of the club.”
Another club offered at Mira Costa is The Gay Straight Alliance club. The club was started to help students at Mira Costa not feel alone and isolated. According to Alan Zeoli, the club is a safe place for all and is open to anyone, regardless of sexuality.
“Gay Straight Alliance helps students learn to understand people who are different to them and helps students who feel isolated find a safe place to be themselves,” said Club Advisor Alan Zeoli.
The club, along with many other G.S.A clubs in the South Bay, holds mixers, movie nights and other fun activities to address the problems the LGBT community is currently facing.
“We really get to know each other over the year and you get this whole new understanding of yourself and others,” said club president Kyra Solis. “The club is for anyone, not just gays or straights, who wants to get involved and do service.”
Another way to interact with people is Applied Theoretical Strategies; The club is all about playing creative critical thinking games such as “Killer Bunnies” and “Dungeons and Dragons”. According to Club Advisor Lisa Claypoole, they have about ten members, and between seven to twenty kids show up every Friday after school.
“A.T.S is a place for students to hang out and have school appreciated fun with strategy games,” said Claypoole. “It’s a group of students who intend to be accepting, inclusive and helpful.”
According to club president Josie Qi, the club is a place where students can get together after school and nerd out on “Dungeons and Dragons”. Everyone in the club extends a warm welcome to new members seeking to connect with their inner “gamer geek”.
“The people are super cool, welcoming and fun to hang out with and I get to play games I’ve never heard of,” said club member Brenda Quintero. “Game Club is basically a bunch of weird people, like me, that like to play games.”
According to Dale, Clubs are great ways to connect with other fellow students who share the same goals and interests. Learning about the hobby, getting in service, making friends, and getting connected with the school are just a few of the many benefits clubs offer.
“I want everybody to be connected with something, said Dr. Dale. “If you can’t find your way anywhere else, I want you to find your way into a club.”
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