ESSO in Action
Hello, once again!
I’m back this week to interject some thoughts between club spotlights. If you are a prep, you are likely signed up for a swath of ESSO clubs. If you are a lower, you are probably settled into a groove with clubs. If you are an upper, you may be setting your sights on co-head and other leadership positions, and seniors are eagerly anticipating the spring. I wanted to lend a few words of advice for all ESSOnians as they go about their clubs.
Firstly, there is the management of which clubs to attend and which to drop. I wish that there were enough hours in the day to visit every club, but unfortunately you must make cuts. The most important part about Exeter is finding what makes you happy and putting all your efforts towards that field. With this in mind, check out clubs that you have never considered before. You may be surprised by the places your passion can manifest itself.
Once you have identified your interests, search for clubs that complement those interests. For example, Beach Cleanup goes very well with DORSAL, a club that discusses ocean systems, marine life and climate change. Let these clubs lend themselves to your passions. Expanding your knowledge on a club’s mission outside of the club makes meetings more interesting and the extra understanding serves well for leadership positions. Do not be afraid of narrowing your range of clubs to suit yourself. If you find that you only want to focus on helping the elderly, then do that. An impassioned ESSOnian is infinitely more valuable than an apathetic Exonian.
If you want to get involved in ESSO, but cannot commit to a club, there are always events to sign up for. Whether it’s blood drives in the fall or Kites Against Cancer in the spring, ESSO has an event for you. It is worth noting that if you have an idea for a club, perhaps volunteering at a local animal shelter, Ms. Reyes, the Community Service Coordinator, and Ms. Costello, the ESSO Program Assistant, are more than willing to aid you in making your dream club reality. This goes for all board members as well. If you ever spot one of us on the path, please do not hesitate to ask us questions, pitch us an idea, or voice concerns.
Lastly, participation in ESSO, no matter how small, goes a long way. Just one volunteer at Beach Cleanup can amount to 15 more pounds of trash and recycling. Non-Sibi is about having the generosity to give back to one’s community even when it is easier to worry only of one’s own interests. If time is money, do not spend your time in your room watching Netflix. Spend it on others. You have the capacity and willpower to achieve spectacular feats in ESSO, but it is up to you to employ those strengths.