By: Julia Xia, Staff Writer
Mills High School is one of many schools in the San Mateo School District that offers a wide range of student-run clubs for kids to join and create memories. While many of the clubs at Mills are based on various hobbies such as digital art or robotics, there are also many groups that are more volunteer-based and focus on giving back to the community.
A great example of one of these clubs is the Card Express Club. Created this past August by sophomore Zurine Cheng, it is comprised of a group of students that strive to serve and spread passion to their local community in Millbrae. They do this by handwriting sweet letters every Wednesday to give to the elderly, orphaned kids, and hospital patients in and around Millbrae. The club meets every Wednesday during lunch in room 213 and after school the same day. Besides writing and decorating cards, the club also does volunteer work to further impact the community. Recently, they volunteered at the SF Marin Food Bank Foundation to help pack food boxes for those in need.
The club was created as a way to bring comfort to those who need it. While there are many ways of doing this, Zurine felt as though the best way was to send people heartfelt letters. “I wanted to bring this form of thoughtful communication back and for those who receive a card to have a big smile on their faces and make them feel supported by their community.” Like so many great ideas, the seed for starting the club came out of a personal experience she had. When she wrote a letter to a crestfallen friend, the friend was so moved and happy that Zurine quickly realized that there was a special kind of magic to card and letter writing that simply could not be replicated when texting or sending emails.
In our age of technology, traditional forms of communication such as writing have been lost in a sea of texting. Yet anyone who has ever texted can tell you that inevitably, there is always an emotional barrier between texters; thus making it difficult to express real and sincere emotion. It seems that no matter how hard we try to express ourselves in a genuine way when we text, it’s just never the same as when you take the time to sit down and handwrite a letter to someone.
The club is also a place where students can display their art and writing skills in a way that brings a smile to a person’s face. In addition, many students who have joined the club expressed that they were met with a kind and supportive group of people. You can learn communication skills by interacting with people in need, and you learn more about the issues within your community. “Everyone I’ve met at Card Express is super friendly and amazing.” Justin Shih, a sophomore club member explains. “Sending cards with warmth and hope is one of my ways to feel connected to my community, and it’s always nice to make someone’s day a bit brighter in this world where we’re all here for each other.”
The club’s main goal is to make others feel more loved and supported by their community. They want to spread positivity and make sure that everyone who receives one of their letters will have a smile on their face. There have been many stressful events this year, with Covid 19 still affecting people’s lives, job layoffs, and economic recessions–it’s nice to give back to your community by doing something kind for someone else, even if it’s just writing a card. The Card Express club does exactly that, so make sure to drop by their club meetings during lunch and after school every Wednesday in room 213!
