When the last period hits, everyone is dying to get out of school. And the moment that bell rings, you’re not thinking about anything academic- all you want to do is hang out with friends. Oftentimes, the last thing anyone wants to do is stay after school, but by leaving immediately you miss out on some of the amazing clubs iSchool has to offer. Staying after school might seem like a burden, but it’ll pay off in the end. 

Why Extracurriculars? 

Some people might ask “What if I just want to hang out with friends after school?’ And my response to that would be that you’re missing out on connecting with new people and exploring new interests, and extracurricular activities are a factor colleges consider when viewing your application. 

According to the College Board, “High school is a time to try new things, learn new skills, and develop new passions. While grades and test scores are important, colleges also want to see the person you’re becoming and the skills you’ve learned outside of class. They want to know what makes you unique, and the extracurricular activities you participate in will help you stand out.” The College Board also says it’s important to join activities related to your passions or what you want to study.

US News says college admissions officers might have reservations about a star student who hasn’t contributed to their community. Themes across different activities also help an admissions officer understand who you are socially. They also claim that “Participation across different activities may convey the message that an individual is science-oriented, musically inclined, athletic, a humanitarian and so forth.” Find activities you enjoy, and don’t pick random ones just to convey involvement. 

Additionally, when thinking about your extracurriculars, choose ones that matter and speak to who you are and what your values are. You shouldn’t include an activity you did briefly unless it was a one-time opportunity, and instead focus on long-term commitments. Colleges value commitment and the way you spend your time outside of school is equally important. 

Here at the iSchool, we have a variety of different after-school activities, from art-based ones like Theater Club and Film Club to affinity groups like the Black Student Union, Gender Sexuality Alliance, Latin Student Association, Asian Student Association, Jewish Student Union, Muslim Student Association and so forth. I got to speak with several club presidents about what their club does and why it’s important. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to speak with every club president, given how many amazing clubs we have here at school.  Here are some of the clubs I got to learn about. 

Film Club

If you love watching movies, Film Club might be the place for you. The club is a relaxed environment where you can chill and enjoy discussing and watching films. They watch a variety of movies with the goal of expanding the taste of the members. The club is targeted to students who love film, but you don’t have to be obsessed with film to join, and it’s open to anyone interested in exploring the world of cinema. Film Club meets Wednesdays from 4-5 in room 513! In my opinion, it’s the best club at school, because I’m the president! I run the club with senior Leo Kirkbride and it’s a lot of fun. 

Drawing Club

Drawing Club is a creative and laid back space where students can hang out and draw. Sketchbooks and materials are provided and students can draw whatever they desire. You don’t have to be a pro at art to join the Drawing Club, as long as you enjoy art you can join. The goal is to inspire creative thinking and provide the opportunity to exercise your creativity after a long day of schoolwork. The club is run by juniors Larissa Cashill and Hara Knapik. If you’re interested, Drawing Club meets every Thursday from 4-5 in 501. Larissa and Hara hope to see you there! 

Scholar Readiness 

Scholar Readiness is a new club created by juniors Amelia Balseiro and Amelie Dejean-Reid. The purpose of this club is to support middle school students transitioning into high school and teach them skills they’ll need as they get older. Support sessions are virtual or in person and the club meets every other week meaning it’s not a difficult commitment. Joining provides the opportunity to gain volunteer hours and resume experience, and you’ll be making a difference for younger students. If you’re interested in joining, Scholar Readiness meets every other Tuesday in room 403 during lunch. 

Jewish Student Union

Zack Leitner, Rosie Green, Neve Drimmer, and Galia Cohen-Margolius are the presidents of the newly founded Jewish Student Union. JSU benefits the iSchool community by creating a space to celebrate Judaism. Non-Jewish students can attend if they’re interested in learning about Jewish culture.  Given the ongoing surge in antisemitism, the presidents wanted to create a safe space for Jewish students. I spoke to one of the presidents, and Zack would describe the club as a place where Jewish students, or anyone with an interest in Jewish culture can learn about Jewish holidays and history, discuss antisemitism, and host fun events such as a Passover Seder or Culture Night. JSU meets Thursdays 4-5 in room 514. 

Green Team

The Green Team is the iSchool’s only club dedicated to environmentalism. Green Team co-president Lena Goings says,  “Environmental justice is the heart of the club, so we do tons of different things, spanning from small-scale stewardship projects to legislative action to attending youth climate strikes, all with the aim of fighting against the climate crisis equitably.” She also mentioned collaborations with other school groups like Gardening Club, Rise and Resist and an upcoming collaboration with the Black Student Union on environmental racism.”

