Clubs are an integral part of the high school experience. They not only cultivate skills, such as leadership, teamwork and organization but also are an outlet for students to indulge in their favorite activities. From the driven volunteers fundraising, to students scrambling to get a spot in the upcoming outings, clubs seemed to never go out of style. Yet, times have changed.

Since the 2023-24 academic school year has begun, a general pattern of instability in clubs has arisen. Now, students are more reluctant to donate their time, leaving volunteering positions and spreadsheets empty.

“I feel people are more focused on education now, rather than extracurriculars,” Evelyn L. (‘24), the president of AARF and Lace the Love said. “Although I still think extracurriculars are really important.”

Another explanation could be difficulties for students traveling to and from outings. “Some people who live in Tianmu find that home is just a step away, so they want to go home. And the people who don’t live in Tianmu, like me, don’t want to take the late bus,” Phoebe L. (‘27), said. As for events occurring during the school day, students seem to be more invested in doing their homework or spending time with friends.

But perhaps the most simple answer could be that the clubs offered don’t align with the interests of the student body. Despite the 110 clubs available with 68 clubs being interest clubs, students like Phoebe and Lion S. (‘27) find that the clubs offered don’t strike them as appealing. As the president of AARF and Lace the Love, Evelyn discerned that the participation of a club dedicated to playing with animals was higher than one not. “It really makes a difference whether you like the contents of the club,” Evelyn said.

This decline has resulted in the work, designed to be distributed among club members, being dumped upon the limited number of officers. Moreover, it can eventually lead to a less-united school culture, as social interactions are built during club outings, not to mention all the lost human skills developed during time in a club, which are all crucial during life after high school. To add on, joining clubs is a great approach for expanding or developing an interest. Without specialized clubs, students can’t find like-minded peers with the same niches as them, which can stunt the growth of their passion.

Many leaders and faculty members are working to mend this issue. Dr. Brandon Maguire, the Dean of Student Life, has coordinated several club fairs during the year, in hopes of spreading awareness of all the fascinating clubs hosted at Taipei American School (TAS). However, club leaders could invest more in the advertisement of their clubs, “I don’t see clubs really advertising that much anymore,” Dr. Maguire said. “I constantly ask for [officers] to send stuff in to be put on the TVs, so people can see it.” In terms of transportation or overscheduling, Dr. Maguire advises officers to select a few dates for outings way ahead of time, allowing students to pencil in the dates months before. Lastly, clubs shouldn’t be regarded as extra school work, but are a great way of expanding one’s passions, “It’s a great way to spend time with your friends and at the same time help the community,” Evelyn said.