What does it really take to build something meaningful in high school?

High school isn’t just about classes, assignments, and exams. It’s about exploring, growing, and, most importantly, figuring out who you are. And one of the best ways to do that is through student clubs – those cool spaces where people with the same interests gather, geek out, and do awesome things together.

This doesn’t mean that school clubs are the best extracurriculars, but that is just what I’ll talk about.

But what exactly is a student club? What makes it work? Let’s talk about it!

What Is a Student Club?

A student club is basically a group of students coming together to pursue something they’re passionate about. It’s about working together, learning, and doing something meaningful.

Here are a few examples:

• Political Science Club – Imagine heated debates and discussions on political ideologies and international relations every week.
• Physics Club – Think of solving mind-blowing physics problems and helping each other figure out assignments.

A good club is organized, has clear goals, and gives its members an experience they won’t forget – a great club also brings people from diverse backgrounds together, making it a place where everyone can learn and grow.

What’s Not a Club? (Ahem, STEM Egypt)

Okay, here’s the tea. A student club isn’t:

• A Facebook page named after a school club that uploads random summaries or learning materials.

Why doesn’t that work? Here’s why:

1. Copyright Issues – Let’s face it, most of these materials aren’t even licensed.
2. Limited Expertise – I mean, high schoolers teaching advanced stuff? Bold.
3. No Real Value – There are already tons of online resources. Adding to the noise doesn’t help.

This is a big issue in STEM Egypt schools. Instead of real clubs, we get “study material groups” that aren’t much fun and don’t really help anyone grow.

What Makes STEM October Different?

STEM October is in a league of its own. Here, students understand that extracurriculars aren’t just for looking good on a scholarship application – they’re about doing things you actually enjoy. That’s why the clubs here thrive.

STEM October Physics Club – My Journey

Okay, full disclosure – I might be a little biased. But the Physics Club at STEM October changed my life.

I joined in February 2023, starting as just another member. I was late to the first meeting, which was basically an intro to how things would run. The plan? Study general physics and calculus to crush competitions. Simple enough, right?

But it didn’t stay that way for long.

Before we knew it, we became a community. By the end of the year, we were more like a family than a club. I’ll never forget the day we took our first group picture after the Physics Brawl 2023. I didn’t win anything, but I left grinning ear to ear because I had found my people… my family.

When I became president, I was worried. Would my presidency or others being rejected (you become president after an interview with the prior board not by votes) for leadership break our bond? Nope. If anything, it made us stronger.

When Omar Helmy (my awesome vice president) and I took over, we made it our mission to keep that community spirit alive. We hosted extra sessions, graded assignments ourselves, and stayed connected. It wasn’t just a club anymore – it was a second home.

Real Projects, Real Impact

We wanted to extend our passion beyond the walls of our school. After the success of the last season, which helped grow the club horizontally and stabilize its foundation, we set our sights on increasing our impact even further.

We launched COMPASS, a computational physics program designed to teach Egyptian youth about computational physics and made a research journal. We also founded the Ambassador Program, a network aimed at expanding the reach of the IPhR competition. Additionally, we revamped our curriculum to cover all areas of Physics and established the Publications Committee to foster scholarly work within our community.

How to Start and Run a Club (Tips from Yours Truly)

Starting a club isn’t as simple as slapping together a logo and calling it a day. Here’s what you need:

1. Define Roles

Every club needs structure. Some must-have roles are:

• President – The one with the big ideas who keeps things on track.
• Vice President – The president’s go-to, handling logistics and coordination.
• Treasurer – The money person. Budgets, expenses, and all that jazz.

Pro Tip: Calling yourself a “founder” sounds fancy, but it only counts if you actually started the thing from scratch.

2. Is It the Right Time to Start a Club?

Ask yourself:

• Is there a gap? Are students craving something that isn’t already offered?
• Are people genuinely interested?
• Am I able to lead the club and plan a season that will leave a lasting impact?

For example, if your school doesn’t have a space for coding nerds to flex their skills, boom – there’s your club idea. But starting something just for clout? Not it.

3. What Makes a Club Successful?

It’s all about community. A great club:

• Feels like a second family.

• Has regular meetings that members look forward to.
• Passes the torch – seniors train juniors to keep the legacy alive.
• Focuses on quality over numbers – impact matters more than how many people show up.

On the flip side, a “club” that vanishes as soon as its founder graduates? That’s a no from me.

Dealing with Challenges

Clubs aren’t always smooth sailing – they come with challenges. Here are a few tips to handle them:

• Lack of resources – Be creative! You don’t need a huge budget to make an impact. Use free resources, collaborate with other clubs, or seek local sponsorships. We reached out to companies like Wolfram and secured equipment that were valued at $28k in total.

• Motivation dips – Keep the energy up by holding fun, informal events or team-building activities. As the energy levels dipped, and with some time having passed since our last session, we felt it was the right moment to re-energize. With exams and the capstone exhibition approaching, we decided to organize a Physics Bowl – a small-scale physics competition. Check out the photo below to see how it looked like!

• Leadership transitions – Have a clear plan for the handover of leadership, and make sure everyone feels included in the process. Train juniors well, so they’re prepared to take over. We are currently in a transnational period and are working together on the final project, allowing a seamless transition.

Final Thoughts

Anyone can start a WhatsApp group or a Facebook page. But real clubs are about passion, teamwork, and creating something that lasts.

So, if you’ve got an idea, go for it! Build something amazing that people will remember long after high school. And most importantly, have fun with it.