I moved to East Grand Rapids in 8th grade during the COVID-19 pandemic. While everyone struggled during this time, moving from Oklahoma felt particularly lonely for me. I didn’t know how to sign up for sports and didn’t know of any clubs at the middle school. I spent most of my 8th-grade year without close friends but searching nonetheless.

What I found my freshman year was the magical and awkward phrase: extracurricular activities. To be honest, I might not have had the most selfless intentions when I joined all of these extracurricular communities. I wanted to get into a good university. But what I did find in these extracurriculars were the people I call my best friends today.

One of the first clubs I joined was Model UN. I joined specifically because I saw it on a TV show. When I joined Model UN, there were 5 people in the club – me being one of two freshmen. Sophomore year, more people in the class of 2025 joined, and we have been inseparable ever since, through sharing rooms and going out for every meal together. Model UN made me into the confident person I am today, and has also brought me some of the best friends I could ask for. Thank you to everyone who attended GLIMUN 2022-Audrey, Julia, Ella, Harry, Mikey, and Wallen.

Although it’s the most nerdy community I’m a part of, joining We the People actually had less to do with me wanting to get into college and more with me going to D.C. Nevertheless, We the People was a life-changing experience for me, bringing me close to people I would never have spoken to without the class. Unit 2 outlined who I am, from building my confidence to building my humor. In the end, I got to go to D.C. like I dreamed of in eighth grade. Long live Unit 2.

And even though I am a part of so many more communities that have impacted me, I only have so few words, so I want to end off with my journalism community.

I joined the East Vision mainly because I thought I would be a lot like Rory Gilmore, one of my academic idols since I was younger. When I joined, I sucked at writing, but over time, I became better at writing, page design, and leadership. The Vision also let me get close to so many people I had never talked to before. Every day, I await going to class to hang out with my friends and walk  around the high school with them. While I never have been the Rory Gilmore of this class, I’m proud of the growth I’ve had in this class.

So, while my intentions were faulty when I decided to join many of the communities I’m a part of today, I think that everyone who goes to East Grand Rapids should take a similar approach to mine (with some better intentions). To anyone struggling with making friends- find clubs or sports. Similar interests can easily build long-lasting friendships that will fuel you for high school. In the end, the activities you participate in might be the things that get you to where you want to be. Thank you, East Grand Rapids, for the person you’ve built me to be, and Go Blue!