A Guide to Extracurriculars and Clubs
BY JOE MAFFA '21
Extracurriculars, more than anything else, are responsible for the omnipresent sense of community at AB. Whether you’re an incoming freshman looking to get involved or an upperclassmen looking to beef up your resume, extracurriculars are a great way to spend a little free time!
There is a club list on the ABRHS Website, but in case you find it overwhelming like I do, here are my outside opinions on some of the activities around school grouped by subject matter.
DISCLAIMER: I don’t mean to offend any of these clubs, this is just how I perceive them! To provide the most objective opinion, I will include a quote from a member of each club grouping. However, I’ll also designate which ones I am part of as well, so there might be some bias :).
Sports Clubs
Akin to intramural sports at college, these are clubs for slightly obscure sports such as archery, badminton, chess, juggling, yoyo and Esports. I have found the members and advisors to be extremely supportive and willing to teach, which makes these great environments for drop-ins. Even if you’re new, you never have to worry about being picked last or never getting passed to (neither of which ever happen at AB) because of the amazing, casual atmosphere these clubs foster. My favorite is the ping pong club; I often go to rally with friends or, if I’m feeling gutsy, challenge the head honchos.
Sports Teams
Feeling more competitive? The AB Athletics Department is the right choice
for you! Sports teams are divided into 3 seasons: Fall, Winter and Spring. For most sports, there are Junior Varsity and Varsity options—both of which require a fee for equipment and transportation. Most people go into sports teams with past experience, but teams are always open to newcomers! I have found the strongest community in the AB Tennis Team. I look forward to making new friends, reinforcing old friendships, and competing for the trophy every year. By no means is this unique to tennis though—take it from Emily Ren, a member of the AB Field Hockey Team, she’s “grateful to… [play] with such an inspiring and motivating team” and ready to come back after a fantastic season as D1 North Finalists. Definitely try at least one season of sports while you are at the high school!
Cultural Clubs
These clubs are great for expanding my sheltered, Boxboroughian worldview. One of the most telling qualities that distinguish us from middle schoolers is the ability to accept yourself and others for who we are. Nothing helps more than learning from those who are knowledgeable. These clubs, such as the French club, are “a great way to socialize, eat great food, and learn more about [foreign] cultures,” according to French club co-leader, Amrit Subramanian. And believe me, you really can’t beat the food. There are also Spanish, Greek, and Korean culture clubs.
Academic Clubs
Ah yes… forget a full honors/AP schedule, these clubs are the real grind at AB. These clubs are a big time commitment but also incredibly rewarding (I’ve heard you get 50 IQ points just by joining!). While they may seem daunting, Science Olympiad, Speech and Debate, and Academic Decathlon members end up loving the work they do. Sci-Oly State Officer Justin Shan says each “of the subjects you could study… [make] you feel like you are creating this beautiful piece of art.” These teams push your thinking in ways greater than classes. P.S. Just a plug for Quiz Bowl—it’s a great community of learning, joking, and buzzing—perfect for any trivia-lovers!
Student Government
Unlike the grade-wide elections of middle school, you can easily walk into Student government—but if you want to see yourself projected in the auditorium, there’s that option too. According to Treasurer Lyndon Hu, the Student Council is “the voice of ABRHS students... actualizing student suggestions, hosting fun events… and organizing fundraisers… that improve the AB community.”Anyone excited about school spirit can show up with a willingness to work and improve! Check out other options too, such as the School Committee and Class Leaders.
Proscenium Circus
The group of thespians that make up the Proscenium Circus, or PC, is one of the closest communities in the whole school. It’s a web of inside jokes, mutual support, and breathtaking performances. Everyone absolutely loves it, and the friends and memories you will make are invaluable. Whether you’re a part of acting, stage design, technicians, makeup, costumes, or anything else, you'll spend hours each week shooting for perfection. If this doesn’t appeal to you, at least check out the PC office—it’s one of the best places to spend a free period in the school.
Arts Clubs
I like to think of the art clubs as the hidden gems; they often go unnoticed, but art clubs and electives have incredible work displayed around the school. Other art-related clubs like Color Guard, Music Production club, and Acapella groups are always hard at work making “intricate and stunning” work while maintaining a “bubbly and happy” attitude, according to Color Guard co-captain Libby Drum. Make sure to join or at least check out a performance from these groups—you won’t regret it!
