By Maya Ekladious & Hannah Park
Looking for new friends or even a new home on campus? Fear not, Barons! This year’s Club Rush ushers in a whole new set of clubs that will welcome you with open arms!
No matter who you are or what you’re interested in, from baking cakes and crocheting to learning about different cultures, you’ll find your family one way or another. Here’s a sneak peek of what our newest clubs have to offer!
Baron Meets World
Baron Meets World has a unique mission: it’s geared towards the future instead of the now. That is, guides students through the college application process. Senior Co-President Donovan Doan describes the club that he and his fellow senior, Co-President Myla Chi, worked to get on its feet.
“We’re going to work with Ms. Orel, our College and Career Specialist… to bring more information about colleges to Fountain Valley students,” Doan said. “As a freshman, I wasn’t focused primarily on applying yet, and I [wish]ーespecially as a senior who’s going through that process nowーthat that information was given to me sooner.”
Nearly everyone dreams of going to college: of course, it’s often a prerequisite for future success. It’s especially important for Doan, who is a first-generation American.
“I feel like a lot of kids, especially with the demographic at our school being primarily Asian, can resonate with that,” Doan said.
At club meetings, students can look forward to many unique opportunities. Baron Meets World often invites guest speakers to the College and Career Center during lunch. They’ve already welcomed one so far.
“We had a guest speaker from UC Santa Barbara, who came down and talked about admissions and campus life,” Doan said.
In the upcoming weeks, Baron Meets World plans to share information about college campuses both nearby and far away.
And while most clubs focus on giving out volunteer hours and high-school-centric activities, Doan and Chi wanted to “leave a lasting impact on students.”
Their dream is to help students feel better prepared for the future and leave them with a solid foundation.
Join Baron Meets World and “meet your inner ambitions!”
This club meets every Monday at lunch, supervised by Chloe Orel in the library’s media center.
Colette’s Children’s Home (CCH)
Looking to join a club that not only supports Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) but also gives back to the county? Too tired of driving miles to volunteer events? And, most importantly, do you want to help raise awareness about violence against homelessness? Colette’s Children’s Home is ready to become your new home on campus.
Colette’s Children’s Home is a nonprofit organization aiming to heal homelessness in Orange County. At Colette’s, single women and mothers seeking shelter are provided with a nurturing environment and support to achieve self-sufficiency. CCH strives to serve and fundraise on behalf of these families.
“We heard about the actual organization, Colette’s Children Home, and it aligned perfectly with our idea of an ideal club,” junior Co-President Paige Nguyen said. “The organization itself is based in Fountain Valley which gives our members more volunteer opportunities.”
Regardless of your interests, you are welcome to join FV CCH.
“I say the club is open to anyone who is capable of helping make a difference in our community…it’s very inclusive,” Nguyen said. “So anyone who really wants to help Colette’s Children’s Home and their main mission [can join].”
In order to achieve its goals and meet its club expectations, CCH plans to host many unique and engaging events.
“We plan to host bi-monthly donation drives. For example, one of our main projects is going to be having the kids at CCH create a wish list for their birthdays, Christmas or any other holiday they celebrate, and then our members can donate what they can to the kids,” Ha said. “We also want to implement a buddy program with the kids at CCH, [allowing] mothers to have the opportunity to do stuff like self-defense training, or meet with their case managers while we’re building connections with the kids.”
FVHS CCH is not only looking forward to volunteering and being an active part of the community: they’re most excited about “building connections with the homeless women and children at CCH.”
If you can’t get enough of FVHS CCH and want to know more about them, find them on Instagram @fvhscch or visit them every Wednesday at lunch in Room 202.
Crochet Club
Do you want to revive a habit that you picked up during quarantine? Or do you want to showcase your creativity through needles and wool while supporting a good cause? If you find yourself saying yes, then check out this creative Crochet Club!
“During quarantine, I learned how to crochet, and it has always been something that my mom [knew how] to do…[but] I was just never interested until COVID started.” junior Co-President Kassidy Vongxay said.
Her newfound passion for crocheting is what inspired her to start this club.
No matter your crochet skill levels, Crochet Club invites you to join them on a fantastic, yarn-filled journey!
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that [potential members] would have to have prior experience in crochet. We plan to host a social event where three of our board members can teach people how to crochet because it [can be difficult,]” Vongxay said.
