After 3 weeks of no school turned into over a year of remote learning, it has given students a lot of time to miss some of the clubs and activities Metea Valley has to offer. One of those being the Junior State of America (JSA) club. JSA is the largest nonpartisan student run organization. They are dedicated to helping high school students gain the leadership skills and knowledge necessary to be effective participants in their government and community. This versatile club not only runs debates between club students, but they also participate in conventions with regional clubs and constant opportunities to engage in political activism through a safe environment.

“Going to my first meeting my freshman year, it was just a really great environment for people who had all kinds of different beliefs and opinions,” junior Janay Hopgood said. “It gave me an outlet to share my own opinions in an environment where I felt welcomed and that my opinion was valid.” 

Joining JSA gives you the chance to share your thoughts on subjects without having the burden of judgement. Since it is student led it gives other students in the club a certain comfortability while being around peers. JSA supplies an outlet to hear and get different perspectives on important issues happening in our communities and around the world. It also provides learning opportunities and opens many different perspectives on certain topics during debates.

“It is a great opportunity for me and others to talk about the current events in this world and to kind of hear different perspectives and different people,” junior Akshay Kirthi said.

It is common that picking a club can be a difficult task, but finding the right one for you is key. For those who are interested in joining JSA, there is a meeting every Tuesday in room D211 right after school. The club will cover a variety of topics from cultural, economic, and social events.

“No experience necessary if you love to debate, if you love to talk about anything that is what we do in this club and I greatly encourage you to join, it is super fun,” senior Sama Nayakanti said.