Returning and new members of the West Chicago Community High School National Honor Society gathered in the school library to get to know each other better at their annual Bring Your Own Blanket event on October 7.
National Honor Society (NHS) is a club meant for students looking for a way to contribute to and change the community. Juniors and seniors who exemplify the four pillars of the National Honor Society (scholarship, service, leadership, and character) are selected out of the student body. Once inducted in the society, the students collect service hours by either volunteering or leading personal leadership projects that help better the community and the world around them. Because being in the National Honor Society requires a lot of teamwork and collaboration, a Bring Your Own Blanket event is held so that all 80+ members can get to know each other better and to build a sense of teamwork and collaboration within the society.
“The purpose of BYOB is to unite that chapter: throughout the year we don’t get many all-chapter events, so BYOB allows the new members and old to mingle and get to know one another,” Miranda Bucio, President of NHS, said.
For the fourth year in a row, members wore their comfy flannel and sweatpants, brought breakfast treats, and lugged their blankets to school for the Bring Your Own Blanket event. The members were split into 10 groups before partaking in a hearty breakfast of bagels, muffins, and other sweets and breakfast foods. Once the meal was done, those in attendance participated in challenges and games such as an art contest, rock paper scissors war, Simon Says, charades, and an artistic version of Telephone.
“During the event, we spent some time eating breakfast, designing name tags, and playing some team-building games like charades,” Jacob Voight, a two-year NHS member, said. “I thought that it was fairly successful, as I was able to meet new NHS members and give them a welcome to the program, which was the primary goal of the event.”
Through these activities, students learned to cheer their fellow members on, to communicate in ways other than words, and stay resilient. In general, the event was a success, with members meeting new people, forming connections, and strengthening the NHS community.
“The event was very successful because members seemed to be having a lot of fun, and everyone was conversing with one another. New members were put into groups with old members, so they got the chance to talk with different people which was the main goal of the event,” Jessica Thunberg, NHS Vice President, said. “Everyone also loved the food as well. We got so many donations for the event, which was amazing.”