When asked about her goals for the club, Vongxay hopes to break up the stereotype of crocheting as a feminine hobby, and most importantly, for the club to carry on for a long time on campus.
“We only have one male on board, which is very sad, but our club is very inclusive,” Vongxay said. “We want to encourage everyone and people of all genders [and] sexes to learn how to crochet and actually enjoy it…as a hobby.”
Vongxay worked alongside co-president junior Andrew Hoang to plan many exciting and unique activities for the 2022-2023 school year. These events raise funds to support people in need.
“After Club Rush, we’re actually planning on collaborating with the Garden Grove High School [Children’s Health of Orange County (CHOC)], as well the Fountain Valley CHOC, to crochet hats for the CHOC hospital.”
If you want to hone your crochet abilities and become a part of this fun, encouraging community, come to Crochet Club every other Tuesday in Room 222. You can also find them on Instagram at @fvcrochetclub.
Dear Asian Youth
Asian culture is extremely diverse and widespread: over 2,000 languages are spoken by its myriad peoples. But don’t feel overwhelmed: FVHS Dear Asian Youth (DAY) will help you get acquainted with them all! Get involved with FVHS DAY and learn all the inside secrets of the Asian community.
“Our club’s purpose is to promote intersectional activism and solidarity within Asian communities [as well as] equity,” junior Vice President Leyna Nguyen said. “We do this through different sources of media, especially digital. We want to be very involved in the community…and create a very safe and comforting environment for Asian youth,”
Leyna Nguyen understands that DAY’s goal may sound similar to that of other clubs. Nevertheless, she has worked alongside President Rebecca Do, a junior, to plan exciting events and activities that guarantee a unique experience for all its members. They hope to have guest speakers from different backgrounds to share their culture and language with students.
“I know that there are other clubs that target the Asian community…However, we want to reach a bigger audience…[and create] a space where a lot more people [can] interact,” Leyna Nguyen said. FV DAY can help to foster a “diverse cultural melting pot.”
Most of the board is part of the Class of 2024. That being said, they want to make sure that DAY sticks around a long time after their graduation.
“In five years… I won’t be at school anymore, but I want this club to thrive. I want more members to join and see how beautiful the Asian community is,” Leyna Nguyen said. “‘Beautiful’ is not a word that many people [would] use when describing… Asian culture, but I want [them to realize] how diverse and different it can be, but also, at the same time, [how] it bonds so many people together.”
If you are ready to jump into a world of diversity, wholeness and beautiful cultures, join FV DAY’s meetings every other Friday in Room 110. Their Instagram is @fvdearasianyouth.
FVHS Pen On Paper (POP)
Pick up your pen and “break generation barriers” with FVHS POP!
POP is a new club that aims to serve the community through letter writing.
“I’m incredibly passionate about sharing ideas through letters, which is one of the main reasons I [started] this club. I think it’s very difficult to understand people at a deeper level than just verbal speech. [The] written word gives people a tangible part of you that they can always refer [to] when they need it,” senior President Jasmine Wu said.
POP looks forward to adding their own special touch to countless volunteer events through letter writing.
“We’re planning on having large volunteer and fundraising events, like bake sales, where we would include handwritten letters,” Wu said. “I think that these small things are what makes [events] really meaningful.”
The POP board said, “writing letters is one of the most beautiful ways that you can give back to the community.”
They hope to create new traditions, “[engage] with our local seniors” and leave an important legacy here at FVHS.
FVHS POP will meet every other Thursday in Room 126!
Fountain Valley Student for Educational Equity (FVSEE)
FVSEE is a fundraising club started by Nicole Chu, a determined and open-minded junior. She plans to “raise money to donate to charities, that then in turn donate educational supplies to schools who need them in our area.” In other words, FVSEE acts as a “middleman” between donors and receivers.
Chu explains her reason for starting the club: one day, as she was traveling to an art exhibition, Chu was exposed to different campuses in Los Angeles and Orange County. She was saddened by the stark contrast in school quality between these and her home campus. Isn’t it unfair that most of us have little control over what school we go to? But we do have control over how much we can choose to help others who live in disadvantaged areas.
That experience changed her. Instead of driving by, like a bystander, she felt compelled to act.
