Experiencing loneliness as a teenager is not uncommon for a high school student. As a way to cope, joining a sport, club, or after-school activity can positively affect the loneliness teenagers experience.
For example, Sophomore Jayda Davis has struggled with feelings of isolation. One of the few things that has helped her is joining the drama club and sideline cheer. Joining drama club was obvious to Davis as she always had a calling for acting. For cheer, however, she felt an attractive pull to the sport. These two programs helped her build relations.
“I’m surrounded by people who all have the same love and passion for what they are doing in cheer and drama club, and it really helps me feel like I’m part of a group,” said Davis.
Davis’s experience highlights an all-too-familiar high school experience of finding belonging in activities. Not only can these activities help students feel like they belong, but they also provide a healthy release for stress. Having a team or club to turn to can help to relieve the burden stress brings. Freshman Kiyah Adkins knows this, as she has been a soccer player through Jackson Area Club Soccer (JACS) for eight years.
“Soccer helps me get rid of stress because it can take a lot of my frustration throughout the day away when I’m kicking soccer balls,” said Adkins.
Similarly, participating in a sport can boost academic performance. In a sport, if your grade is low, you can not participate. This would make students work harder for good grades so they can play. For example, if someone has less than a 2.0 GPA or failing two classes, they can not participate.
Football Coach Corey McEldowney has been coaching for four years at Northwest and coaches the Junior Varsity A team. He believes being involved in school activities can change someone’s school experience.
“First off, being a student-athlete is tough, but with that, it brings a level of being dedicated to your school work just as much as being dedicated to the sport you play,” said McEldowney.
However, balancing commitments is always easy. Freshman Nina Fradl, who has been doing sideline cheerleading for 10 years and competition cheerleading for 9 years knows this.
“I think cheer helps me be motivated to have my grades up, but sometimes if I have been having bad practices, it’ll affect my grades,” said Fradl.
While sports offer teamwork and physical activity, clubs can provide a different kind of belonging for students who prefer a club setting over a sports team. Creative Writing Club host and English teacher, who also helps with British and American literature, Andrew House, has been leading the club for around a year.
“Clubs help build a dynamic community in the school. When students make connections with their classmates and teachers outside an academic context,” said House.
“The Creative Writing Club provides a workshop space for students to share their writing and critique each other’s material in a supportive environment,” said House. “Not only does it help them become better writers, but it’s also very student-led and discussion-heavy, so it helps give them a real sense of agency.”
Likewise, the drama club offers creativity and imagination. From rehearsals and performances, the members work together to create excellent performances. Emily Lawrie is an Algebra and Geometry teacher, she runs the drama club, and she loves what she’s doing. Freshman Delena Ackley is in Drama Club and has been since the start of this year.
“My favorite part of Drama Club is being able to be yourself and not being judged for being you,” said Ackley. 
Getting involved in something outside of class builds friendships and helps people discover who they are and what they like to do, whether it’s through sports or clubs. After-school activities give students a place to belong.
