After two hectic years, club rush finally came back to Steinbrenner this past week with lots to offer. After Covid-19 struck in 2020, and many of us were forced to go into quarantine, several groups at our school collectively were stuck and frustrated because they had no idea how the year would end, or how their clubs could function. This year, club rush was back, and everybody was flooded with excitement.
Many current sophomores missed out on the opportunity of club rush last year due to school starting off with covid still being an unknown. Many clubs took part online in methods such as zoom, including such clubs as The Science Interest Club that is advised by teacher Michelle Yarish.
“…it was really hard for me to have any kind of connection. There were kids that were in the club that I never got to meet because we did not have club meetings on zoom,” said Yarish, “Really the only kids that ended up meeting within the club or the robotics team- we would meet after school, and it was a small group. It was only like five of us… I just didn’t feel like zoom was able to meet and we weren’t able to conduct our meetings.”
As it struck all else, COVID-19 hit clubs directly last year. Not only did many people miss out, but the digital source was just not ideal. Luckily for incoming freshmen this year, they got to experience a full (but still covid safe) club rush, an experience that was also new to the current 10th graders as well. Many teachers are glad that they could start up their clubs, and many were thrilled to see students signing up for their clubs and engaging in our schools’ activities again.
Many teachers have big plans for their clubs this year, such as Mrs. Yarish’s plans for her clubs,
“…it looks like a lot of competitions. We do robotics competitions; we do programming competitions. The county usually has a science bowl. So, it’s mostly science competitions,” said Yarish.
Mrs. Yarish, along with many other teachers are very hopeful and looking forward to a wonderful year with their clubs, with everything (hopefully) back to normal. Whether it be competitions, shows, games, concerts, etc. Clubs are a huge benefit to Steinbrenner’s social life, and we are so glad to have them back.
Amongst the crowd at club rush were smiling faces, interesting decorations and boards, and very friendly people. Club rush was a way to bring people closer together again and make the school livelier. People standing in lines would make friends with peers around them, people could find interests they liked, and overall, it was a great experience. This is just the beginning, for the year has only barely begun, and there is lots of progress to see in the near future.
Zoe Rivera // Staff Writer