FVSEE strives to recognize “the urgency of the public education crisis…[because students often] aren’t getting the resources they need to succeed in school,” Chu said.
Although school administrations do their best to provide quality education to students, students themselves should step in to fill any gaps.
Since the club’s main focus is fundraising, meetings will focus on reviews of earning goals and what members have earned in previous fundraisers. Of course, students will also plan out future charity events, such as take-home fundraisers, shoe drives and collaborating with local restaurants (which often have charity programs).
Chu said, “I want it to be a really collaborative space.”
Everyone’s voice is valuable, and unique ideas will help FVSEE collect enough funds to make a difference.
At the same time members are helping the local community, they will also receive many benefits. They’ll learn valuable skills that they can take into their adult lives.
By “managing money and contacting local businesses and charities,” students will build financial and communication skills. Chu emphasizes that she’s learned to handle money “not just as a resource but as a tool.”
There are no requirements to become a member.
The only thing FVSEE’s looking for is “real enthusiasm and… drive to contribute something to the community,” Chu said. “We have a definite mission, and that is to help students who are struggling…I want that mission to remain simple.”
Join FV Student for Educational Equity, and help students “SEE” a brighter future! This club will meet every Thursday at lunch, in History teacher Julie Chaicharee’s Room 405.
Icing Smiles
If you have a passion for baking and want to make children smile with your goodies, look no further than FV Icing Smiles!
“Our club supports Icing Smiles, which is a nonprofit organization that gives back to children who undergo critical incidents. [We make children smile] on their birthdays by baking them a cake. [We also] try to spread the passion of baking and invite [people of all skill levels to] bake,” junior Co-President Breanne Luu said.
Who should join FV Icing Smiles? “Our club is open to anyone who has an interest in baking, regardless of whether or not you’re good at it!” Luu said. “Baking is something that’s pretty easy to…pick up.”
While Luu and her fellow junior, Co-President Lena Nguyen, are looking forward to all their upcoming events, they’re most excited about their upcoming planned bake sales.
“We plan to sell baked goods at swap meets, one or two times this year. Our sales are going to be grand because we [plan] to have a pop-up [booth] to sell our baked goods,” Luu said.
Luu said that the club’s ultimate goal is to “raise as many donations as [possible]” while providing a “safe place for everyone who [wants] to learn how to bake.”
Start crafting those smiles and join FV Icing Smiles every other Thursday in Room 235! Find them on Instagram at @fvicingsmiles.
National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
NAMI is the nation’s largest mental health organization dedicated to bettering the lives of millions of Americans who are impacted by mental illnesses.
The FV NAMI board has one goal. President Emma Pham, a junior, said, “[We want to] normalize seeking mental health help.”
If you’re interested in advocating for mental health, helping others and getting involved, NAMI is the perfect place to get started.
“[Our club tries to] create a safe environment for students who seek mental health support,” Pham said. “[Students can] come in and learn about safe practices and mental health tactics that will help [them at school].”
At the same time, you don’t need to be struggling with mental health to join FV NAMI. Whatever your circumstances, NAMI will give you a warm welcome.
“NAMI is…perfect for students who are interested in advocacy [or being] part of an uplifting community,” junior Vice President KD Nguyen said. “But we’re honestly excited to meet all the Barons…Anyone who might know someone who’s affected [by mental illness] can come and share or just learn about mental health.”
In particular, FV NAMI plans to “work very closely with [the] school psychologist, Ms. Olaya,” Nguyen said.
They hope to improve students’ mental health during the week before finals. Moreover, through awareness walks and scavenger hunts, NAMI hopes to create interactive activities on campus throughout the school year.
With FV NAMI, they hope to leave a lasting legacy for future Barons.
“Since there hasn’t really been a mental health club before, which is really surprising, we’re hoping to leave an environment where everyone feels safe… just like GSA,” Nguyen said. “We are also hoping to reduce the stigma on campus around talking about mental health, because although people do talk… there’s still a lot of work to be done in regards to making everyone [feel] comfortable.”
FV NAMI meets every other Tuesday in Room 209. Check out their Instagram page at @fvnami.
All these clubs have one thing in common: they contribute to the beautiful diversity of FVHS’s student culture. Check out their social media pages, see how you can get involved, and receive the experience of a lifetime!
