Building Community at Hough: The Clubs Making an Impact This Year
Building Community at Hough: The Clubs Making an Impact This Year
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December 10, 2025 - Drew St. Denis (11)
Have you ever wondered why the student body at Hough is so unified? Hough High School is built on more than just the teachers and students alone; it's built on a sense of community, and some of the clearest examples of this can come from the clubs the students take part in. Throughout the year, different groups have worked to make our high school a more positive and connected place. Three clubs in particular focus on bringing positivity and support to our community at Hough and in the Charlotte area.
One of the clubs bringing positivity to our school is Yay!DAY, an organization focused on community service. During club activities, members typically volunteer their time to do events, school-based projects, or outreach to the community. This club isn’t just another excuse to meet with other students: their goal is to help others and create a positive environment around them.
Club member Reagan Sokol (11) states, “I really feel that by doing what we do, we are making a positive impact on our community. It feels good.” It doesn’t just impact the community, though, it impacts the students by encouraging empathy, teamwork, and leadership. The values of this club are cultivated by the people who have a strong desire to help out their community, strengthening the bonds between students at Hough through teamwork and empathy.
While Yay!DAY focuses on giving back, Hough also has an abundance of clubs that help students prepare for their futures, especially those interested in leadership and business. Another club making a big impact on Hough is DECA, which is also known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America. It has a reputation as one of the largest and most active clubs at Hough. DECA teaches skills such as marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, and presentation skills. Every year, getting into the big activities in DECA isn’t something that is handed out. It is a rigorous journey just to qualify for state competitions. There are many conferences and competitions between thousands of DECA participants in the state of North Carolina. These events gives students the chance to qualify for nationals, which is one of the most prestigious business competitions in the nation.
Being in this club helps to build confidence, business experience, networking, teamwork, and real-world skills to help you when you’re out of high school. Students join because it looks great on college applications, it’s fun, and it builds career-ready skills.
Eric Lin (10), a new member of DECA this year said, “Even though I just joined this year, I already feel like I’m learning so much just by being at a couple meetings and doing competitions. It’s a great opportunity for me.”
Not every opportunity at Hough is centered around business or academics. Some are about forming meaningful relationships and creating a more inclusive school community.
Best Buddies is a national organization with a chapter at Hough. Its purpose is to create one on one friendships between students with and without disabilities. During club activities, this organization participates in group hangouts, celebrations, school activities, and community-building experiences. The club creates an environment where everyone sees a friendly face or two when walking down the hallway. Best Buddies is incredibly important, as it promotes acceptance, breaks down social barriers, and helps students feel connected to others at school. It positively impacts friendships and fosters genuine and long lasting connections.
Ultimately, Hough's clubs give students many opportunities to become better leaders, friends, and community members. These clubs don’t just get things done around the school, they help to build community by strengthening students' relationships between one another and unifying Hough as one student body. Every student can find a club that is the right fit for them. Although club rush has passed, I encourage you to try a club and explore new experiences next year. Branch out, meet new people, and there will be many opportunities for you to explore. At Hough, there’s a place for everyone, and joining a club might just help you create some of your best high school memories.
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