Student Life: Be Yourself
The ASB President's Welcome
Welcome friends of Saint Francis High School, this is the Student Life page of the website, and I am your host, Mr. A.J. Artis, Student Body President and social expert. Having been in 54 of our 55 clubs during high school, I believe I have all the expertise one will need when assessing the quality of student life at Saint Francis High School.
In short, student life is an all-you-can-eat-buffet of options where a healthy appetite is rewarded with three major things: friends, passion and college.
The best way to enjoy high school is with friends, and the fastest and most effective way of making friends is through clubs and activities. Personally, after one speech and debate tournament of nine mind-numbing hours, I quickly bonded with my teammates, and we actually had a good time. We remained friends outside of the tournament environment because we found out that we have lots in common! Similarly, if you participate in yearbook, newspaper, drama, band or any of the activities at Saint Francis, it will be easy to make friends because you will meet people with similar interests, and you’ll be stuck with them for hours on end, with plenty of time to know each other. Your friends will enrich the high school experience and even help you navigate the dangerous rapids of adolescence.
Secondly, our activities provide chances to explore passions and subjects beyond the classroom. Saint Francis knows there is more to life than tests and homework and has created clubs where you can pursue subjects that interest you. In the long run, people usually remember the time spent performing in the play or cooking food for the homeless in service club than any grade on a test. With so many clubs you can delve deeper into subjects you already enjoy. For example, if you wish to explore your faith we have student prayer groups and for those who enjoy travel, we have an International club and a Foreign Language Honor Society, which offer events that showcase other cultures and their delicious foods. For dancers and those who enjoy the stage, we offer cheerleading, theater, musicals, dancing and a step team. For those who like to read, we have a club dedicated to books, and if you like to write, then we have a student-created literary magazine and newspaper, giving you an outlet for poetry and in-depth reporting. The list goes on and on, so no matter your passion or interest, Saint Francis has something for you. And if we don’t, you can create your own club!
Finally, if you want to go to college, and all of us at Saint Francis have that goal, you must have some extracurricular activities for your resume. Colleges expect you to participate in something. So if you’re not excited by the other reasons above, just remember that your future depends on whether or not you get involved. It’s actually a great thing because then you’re forced to make friends and pursue your passions – the real benefit of extracurricular activities!
Click here for an in-depth conversation with A.J. Artis on student life at Saint Francis
