COVID Creates Uncertainty for Clubs

Clubs at HUHS have been greatly affected because of COVID, which has made planning events harder as there have been cancellations due to precautions.

Advisor for Peers for Peers and Creatif Michelle Yu said it is difficult to create relationships within the clubs, which is one of the biggest things that students get from being part of a club.

“Students are online all day, and then asking them to join another online meeting is too overwhelming or just plain unappealing for some students,” Yu said. “I miss the joy and energy that students had in spending time with each other in person and from planning and working on events together.”

For senior Katie Drinan having clubs meet virtual takes away the fun of the club. She said it takes the networking and personal aspects of the club away.

“Not being able to meet as a group is devastating to the club because in turn, it doesn’t feel interactive and fun like a club should feel and members can’t participate or feel involved like usual,” Drinan said.

Because of the uncertainty of COVID, many of the events put on by Peers for Peers had to be canceled. Red Ribbon Week and Snowed in at the Movies are two events that we canceled because of COVID.

“We also would normally have training with other Washington County schools three times a year,” Yu said. “We are still doing some hybrid and all virtual training, but it is not the same.”

Drinan said because of COVID, they have had to move events virtually. For example, the Regional Leadership Conference was to be hosted at HUHS, but now it will be virtual, which will make competing more difficult.

“Covid has made planning events difficult because we can’t get together in school or in the community and because certain community events we participate in have been canceled,” Drinan said. “Usually we would have service projects, fundraisers, and competitions in school during resource or after school.

Yu has tried to create virtual opportunities for students at HUHS, but has not had the most success.

Peers for Peers held virtual hangouts every week in October, to talk or get homework help, but few students took advantage of that opportunity.

“We try to anticipate what student needs are and how to best support our peers during the pandemic, but we have not had a lot of success with our attempts,” said Yu.

Many of the FBLA members and a majority of the officers are seniors this year, and Drinan said it is sad because it will not be the same. Even though some of their events had to be canceled, they are trying to make the best out of the situation.

"It’s just so unfortunate that so many things we were excited for and all of the fundraisers and community service projects we planned for can't happen,” Drinan said. “We are doing the best we can with the situation we're in and hopefully we can still end the year having had a fun time.”

H-Club is another club that had to cancel events due to the uncertainty of COVID. Food drives, operation CHristmas Child, middle school fitness events, 5k runs, and more.

“Extra steps have to be taken to assure that we are adjusting to everyone's comfort levels while making the event run smoothly and as normal as possible,” senior Ally Zickert said. “I believe COVID is making organizing events harder because not everyone is comfortable with the idea of getting together. So many events have been cancelled in order to keep people safe.”