Members of Watauga High School’s STEM club volunteering at the Children’s Playhouse. Photo Cred: Rebecca Billette
Anna Norris, Junior Editor to The Powderhorn
Throughout high school, extracurricular activities are meant to give students the opportunity to discover their interests and gain a better sense of who they want to be as an individual. At Watauga, many clubs are reaching various demographics with unique purposes. Not only do they provide leadership opportunities, clubs also introduce students to teambuilding and communication skills.
“Founding a club can seem intimidating, but it’s actually really simple,” said Rebecca Billette, junior and STEMkids Club co-founder and President. “All you have to do is go down to the front office and ask for the form, which is only one page, and then fill it out and turn it back in. Then you just wait for approval. It’s seriously that easy.”
While many students would love to start clubs at Watauga, they are often discouraged by the lack of information about organizing and founding a club. After filling out the required paperwork, founders must find a teacher or staff member to advise their club.
“The harder part about founding STEMkids was setting up the program at the public library, but even that wasn’t too complicated,” said Billette. “People were really enthusiastic about helping us make it into a reality. If you’re thinking of starting your own club, I would also definitely recommend doing it with another student.”
Billette formed the STEM focused club with her co-founder Lilla Heath, as they share similar interests in the valuable skills STEM programs teach. Dividing up the responsibilities of President allows Heath and Billette to work cooperatively while holding the other accountable.
“Both Rebecca and I remember how much we loved being involved in STEM activities growing up,” said Lilla Heath, junior. “Whether it was things like Code.org, egg drops, or snap circuits, these activities really helped us develop skills like critical thinking and problem-solving from a young age. We wanted to create something similar in our community with STEMkids, so kids in Watauga County, from Pre-K to 6th grade, could access STEM-related activities at no cost to their families.”
Clubs like STEMkids expose students to these enriching activities, fostering creativity and innovation. Once students learn these skills, it can allow them to be more confident in their abilities in and out of the classroom.
“Looking ahead, I’m excited to see STEMkids continue to grow, especially after we graduate,” said Heath. “We have some amazing sophomore volunteers who are already stepping up, and I know the program will be in great hands. My hope is that STEMkids has a lasting impact on the community and continues to thrive.”
Another impactful organization at Watauga High School is the Asian Culture Club. Founded by Elijah Bishop, the club is based on taking pride in Asian heritage and is sponsored by Mr. Vining.
“Through the start of Asian Culture Club, I wanted to create a community at the high school where people of any race could come and learn about the importance of cultural diversity and the existing impact that Asian culture has on our daily lives and the wonders that it offers,” said Bishop. “I also wanted to create a space where fellow Asians and Asian Americans could come and be surrounded by people with similar traditions, cultures, and backgrounds while also being able to learn about the differences between their respective cultures.”
Bishop strives to leave a legacy at Watauga of acceptance and awareness for all cultures and communities. Inspiring clubs like this one aim to change the perspective and treatment of all students at Watauga.
“We try to engage the community by spreading awareness for Asian culture at the high school level and to the students to provide information and cultural awareness for them to share with their families in efforts to bring cultural diversity and acceptance to Boone as a whole,” said Bishop. “Through this, we can bring a new sense of unity among all people groups within Watauga County.”
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