They also collaborate with other clubs, like Gardening Club, Rise and Resist, and plan to work with BSU on environmental racism activism and Helping Hands on raising money for hurricane victims. Lena says Green Team is the best club for getting involved in grassroots activism and making a real difference at the iSchool and broader world. It’s becoming increasingly important to advocate for climate legislation and think about our future before it’s too late, and Green Team provides the tools to fight for what you care about. Some examples of hands-on actions the club does are park cleanups, attending events about environmental policy, improving the school’s roof garden and connecting students to environmental programs and other opportunities. The club is run by Lena Goings and Alma Greenfield, and it meets every Tuesday during lunch in room 406. 

Science Olympiad

After speaking with one of the Science Olympiad presidents, Roan Brown, I got to learn more about the club and its purpose. Science Olympiad is built upon the nationally recognized science competition and allows hardworking individuals interested in science to show off their skills. The club works to broaden the scientific knowledge of its members and build teamwork skills. It differs from other clubs because it’s very goal-oriented and is built around competitions, but it’s still a fun environment for everyone involved. The unique thing about the Science Olympiad is that it meets twice a week. Students can come Tuesdays 4-5 or Thursdays during lunch, 12:40-1:20. Presidents Roan Brown and Nalunga Di Domenico hope to see you in Mr. Yassin’s room, 402. 

Creative Writing 

Creative Writing Club is a laid back and supportive environment for students interested in writing. It’s the perfect place to go during lunch and collect your thoughts midday. The goal of the club is to foster creativity and a love for writing. Everyone bounces off each other’s ideas and there’s a level of respect and inspiration that comes from sharing your writing. Co-Presidents Jane Garrett and Eloise Lipp have hosted author visits in the past, and plan to do it again this year! The club is also working on a book recommendation list to be shared with the iSchool community. If you’re interested in writing but don’t know where to start, or if you’ve been writing for years, Creative Writing Club is the place for you! Meetings are during lunch every Thursday in room 514. Students have time to grab lunch outside as club activities start around 12:50, but snacks from Trader Joe’s are provided!

iNews 

The iNews club is the perfect place for students interested in journalism, writing and collaborating with others. The club provides a space where students can write about topics that interest them and create work to be published, and you can write about almost anything you want. If you’re interested in learning more about something, do some research and write about it! The iNews site is like a school archive because you can see articles from graduating classes and learn from them. By joining iNews, you become apart of a greater archive and the student journalism world. iNews also provides a variety of amazing trips with the opportunity to network and ask questions around journalism professionals. If this sounds interesting to you, iNews meets every Thursday during lunch from 12:35-1:20 in room 503! The club is run by lead copy editor Angela Rosendo and editor-in-chief Julian Cardenas-Moncada. 

GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance)

The iSchool GSA is one of several identity based groups in which students can find a safe space. Students can discuss queer history and current events as well as other issues. GSA exists to provide a space for queer students to be themselves, and for allied students to learn about queer culture. The club is beneficial to the school because it’s a safe space for people to unwind without fear of judgment and it allows students to make connections with members of the queer community, as it’s important to have relationships with people who can relate to you. The club is run by Ace Fisher and Alex Barahona, and it meets in room 404 every Tuesday from 4 to 5. 

Theater Club 

If you loved the Theater Production class, Theater Club might be the perfect fit for you. Theater is a creative space to have fun while creating art. The club expands on the Theater Production and provides a space for anyone who hasn’t taken the class but is still interested in acting. The Theater Club is working on a production to put on for school at the end of the year, so that’s something to look forward to! You don’t need acting experience to join, and you don’t have to be interested in acting as there’s several behind the scenes parts of the theater world. Junior Vinny Brink runs the club, and it meets Wednesdays 4-5 in room 510.

Math Beyond Formulas

Math Beyond Formulas is a club designed to inspire students to think outside the box. As the name suggests, it’s not just about solving problems—it’s about critical thinking without relying on calculations. Sophomores Luka Tseplyaev and Steven Cuevas run the club and are passionate about exploring new ways to teach the subject. Luka’s goal is to show a different side of math—one that’s both fun and engaging. You can find Math Beyond Formulas in room 409, meeting every Tuesday from 4 to 5.

