By Joelle Beale
Echo staff reporter
What does it mean to belong? Since the word “belong” has so many meanings to different people, some search for others who enjoy the same things they do or need support.
Sometimes, it can take a while to find that special person. Besides that, it can be challenging for a person to know who they are.
Luckily, Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) has clubs that are meant to help and provide encouragement for those dreams or desires. Some are Drama, LGBTQ+, Music, Design, and many others. What they stand for and how they represent subgroups is through the events they have, meaning for others, and the messages that they send to individuals.
What makes them great for support is the type of activities they have. Similarly, they all do some type of event. According to RCTC’s campus clubs webpage, the drama and LGBTQ clubs do work with the community. The music club hosts mixers. The design club hosts speakers on designing/diverse types of design.
However, there is more that they do. In the LGTBQ club, for example, everyone does arts and crafts. They also make posters and comic books.
They also have resources on their Discord server for others who are struggling or want more information about LGBTQ sexualities. Whoever is on there can chat directly with the president about anything, such as events or daily life.
The drama club, as another example, does a lot of theater, putting on plays for audiences. However, since the start of COVID, there has not been a play for a while.
Besides mixers, the music club focuses on DJs, sound equipment, stage lighting, and more. A mixer is a gathering with music and people having conversations. For some people, it is comforting to know that there are new people to meet and talk to. They can find common interests and passions that they do not have with others.
A mixer is also an effective way to take a break from business and just chill, boosting one’s mental health.
However, others might not enjoy huge crowds. For these individuals, doing arts and crafts with a few people can help them feel calm and a little less overwhelmed. They might also feel more comfortable with sharing their artwork without lots of eyes looking at them. Having less people there can feel more natural and less distracting.
Meanwhile, a few people might just want to know more about their job choice or career that they like. These individuals might be interested in the design club to hear more about the pros and cons about the job they like or want. Having that information can help them to communicate with the other members about their opinions and hear remarks from those who have opposite views.
Either way, all of these club events can be remarkably interesting and fun for some people.
In addition, there is a lot of meaning by having so many clubs. Darren Smith, the LGBTQ+ club president, said socializing can be very satisfying, and can help others feel fulfilled.
Deb Cannon, the club’s advisor, agreed.
Including the meaning and the events, the message that gets received by others who are new to RCTC is important to all of the campus clubs. What they stand for is diversity and unity for all people.
According to Natasha TJ from “the Script,” the three main reasons people don’t join a club are that they’re either too much commitment, too daunting, or not helpful for entering society.
At RCTC, nobody is required to attend every meeting. The LGTBQ+ club, for example, has produced Discord, a chat room that allows for communication to occur online. Some people just watch the meetings online.
Even though it might seem daunting for some people, RCTC clubs vary in membership numbers. Some clubs have five to eight people, and others may have more. It depends on the comfort level that a person has.
Some clubs have very deep conversations about controversial issues and what should be done, providing websites for support or educational purposes. Or they talk about personal motivations and desires that a person wants.
In conclusion, RCTC clubs are effective ways to support and provide comfort for those in need of it. They offer a place to share and expose a person’s talent for music, design, or art style. And it also provides fun ways to socialize, whether it is acting, dancing, or just doing creative activities.
RCTC clubs try to make it for everyone and not just one person. They talk about hard topics in life ranging from personal to universal. Knowing that a person can do that can bring closeness to each other. Having the ability to do all these things show the kindness and understanding that all these clubs have.