By Abigail Chai , Entertainment Editor
Every year, Mills offers a variety of clubs for students to partake in, with some clubs garnering larger crowds than others. However, one club has always remained a popular choice amongst both old and new students each year: Mills Interact Club. The club, now led by Ian Lin (10), Becky Liu (10), and Megan Leung (12), has been proudly serving the community since its establishment in 1987, offering the school a plethora of volunteer and leadership opportunities to partake in.
Beside its continuous contributions to the neighborhood, the club provides its members the chance to socialize and interact with a wide range of students and individuals across the Bay. Due to the strong group aspect of events, it’s nearly impossible to avoid socializing with others within the community, as volunteers are often required to cooperate with others. Member, Stephy Li (11), is one of many who has met students in nearby schools from the club’s various activities. She mentioned while she didn’t create close friendships with others, she’s nonetheless thankful for the connections she created with others through provided events.
Behind the scenes, Interact is heavily engaged with neighboring organizations, many of which they have worked with in the past. The club, which often assists in events they’ve previously participated in, continues to actively search for new opportunities each year. The clubs’ presidents are careful when reaching out to groups, seeking those that “align with our goals”. They also cited importance in contacting affiliations with the purpose of continuing to participate in their events in the foreseeable future.
And while playing a significant role in the community year-round, the club is especially busy during the holiday season. During the months of November and December, Interact holds some of their most important events of the year, many of which they partake in annually. Such events consist of Rise Against Hunger, assisting in the creation of stars for the Millbrae Christmas tree, and most recently, Interact members volunteered at the San Bruno Catholic Worker House this Thanksgiving, serving and donating food to the community for the holiday. Along with the customary holiday events, the presidents’ plan on creating more opportunities to give-back to others during the winter season. Just last year, the club introduced Christmas in November, an event where they both pack and collect necessary resources for families in need. The presidents are enthusiastic about the event’s second year at Mills, and hope to initiate similar events in the ensuing years.
The club which goes by the motto, “service above self”, has clearly shown through the past decades their strong commitment to the wellbeing of the public. Currently, the club is striving to “foster a welcoming and inclusive environment” where students can both cultivate and establish a passion for community service, a goal which is strongly reflected by the continuous deeds they contribute every year. It’s evident that their dream to extend their impact beyond Mills is now more than achievable, as the club continues to grow and establish themselves as a core pillar of the community.
