CLUBS
REACH FOR THE TOP
There has always been something about trivia that scratched an itch for me. It’s combination of competitiveness, interesting concepts and how it rewarded intelligence drew me to it like moths to a flame ever since I was a child. So once I got to my later years of elementary school, it was no surprise that I wanted to continue that momentum. I dedicated a ton of recesses to W5H and wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Eventually, I got to high school and I was very happy to hear that Chaminade had its own W5H club called Reach for the Top. I joined in Grade 9 and have been a proud member ever since. In my time with the club, I have attended numerous competitions, sacrificed early mornings and lunches and was given the honor of becoming co-captain of the club. In exchange, the club has taught me new study methods, allowed me to interact with some very smart individuals, given me useful leadership skills and most importantly, cultivated a lifelong hobby.
Improv club
Chaminade’s Improv club will always have a special place in my heart for being the first club that I joined at the school. I had never been much of an acting person but had always thought of myself as a funny guy and thought it wouldn't hurt to try. Every Tuesday we would meet in a classroom, do some vocal exercises and we were off, we would create skits off of prompts in a matter of minutes until we called it a day. I really enjoyed my time with the club not only for the countless laughs but also for the many skills as it taught me that I still use to this day. It was through this I learned a lot about thinking on your feet, performing in front of crowds and advertising for our big shows. All in all, improv was one of the greatest impacts on me and I was sad to see it go.
Chess club
Chess is another one of my elementary loves that have found its way into my high school life. I was a proud member of the St. Jude chess club and have played the game as a pastime almost my whole life. I thought that would have placed me in the upper echelon of members in the club but I was surprised to see so many other strong players. In hindsight, this is no surprise as the club has seen a lot of success such as qualifying for provincials and has even been the home to a chess prodigy. I have had the pleasure of playing against a lot of these super-talented individuals as well as learning from them. In doing so I have become a much better player with a much higher ELO to boot. Thanks to chess being so ingrained in Chaminade's culture, being played by many teachers and students alike I have been able to rekindle a lost love. I hope to attend a competition before I graduate.