It’s 8:57 a.m. (if you’re on time). As you ascend the stairs from the atrium, something catches your eye. A pop of color to your left. You look over to find a bulletin board filled with all the clubs that Jackson-Reed offers. There are so many that you don’t know where to begin. Lucky for you, we set out to investigate a couple that you may not be familiar with.

Ping Pong Club – meets Tuesdays and Thursdays after school

Imagine you’ve finished going to a teacher’s office hours and you’re exhausted from a long day. You’re walking through the cafeteria. Lost in your own thoughts, a ping pong ball rolls up to your feet. You bend down to pick it up and as you stand back up, ready to toss the ball back to its rightful owner, you see it: The Ping Pong club. As you watch the ball bounce back and forth, a part of your heart pulls you to it. You’re conflicted, wanting to join in on the fun but walking away due to your social anxiety. Next time though, don’t think, just do. Ping Pong club has been going on for several years and is sponsored by math teachers Grant Franke and Dylan Coster. The club is a relaxed environment where anyone can drop by, pick up a paddle, and simply play. You can count on finding at least 10 club members hanging out and playing ping pong next to the crew team’s grueling workouts. The term “club member” is loosely defined though because there are constantly different people joining and very few formalities to the club. Whether you want to try ping pong or meet new people, this club has what you need. There are truly no expectations and there is nothing more de-stressing than slamming a ping pong ball at an opponent. For those of you who like to embrace your competitive side, Coster adds that the club is looking to play tournaments against other schools in the future. And for those of you who just want to play ping pong because it’s a fun activity, go join! 

Knit for Need – meets Fridays during STEP

Haters will say knitting is for grandmas, but we beg to differ. This club is a place where you can meet new friends, relax, and do good through knitting. It’s suitable for anyone, from those who have never knit a single stitch to crocheting prowess. Each meeting, founders Lily Carr and Samara Cuaresma teach beginners and pass out patterns for those who are more experienced. Products knit by club members are donated to organizations such as Warm Up America and Knots of Love. These charities help homeless shelters, veterans, and hospital patients. Specifically, Knit for Need aims to contribute hats for those going through chemotherapy and squares that will be knit together to create blankets/quilts. Carr and Cuaresma stress how meaningful it is to have a club where you can help others while also being able to enjoy yourself. If you still aren’t convinced, Cuaresma emphasizes that there are snacks available every week. So, basically, there is no downside to Knit for Need and you should definitely go start your masterpiece this Friday. 

Quiz Bowl – meets Wednesdays and Fridays during STEP

A question is asked. A hand slams down on a buzzer. A beep fills the air. Welcome to Quiz Bowl. The trivia whizzes of Jackson-Reed, coached by math teacher Jeremy Singer, have been a club for decades. While Singer can’t recount exactly how long the club has been running for, he has been the coach/sponsor for 15 years and knows that it has existed at least since the 1990s. Although Quiz Bowl is relatively well known, what goes on inside the club is less public and leaves many wondering what it actually entails. Singer compares it to Jeopardy. There are typically two teams and everybody sits as questions are asked. The questions start as obscure trivia and get easier from there. Each person is equipped with a buzzer and the team that buzzes in first gets to answer the question. If they answer right, they get points and a bonus question while if they answer wrong, the other team automatically gets a shot. While this may seem like a daunting challenge, this is all current members’ first year and they would love some new members. Senior Quentin Folds said that “it’s a safe environment to make fun of people and you get to learn new things.” Tess Belman, a fellow senior, adds that “it’s better than jeopardy.” If you love trivia or just love pressing buzzers, Quiz Bowl is definitely something you should check out.

All in all, if you have a knack for ping pong, an aspiration for knitting, a hidden talent for trivia, or just want to discover something new, you should definitely go try out one of the many clubs Jackson-Reed has to offer. You never know, it could become your life’s passion!