Career Clubs
Have you planned out everything after high school? While that’s not recommended or required to join these clubs—Future Business Leaders, Entrepreneurship, IdeaLab, Model UN, Young Democrats and Young Republicans—they’re perfect for experiencing and exploring careers. If you don’t know what you want to do in the future, that is hardly an issue—Michael Grega describes FBLA as “a group that helps members discover and discuss any topics that drive and motivate them.”
Niche Clubs
If you haven’t found anything suiting to your interests, such as Harry Potter or D&D, do not fret! Check out Charms, Dungeons and Dragons, Video Game Club and Tabletop Game Club. These are tons of fun for die-hard fans or amateurs looking for a place to relax and learn something new! Ethan Chang of Video Game Club loves that “it’s a place free from harm where the only fighting you ever see is just friendly banter. [They’re] just there to play games and have fun.”
Community Service Clubs
There is truly no better feeling than giving back to the community. While there are numerous volunteering opportunities, there are also a handful of clubs that are more specialized. Clubs like AB Buddies, ABCO, Wellness, Peer Leaders, Recycling, Interact Club, and Youth in Philanthropy focus on helping our local community, while others, like Girl Up and ASHA, have specialized world causes. Girl Up President Teagan Smith describes her club’s mission to “use our combined voice to fundraise and advocate for other girls who can’t use their own voice or aren’t heard.” Whichever you choose to join, you’ll be doing great things for others, and what could beat that?
Publication Clubs
Last, and most certainly not least, we have publication clubs. These clubs, such as Yearbook, Window Seat and The Spectrum are OBVIOUSLY the best clubs you could join. If I could give my unbiased opinion, I would say that Spectrum is the best, but in reality they’re all amazing. While each has specialized publications, all offer great collaboration with people of different skill-sets that will challenge you as a writer, reader, and observer of the world. Who could say it better than our Co-Editor-in-Chiefs: Anushka Wani (“Spectrum is super jazzy”) and Michelle Gong (“You should join; we have food”).
I hope that this article helped you find a way to spend your free time this coming school year. If you disagree with me or want to learn more, I urge you to ask real members of the clubs you’re interested in. While I tried to mention as many as possible, I’m sure a few slipped through, so check out the Club Fair and the AB Extracurricular website!
If you are new to AB this year, welcome! We’re excited to have you join us! I’d like to offer one piece of advice: try something new. The high school is a great place to discover yourself and make lasting relationships, and in my opinion, nothing has helped more than clubs. Good luck!
There is a club list on the ABRHS Website, but in case you find it overwhelming like I do, here are my outside opinions on some of the activities around school grouped by subject matter.
DISCLAIMER: I don’t mean to offend any of these clubs, this is just how I perceive them! To provide the most objective opinion, I will include a quote from a member of each club grouping. However, I’ll also designate which ones I am part of as well, so there might be some bias :).
Sports Clubs
Akin to intramural sports at college, these are clubs for slightly obscure sports such as archery, badminton, chess, juggling, yoyo and Esports. I have found the members and advisors to be extremely supportive and willing to teach, which makes these great environments for drop-ins. Even if you’re new, you never have to worry about being picked last or never getting passed to (neither of which ever happen at AB) because of the amazing, casual atmosphere these clubs foster. My favorite is the ping pong club; I often go to rally with friends or, if I’m feeling gutsy, challenge the head honchos.
Sports Teams
Feeling more competitive? The AB Athletics Department is the right choice
for you! Sports teams are divided into 3 seasons: Fall, Winter and Spring. For most sports, there are Junior Varsity and Varsity options—both of which require a fee for equipment and transportation. Most people go into sports teams with past experience, but teams are always open to newcomers! I have found the strongest community in the AB Tennis Team. I look forward to making new friends, reinforcing old friendships, and competing for the trophy every year. By no means is this unique to tennis though—take it from Emily Ren, a member of the AB Field Hockey Team, she’s “grateful to… [play] with such an inspiring and motivating team” and ready to come back after a fantastic season as D1 North Finalists. Definitely try at least one season of sports while you are at the high school!
Cultural Clubs
These clubs are great for expanding my sheltered, Boxboroughian worldview. One of the most telling qualities that distinguish us from middle schoolers is the ability to accept yourself and others for who we are. Nothing helps more than learning from those who are knowledgeable. These clubs, such as the French club, are “a great way to socialize, eat great food, and learn more about [foreign] cultures,” according to French club co-leader, Amrit Subramanian. And believe me, you really can’t beat the food. There are also Spanish, Greek, and Korean culture clubs.
