At an online school, building a sense of community through a computer screen can feel unnatural or detached. Without shared hallways or casual conversations before class, initiating connections requires extra intention. Being in high school adds another layer of pressure to curate community involvement and leadership for a resume. Through being the Student Council vice president, a leader of three clubs, and a member of a dozen others, I learned how too much involvement can be just as stressful as too little. Looking back, here are five lessons I would share with my freshman self about making friends, engaging with the student body, and finding leadership experiences.
Practice being an active community member:
Learning online makes opportunities to meet others less obvious. The simplest way to familiarize yourself with your peers is through attending live sessions and school assemblies live. Seeing the same names and faces every week can turn interactions with familiar strangers into connecting with friends. Classes and help desks are also useful places to show teachers your engagement and commitment to learning.
While time differences and busy schedules make live attendance not always possible, small conversation starters can still spark new connections. If someone in a recording says something that interests you, try reaching out through Teams, Discord, or other platforms to start a new connection.
Join clubs intentionally:
Clubs are one of the best ways to find your people, but joining clubs without considering the energy and time you have available can worsen your experience. Start with focusing on a few clubs that genuinely excite you, then you can reflect and choose to change which clubs you are in after each semester. Being in a club should feel natural and light rather than obligatory. If you decide to pursue a higher role in a club, in my experience, leadership becomes far more rewarding when it grows from genuine interest rather than purely pursuing the title.
Take initiative, accepting rejection as a part of success:
No number of tips will be effective if they aren’t applied. As someone who is naturally introverted, initiating conversations can seem daunting. However, taking small steps like sending a message, joining a group chat, or asking about opportunities can open unexpected doors. If you discuss an interesting topic with a classmate, try directly messaging them and continuing the conversation. Joining group chats or connecting with peers through social media can also create opportunities for friendships.
If you are interested in a leadership position or a club collaboration, just politely ask the leader(s). No matter what you try, remember that rejection is just a part of putting yourself out there. More often than not, people appreciate initiative, and many opportunities go untaken simply because no one asked.
Set realistic expectations for yourself:
Every commitment requires time, energy, and attention. It’s easy to avoid valuable opportunities because the responsibilities seem intimating. Conversely, it’s also simple to underestimate how quickly tasks for clubs accumulate, especially when balancing academics, extracurriculars, and personal well-being. In my experience, improperly estimating the commitments for clubs on top of other responsibilities can lead to burnout.
It is important to be intentional and strategically place your energy where you will share and receive the most value – this applies to friendships, leadership responsibilities, and generally using your social battery. Before joining five clubs at once, estimate the amount of time per week you would be giving to each social setting and analyze if these commitments are manageable and beneficial. It is always okay to start slowly and add more as your capacity for responsibility expands.
Remember why you’re getting involved:
Many students lose sight of their motivations when resumes and popularity become the focus. While a leadership role is valuable, it is only one aspect of community involvement and one bullet point on your resume. Building relationships, exploring interests, and making memories in high school are the best parts of being engaged with the GWUOHS community. Enjoy the process of meeting others, and see where your connections will lead to.
Ultimately, community in an online school can be fulfilling and vibrant as a traditional setting – it simply takes a bit more initiative than other spaces. However, many of the experiences and friendships that have defined my high school years weren’t the result of calculated planning. By showing up, being genuine, and staying open to new opportunities, I found a valuable community that has forever impacted me. While it’s easy to get caught up in strategy or maximizing productivity, taking initiative can be as simple as staying open. The most meaningful connections and memories develop from putting yourself out there and engaging with others without pressure.
