Lower the cost of involvement: Extracurriculars are too expensive

BY ELENA VALDEZ

The road to college is a costly one. Pressure is placed on students to succeed in high school, and a part of this success is extracurricular involvement. Through clubs and organizations, students rise as leaders and attempt to stand out from the rest.

“For volleyball, we have to do a lot of fundraisers and the parents have to chip in,” junior Eryn Cameron said.

In these attempts, a plethora of money is spent. Dues are out-of-pocket money necessary to be recognized by the club one wishes to join. These costs are upwards of $20 per organization at times. This may not seem like much, but, as many students join more than one club, involvement can prove to be a costly undertaking.

Despite the efforts of many students to become involved and participate in clubs, it is a luxury not all can afford. From T-shirts to obtaining recognition on a national level, there is almost always a price to pay for club membership.

“For volleyball, we have to do a lot of fundraisers and the parents have to chip in,” junior Eryn Cameron said.

These dues may seem minute, however, it creates a clearer divide between socioeconomic status. The class divide among students is often evident as not every student has club funding readily available. It is an unjust disadvantage to the students who do not have access to money for extracurriculars.

Students should be viewed equally, and determining their chance to participate by whether or not they can pay dues is unfair. These underprivileged students should not be rejected based on their ability to pay for dues or T-shirts. Their importance should not be measured in the value of dollars but, rather, they should rather be accepted based on the value of their character.

With many members of the student body involved in more than one club or organization, the costs should be reconsidered and lowered in order to accommodate all students instead of favoring the more privileged.

Funding is necessary for clubs. Often, it is how these student groups are able to hold meetings and participate in campus projects under their respective club’s name. Funding is lacking from the school, and clubs make up for by charging the student body. Clubs and student organizations are essential to the success of a student in the long run. Denying a student a position based on financial status is wrong. The situation in which a student finds themselves does not define them, especially when it comes to a matter as severe as money.

Clubs can always allow exceptions in tough situations, but that should not be the case. Schools should present an equal opportunity for each and every student to get involved and explore the opportunities clubs have to offer. Rather than requiring clubs to charge their members, perhaps more money can be allocated to extracurriculars. Surely, these small charges could be covered and alleviate a stressor that seems small to many, but impacts others severely.

Although these fees serve the club, the student body should not have to pay to participate. It is not only discriminatory in some cases, but also lessens opportunities for equally capable students. With many members of the student body involved in more than one club or organization, the costs should be reconsidered and lowered in order to accommodate all students instead of favoring the more privileged.

Photo by Alexa Jaspan