Academic Clubs
Ah yes… forget a full honors/AP schedule, these clubs are the real grind at AB. These clubs are a big time commitment but also incredibly rewarding (I’ve heard you get 50 IQ points just by joining!). While they may seem daunting, Science Olympiad, Speech and Debate, and Academic Decathlon members end up loving the work they do. Sci-Oly State Officer Justin Shan says each “of the subjects you could study… [make] you feel like you are creating this beautiful piece of art.” These teams push your thinking in ways greater than classes. P.S. Just a plug for Quiz Bowl—it’s a great community of learning, joking, and buzzing—perfect for any trivia-lovers!
Student Government
Unlike the grade-wide elections of middle school, you can easily walk into Student government—but if you want to see yourself projected in the auditorium, there’s that option too. According to Treasurer Lyndon Hu, the Student Council is “the voice of ABRHS students... actualizing student suggestions, hosting fun events… and organizing fundraisers… that improve the AB community.”Anyone excited about school spirit can show up with a willingness to work and improve! Check out other options too, such as the School Committee and Class Leaders.
Proscenium Circus
The group of thespians that make up the Proscenium Circus, or PC, is one of the closest communities in the whole school. It’s a web of inside jokes, mutual support, and breathtaking performances. Everyone absolutely loves it, and the friends and memories you will make are invaluable. Whether you’re a part of acting, stage design, technicians, makeup, costumes, or anything else, you'll spend hours each week shooting for perfection. If this doesn’t appeal to you, at least check out the PC office—it’s one of the best places to spend a free period in the school.
Arts Clubs
I like to think of the art clubs as the hidden gems; they often go unnoticed, but art clubs and electives have incredible work displayed around the school. Other art-related clubs like Color Guard, Music Production club, and Acapella groups are always hard at work making “intricate and stunning” work while maintaining a “bubbly and happy” attitude, according to Color Guard co-captain Libby Drum. Make sure to join or at least check out a performance from these groups—you won’t regret it!
Career Clubs
Have you planned out everything after high school? While that’s not recommended or required to join these clubs—Future Business Leaders, Entrepreneurship, IdeaLab, Model UN, Young Democrats and Young Republicans—they’re perfect for experiencing and exploring careers. If you don’t know what you want to do in the future, that is hardly an issue—Michael Grega describes FBLA as “a group that helps members discover and discuss any topics that drive and motivate them.”
Niche Clubs
If you haven’t found anything suiting to your interests, such as Harry Potter or D&D, do not fret! Check out Charms, Dungeons and Dragons, Video Game Club and Tabletop Game Club. These are tons of fun for die-hard fans or amateurs looking for a place to relax and learn something new! Ethan Chang of Video Game Club loves that “it’s a place free from harm where the only fighting you ever see is just friendly banter. [They’re] just there to play games and have fun.”
Community Service Clubs
There is truly no better feeling than giving back to the community. While there are numerous volunteering opportunities, there are also a handful of clubs that are more specialized. Clubs like AB Buddies, ABCO, Wellness, Peer Leaders, Recycling, Interact Club, and Youth in Philanthropy focus on helping our local community, while others, like Girl Up and ASHA, have specialized world causes. Girl Up President Teagan Smith describes her club’s mission to “use our combined voice to fundraise and advocate for other girls who can’t use their own voice or aren’t heard.” Whichever you choose to join, you’ll be doing great things for others, and what could beat that?
Publication Clubs
Last, and most certainly not least, we have publication clubs. These clubs, such as Yearbook, Window Seat and The Spectrum are OBVIOUSLY the best clubs you could join. If I could give my unbiased opinion, I would say that Spectrum is the best, but in reality they’re all amazing. While each has specialized publications, all offer great collaboration with people of different skill-sets that will challenge you as a writer, reader, and observer of the world. Who could say it better than our Co-Editor-in-Chiefs: Anushka Wani (“Spectrum is super jazzy”) and Michelle Gong (“You should join; we have food”).
I hope that this article helped you find a way to spend your free time this coming school year. If you disagree with me or want to learn more, I urge you to ask real members of the clubs you’re interested in. While I tried to mention as many as possible, I’m sure a few slipped through, so check out the Club Fair and the AB Extracurricular website!
If you are new to AB this year, welcome! We’re excited to have you join us! I’d like to offer one piece of advice: try something new. The high school is a great place to discover yourself and make lasting relationships, and in my opinion, nothing has helped more than clubs. Good luck!
