Every year the Upper School hosts a clubs fair for ninth graders to expose them to the variety of ways that students can be involved in the school community. Through this annual fair, students can find groups that they enjoy and stick with through their high school career. With each year and incoming class of freshmen, clubs refresh their priorities and more often than not, their leadership. This opens up opportunities for senior members to take the club in new directions and leave their personal legacy.

As long-term club members grow into upperclassmen and advance to leadership status, they often try to improve their individual clubs with new ideas and enthusiasm. Established groups like Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) reflect the change they have seen in their club and their visions for the future. For junior SADD president Janie Brunell, her newfound leadership role aims to expand the SADD mission.

“When I first became a member of the club we were making posters to hang around the school to get messages across. Now, we are still planning on making posters but bringing in speakers for more major issues,” Brunell said.

A member of SADD since freshman year, Brunell intends to take SADD to the next level.

“I want to have an impact on SADD by leading a club that does a lot for the community and raises awareness of destructive decisions,” Brunell said.

Similar to Brunell, senior Aaron Datta will use his leadership role in the Gender and Sexuality Acceptance (GSA) to make GSA more involved in the SPA community. Datta intends to use his influence as president to do more outreach and help educate students about issues surrounding homophobia and transphobia.

“I have learned a lot about how to try to engage the community as a whole. Many people look at GSA and think that it’s only for LGBTQ+ people. However, for years we have been brainstorming how to best get the entire school involved. I’ve learned that everything that you do as a leader reflects on your organization.  You always have to put your best foot forward so that you can support and help the people around you,” Datta said.

While senior club members get into the swing of their leadership roles and make plans for the upcoming school year, they also act as models for the new ninth grade members. Clubs grow and change under each year’s presidents, so when their time comes to assume leadership of a club, the now-ninth graders will be able to build on the legacy left behind by the current upperclassmen, and hopefully leave their own mark on the community.