At the start of every school year, there are club promotions everywhere. Students are enthusiastic to flip over a new leaf and start over. But despite the number of club announcements and flyers, several clubs begin to diminish throughout the year. 

West Leyden currently offers 70 clubs, which vary from academic based to service organizations. There is a wide variety of clubs that serve the varying interests of students. However, with too many options available, it can be easy for students to over commit themselves. 

A recent study by C2 Education deemed that when it comes to extracurricular activities, less is more, “It’s not about the quantity—it’s about the quality! For most students, eight to ten extracurricular activities is just too many. It’s far better to be very good at a few things than it is to be mediocre at a lot of things, both in terms of college admission and lifetime success.”  

The study by C2 Education talks about the idea of quality over quantity, which can be applied to Leyden’s clubs. The variety of clubs offered, helps encourage students with diverse interests to get involved. By getting involved in clubs, they are able to meet new people and obtain leadership skills. However, having too many clubs can cause students to feel stressed, especially if they’re trying to maintain a title of being involved in various clubs. 

Yarely Astorga, an active member of several Leyden clubs, shares that the number of clubs can at times be overwhelming, “I feel like a lot of the clubs overlap. For example, if there are two clubs that I am part of, but meet on the same day, then I can only go to one. There are also a ton of clubs, many of which feel random.”

Yarely sheds light on a problem many students may come across: balancing multiple club commitments when meetings overlap. This conflict can lead to students missing out and having to choose which club to attend, especially since attendance is important. In addition, this obstacle brings a reasonable argument on how Leyden can better coordinate club schedules to support students involved in multiple clubs.

Track Athlete, Denise Salazar highlights the benefits of having multiple clubs, “Leyden offers a ton of clubs, which I believe helps students with different interests. They help students feel more involved, even if there are few people attending.” 

Denise states that having a wide range of clubs available is a positive thing at Leyden. She explains that the variety of clubs can help students feel more included and ensures that there are equal opportunities for everyone. This diversity encourages students to be active and step out of their comfort zone. Additionally, she believes that extracurricular activities shouldn’t only be about the size of its members but about providing students with a sense of belonging.

Jillian Chy points out how some clubs shed more light onto themselves than others, something she’s observed as a sophomore at Leyden. “I believe that some clubs advertise themselves better than others. They put on posters and announcements,making themselves known, while others stay quiet. This makes some clubs more favored than others.”

Jillian describes the importance of advertising. She describes how the more favorable and well known clubs are the ones that promote themselves through posters and announcements. In contrast, clubs that don’t advertise themselves go unnoticed. For example, Leyden offers a Dungeons & Dragon (DnD) club, but many students are unaware due to its lack of advertisement. Jillian’s perspective demonstrates how effective promotion can help bring more members and create a more engaging community. 

At Leyden, students are encouraged to join as many clubs as they can. Each club offers their own unique leadership role. While the variety of extracurricular activities can be exciting, it can also bring a set of challenges : over commitment, scheduling conflicts and more. With 70 clubs to choose from, students must learn to not over commit while balancing school with home life. This raises the question; how can Leyden create an environment where every club thrives and students find their place?