National Honor Society is one of the oldest and most prestigious organizations that high school students can take part in. Founded in 1921, National Honor Society, otherwise known as NHS, is a community service organization that upholds the four tenets of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

“I took on the role of advisor so that I could be around young people who are energized about service and scholarship…I wanted to promote the benefits of clubs and activities in my teaching career,” explains club advisor Ms. Simental.

Its goal is to engage students to help the community by participating in activities and service projects. In this club, students are able to connect with other classmates, meet new people, gain valuable real life skills, and give back to the community through volunteering. 

Unfortunately, many in-person service events have been canceled in order to follow safety procedures and guidelines. The biggest obstacle to overcome was the performance of community service in a virtual learning environment. With the understanding that everyone’s circumstances are different, NHS works to ensure that a variety of events are accessible and safe to do from home. There are multiple organizations based around remote participation that NHS has been able to offer, including phone-banking and student drives with Opportunity Village and Catholic Charities.

With the transfer to a virtual environment, it can be difficult to establish the same fun and family-like energy the club was known for at school. However, NHS continues to exude enthusiasm, hosting spirit activities like Kahoots and contests to get the same sense of community.

“[Club President] Chloe Kim keeps the energy and participation in the chat, especially in reaction to the Scholarship Meme of the Week,” says Angielena Luong, current Vice President, “Members are [also] doing a great job at looking at the positive side of things and continuing their efforts in the club!”

To make up for the lack of service opportunities, a a virtual tutoring system was put together with the Quiet Storm Foundation. Many members have risen up to the challenge and tutored younger students. “My favorite experience in NHS thus far is the tutoring program…I’ve been able to connect with this one girl…and it’s been such a rewarding experience to help her and to see her grow and gain confidence,” says Kayla Sadler, a current member.

The students put in a great amount of effort and quality of work into the service activities they partake in. “Each member is a vital part of our organization, and without them, the club would honestly be nothing,” says Chloe Kim, the club’s president, “I’m super grateful that we have so many engaged members ready to help out, especially during these turbulent times.” In NHS, a community of like-minded people with similar goals and a passion to serve is created. 

“There’s always something new to learn,” Chloe continues.

One of the biggest takeaways was learning to appreciate the social connection between the officers and members and the hands-on experience of activities. 

“When it comes to community service, there’s a level of teamwork and involvement that can’t be matched in an online environment…Meeting new people at events and having fun in general was always the highlight of my week,” says Angielena.

The officers and members miss the aspect of being able to go outside, “but those sacrifices are worth it to make sure all of our members are safe.”

“Any student can put work into a topic and get something out of it, but what makes it unique and worthwhile is the genuinity behind it. In NHS, we are able to bring smiles to the faces of the people that we help and that is really moving. By putting thought and care into our actions, we are able to make an authentic difference.”