As freshmen begin their four-year journey as John Carroll Patriots, some may be wondering ways that they can get involved within the school.

My biggest piece of advice is to be passionate about your school and to not be afraid to show your school spirit.

One of the best parts about high school is being able to represent your school, whether that is in sports, plays, clubs or other competitions, academics, or other various activities.

For many people, sports are a popular way of getting involved in school. You can make new friends while also keeping yourself healthy and active every day.

JC also just hosted a club fair, an easy and efficient way for students to discover new clubs that align with their interests. The school has many clubs that can help students grow spiritually and academically. They can even foster personal hobbies.

For students who might have missed the time slot to sign up for clubs, the JC website has a list of all our clubs, when they meet, and who the moderator is. If you are interested in joining the club you can email the club moderator about joining.

Service opportunities are another great way to get involved and meet new people, and they are also something that looks great for college, especially if you get into the Service Honor Society.

To find service opportunities you can look through local parishes, campus ministry, or ask Service Learning Coordinator Kristen Brown.

Volunteering to help at school events is also a helpful and effective way to get involved

Something I wish I knew as an underclassman is how simple it is to get involved, and how much that will help you in your future because the saying is true: high school really does fly by, so get involved.

Whether it is getting good grades freshman year or applying to receive an award or a scholarship, setting yourself up for success can start as early as you want it to.

Focusing on academics is very important; some people might think that your grades for certain years don’t matter, but in reality, your grades from each year help set you up for the following year and a future beyond the walls of JC.

Set yourself up for success; stay organized, and get involved in making the most out of your high school experience because it really is true that high school flies by.