Open Letter

Iam sitting in a ZOOM meeting with This year, the Commons would be empty. other newly elected Thespian club Taking matters into my own hands, I decided officers and our school’s new theater to pitch the idea of a “Virtual Club Fair” to director. He asks us questions about my principal, Mr. Graber. My idea was to our involvement in theater, information contact club presidents and club sponsors, about ourselves, and what three goals we have set a date, receive ZOOM meeting links, get regarding Thespian club for the upcoming the information on a document, and make it school year. I had pre-written my three goals happen! out on a sticky note, because although I am a A couple weeks after pitching my idea, I performer, I still get nervous when it comes to set up a meeting to clarify a few things with speaking in front of a group of people. As each the activities director, just to make sure we officer spoke, it became clear to all that we had were on the same page. At this point, we had a common goal: inclusion. Although a great set up a date for two weeks ahead and I had group, our department had faced the drama only mentioned the plan I had created to (pardon the pun) of cliques over the years, a group of students that lead clubs at Free and now we were going to change that. With State. During the meeting, he suggested that incoming freshmen soon to arrive, we needed we reschedule it for the day of to develop a newer and stronger organization. freshmen orientation, which

The new school year was fast approaching was only five days away! At and it became very clear that our plan to reinvent ourselves was going to wither on the vine if we didn’t do something. The Free State High School Club “ The new school year was fast approaching Fair -- the biggest event for school clubs-- was cancelled due to COVID-19. The Club Fair and it became very clear that our plan to reinvent was always a highlight of back- ourselves was going to to-school with clubs setting up booths, meeting new students, wither on the vine if we and recruiting returning students. didn’t do something.”

OPEN LETTER

Senior reflects on overcoming challenges

this point, I immediately sent out emails to all the club representatives I had previously contacted to obtain a link to their meeting “booth.” I set up a spreadsheet with all the meeting links, and documented all the links I had received. I also sent emails to every freshman and created an Instagram story flyer because at this point, I was on my own to market it to the best of my abilities.

On the day of the event, I used myself as a help desk. I went between two computers, one with my meeting room open, and one to respond to any emails I received as quickly as possible. As soon as the Virtual Club Fair started, I got about 4 emails, saying that the club representatives could not start a meeting on the program we were using. I immediately panicked. What if nobody’s links worked and the entire event was a bust? This was the first time any of us had worked with Cisco WebEx, and many were unsure of how to use it. Luckily, most of the other club meetings worked, and those who did not had someone else that could host. Only one club representative did not have a working link, and at that point I let them use my meeting room.

At one point during the event, I was able to look at the spreadsheet where I had put all of the links, and there were more than eighty students on the document. I also gathered over thirty organizations from my high school to be represented. I am extremely proud that I was able to use my newfound leadership skills to create something that was helpful for many people, and I hope to continue developing these skills for more projects in the future.

story by Jenna Gaston

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