True Crime

If you’re interested in forensics, you’ll want to join True Crime Club. True Crime is an active and loud club with a lot of fun activities. Co-president Kio Sou says the purpose of her club is to solve cases with limited resources and analyze the importance of each clue. From solving cold cases to playing investigative board games, there’s plenty of fun activities to do. The club is very teamwork-based, and activities like analyzing clues are fun but require critical thinking. True Crime is run by juniors Kio Sou and Pretty Khilla and it meets in room 409 every Wednesday from 4 to 5. 

iSLA

The iSchool Latino Association is a safe space for Latino students here at iSchool. iSLA provides a space for students to discuss their identity, embrace who they are, and remind them that they’re enough. iSLA collaborates with BSU annually on the popular Culture Night and a school-wide panel on how it feels to be a student of color on a college campus. The club serves to address a broader issue in which people of color are often the minority in academic spaces. Groups like iSLA work around that gap and try to bring students together and create a space in which they’re the majority. iSLA is run by seniors Alex Barahona and Genesis Lucero-Amigo. It meets every Thursday from 4-5 in room room 403. 

Rise and Resist

Rise and Resist is a club that highlights activism and unites students to contribute to our community outside of school.  The purpose of Rise and Resist is to raise awareness on critical social justice issues and practice advocacy by giving a voice to young  students. The club is very beneficial to our school community; It discusses things that educate the iSchool students in ways other classes can’t, while also addressing topics that impact all of the students. Rise and Resist is a fun club for anyone interested in activism! Seniors Maila Corea and Alpha Diallo run the club, and it meets on Tuesdays during lunch in room 403. 

Linguistics Club

Linguistics isn’t a common area of study in most schools, but it’s a deeply interesting one. The Linguistics Club exists to teach people about different languages and how important languages are from a social sciences perspective, and the skills learned in this club can be used in many different areas of study. Similar to the Science Olympiad club, Linguistics is built around a competition, and Linguistics is preparing to compete in a nationwide linguistics olympiad this January. The club is also planning to create content for the Multilingual World class we have at school, as well as creating a student-led linguistics newspaper. The club is run by junior Teddy Smilevski, and it meets Tuesdays during lunch in room 513. 

Crocheting Club

Crocheting Club, run by junior Rosaly Marmolejos, is a laid back club for anyone interested in crocheting. You don’t have to be a professional to join, and beginners are encouraged to attend! It’s the perfect place to be after a long day of schoolwork, and doing something with your hands is often therapeutic. Snacks are provided, and music or something entertaining will be on in the background. Crocheting is also a useful skill to have! Instead of paying for that sweater, you could learn to make it yourself, and if you get really good, you can make and sell stuff of your own. Joining could be beneficial for you in the long run, so check out Crocheting Club on Wednesdays in room 506. 

iCare

iCare is a year-long dedication to giving back to the school and New York communities. Senior Jayden Ham is iCare legacy, meaning she’s been a member since freshman year. She described iCare as a mix between school spirit and community service. Events like March Madness, Penny Wars and No Shave November are all put on by the students of iCare and Ms. Colon.  Every month there’s something going on to make students feel like they’re a part of a community and not robots who just do academic work and go home. It’s a very collaborative group to be apart and it is a lot of hard work, but it pays off to see school spirit and the impact your contribution has on the community. iCare has created a lot of fun traditions at school for students to get involved. Ms Colon oversees iCare, and says the building of community is

Anime + K-pop Club

Anime + K-pop Club is for anime watchers or K-pop listeners, or fans of both. Because the club covers two areas of interest it’s full of a bunch of different people and it provides those people with a space to be passionate about those interests. Members are free to be passionate about their interests without fear of embarrassment. Going into a space knowing people there have similar interests has allowed this club to become a close community. Being a fan of anime or K-pop isn’t a requirement, however, if you’re looking to get into either fandom, you should join! The club is run by Naima Gomez, Aster McNulty, Sophie Lo, and Zakayiah Stancil. It meets during lunch on Thursdays in room 414. 

If there’s an opportunity for a leadership role, take it! If you’re in a club and the president is a graduating senior, don’t be afraid to express interest in taking on that opportunity. And if there isn’t an already existing club for something you’re interested in, take the initiative and start one yourself. 

Finally, think about all the opportunities that exist outside of school. Living in NYC provides us with so many opportunities with top organizations in important buildings. Take advantage of being in New York, do some research,  and apply for opportunities during the summer and school year. You’re bound to find something that truly interests you. And students here at the iSchool are lucky enough to receive the Programs and Opportunities list from Ms. Leimsider monthly.