Last Friday, I sat down in the Hyatt Regional ballroom, competing against the top minds in California for Academic Decathlon. I had to stop and take it all in: I almost didn’t even join the AcaDeca team. I had seen it as just another way to spend time after school, and perhaps even a waste of time.

It was a spur of the moment decision that I thought I would regret. I don’t regret it one bit; it has been some of the most fun to actively participate in a club with my friends and go out to compete. Which brings me to my point: if you do a club, do it with all of your might. It’s so much more fun that way.

The reward and satisfaction of doing a job well far outweighs the satisfaction of caving into whatever temptations one might encounter. I have been a part of some clubs in which I don’t fully participate. I can personally attest that you feel better about a club when you contribute as much, if not more, than you need. Without working and being actively involved, a club is just another way to waste time outside of school (or during lunch).

Part of this, I think, is just being in a club you love and wanting to see the club grow and have a larger presence on campus. You’ll work and work and when more and more people join the club, you can see your hard work pay off.

Another part of this is simply specializing in certain clubs that pique your interest the most. Find your niche(s) and go from there. It should go without saying that people tend to work/do more for clubs and organizations that they enjoy.

Another example of this comes from MUN. We went to UC Davis for a model United Nations conference last May.

Had I put in more time, research and preparation, I would have been more comfortable and excelled. This year we will go again, and I know for a fact that I’m going to grind it out for my prefered results.

So if you plan on starting a club, joining a club, or even taking over a club, I would tell you this: Try your best.

You should begin to recognize how much hard work benefits you.