One of Carlmont’s newest clubs, the Life and Literature Club, had their first meeting on Friday, Jan. 15, during lunch.
The club provides students with a chance to explore different works of literature in a social environment. Students partake in discussions concerning themes and morals with a central goal of drawing connections to modern-day society and experiences.
“This club is an opportunity for students to share ideas and apply concepts in their own life,” said Stephen Lucia, moderator of the club and AP literature teacher at Carlmont. “The idea is to get students thinking and to examine the human condition.”
During Friday’s meeting, fairy tales such as “Rapunzel” and “Rumpelstiltskin” were examined through structured conversations centered around “agree or disagree” statements. From there, conversations flowed as new ideas and opinions were brought to light.
“The main goal of the club is to provide a chance for people to socialize and talk about modern-day topics and events through a lens that everyone can understand: literature,” said Varun Kapoor, one of the club leaders and a senior at Carlmont.
In addition to developing literature analysis skills, students can cultivate necessary communication skills without the pressure of grades and assessments.
Kaitlyn Fong, a junior, expressed her motivation to participate in this club.
“I think this club is a good way to improve my discussion skills and argumentation skills that will help me in English,” Fong said. “It’s like an English class but without the essays.”
This club also provides an opportunity to connect with others amidst the current pandemic. According to Dr. Roger Covin, a psychologist, students must maintain connections during the academic year, as stated in his book, The Need to be Liked.
“This is a place where students can come to bounce ideas off each other, learn something new, or share their opinions,” said Lauren Krueger, club leader and a senior at Carlmont. “As a result of the pandemic, we knew students needed a place to talk. So, we created this club so students can join and continue to develop meaningful connections with each other and the world.”
Additionally, this club encourages students to find importance in literature by drawing connections to current, relevant events.
“We hope to motivate members to connect themes and ideas to modern-day experiences. Through the club, we hope to inspire students to see literature as a connection from the past to the present,” said club leader Alyse Murray.
Overall, this club provides an opportunity to socialize, connect, and develop crucial skills in a comfortable environment.
“Anybody who is interested in learning more about our modern-day in comparison to past works is encouraged to come to our meetings and participate,” Murray said. “If anybody wants to explore the depths of a piece of literature they love, then we hope they consider joining the Life and Literature Club.”
