Looking for an extracurricular to round out your college applications? If you are an incoming senior, I have just the club for you. Spanish Honors Society is a wonderful opportunity to get involved during your last year of high school.

Although I called it a club, Spanish Honors Society is really more than that. As explained by their advisor Professora Santos, “Spanish Honors Society is not a club per se; it is an honors society, and because it is an honors society, there are a lot of requirements, such as grades and community service hours.”

However, do not worry because your hard work will be rewarded! Professora Santos added, “The number one benefit, of course, is for your transcripts, and that you get to graduate with a sash.”

Given that it is an official honors society, joining can be very beneficial for your future. If you are having a difficult time trying to grasp the concept, think of it as being similar to National Honor Society. Both are recognized societies that require certain qualifications to join; therefore, they demonstrate to colleges that you are committed to your academics—in this case to the Spanish language. (If you are also interested in National Honors Society, Mrs. Wilken is the advisor, and they are also now taking applications!)

It may seem a little daunting or even discouraging to join an Honors Society your senior year, but current members of the club would say otherwise. Senior Jesus Nolasco shared his wonderful experience being in the club, saying, “Being a part of the Spanish Honor Society gives off a really rewarding feeling, especially the part where I get to see classmates/friends of mine from past years that took Spanish 1, 2, and AP Spanish Lang with me.”

The requirements Professora Santos mentioned include taking or have taken AP Spanish Language, maintaining at least a C throughout the year, attending the meetings and events, completing community hours, and being a senior.

This may seem like a big responsibility, but as member Charles Justin Carrasco put it, “The requirements were very manageable. There was a clear schedule of when to sign up for community service hours, and it was very flexible if a date had to be changed.” It may also help to know that you are assigned a teacher who you will help to accomplish your required community service hours, so you do not have the added pressure of trying to find your own opportunities to complete the hours.

Apart from the college application aspect, Spanish Honor Society can also help you in a range of ways. Charles also shared the time he spent helping his teacher for his community hours, which resulted in him becoming closer to them, and the club helped him become more engaged in school. Additionally, he experienced other benefits, expressing, “I even felt like my Spanish improved after a period of time being in the club.”

I attended one of their meetings recently, as I have interest in joining the society next year when I am a senior, and the environment seemed very welcoming. Everyone was talking to each other, sitting with their friends, and the room was completely full. Overall, it seems like a fun community to be a part of.

If you have more questions, you can email Professora Santos at [email protected], or visit her staff page and email her that way. Even if you decide not to join Spanish Honors Society, you should look into other extracurriculars and enjoy your senior year to the best of your ability surrounded by your classmates!