Interact Club 

“Service above self.” That is a motto that speaks volumes. Interact Club is a club at Aurora High School run by Mrs. Foster that focuses on students developing and learning leadership skills, along with personal integrity. It also allows students to help and respect others. 

Before known as Interact Club, it used to be called Key Club, which is a national organization. When Mrs. Foster, a Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Aurora and the advisor of the club, was asked about how the club came to be, she said, “Two things were happening at the same time. The teachers who were advising Key Club were looking to retire from doing it because they had younger children. At the same time, the Rotary Club was asking me to start an Interact Club. Basically, we just turned Key Club into Interact Club.” 

Interact Club allows students to help the community. During October, the students got to work with Habitat for Humanity. They went to Ravenna and got to paint the siding of a house that was being built for a family in need. Last spring, the students went and helped plant new trees and mulch at the Aurora Tree Museum. This past Memorial Day, students went around the Aurora Cemetery, putting flags on the Veterans’ graves. The students who are a part of this club sign up for the activities, but none of them are mandatory. 

Yes, the club stands for helping others and the community. But, something that Foster loves to see is the kids volunteering: “I love seeing the students volunteering, and a lot of them probably would not do volunteer work unless it was for church or because they were involved in Boy or Girl Scouts.” She also explains that she loves it when the students exclaim, “This is fun!” or ask, “When are we doing that again?” 

Along with that, the organizers and other people cannot believe that the students do volunteer work, especially for free. Foster explains that while the club was helping Habitat for Humanity, the organizers were shocked that this wasn’t mandatory: “We did a Habitat for Humanity build a couple of weeks ago, and the organizers couldn’t believe that the students were there because they wanted to be there. Like, it wasn’t a punishment or a Saturday school. It wasn’t mandatory. At some schools, students have to have volunteer hours to graduate. I said back, ‘No, they just signed up’ and they couldn’t believe it.” 

Foster enjoys seeing the students do something good during their free time. This Saturday, November 4, the club is going to participate in a “Rake & Run”. If you’re interested in helping out the community while getting volunteer hours, Interact Club is something you should try. Meetings are once a month on Wednesdays. They start at 2:30 p.m. and are in room 105. Feel free to come to a meeting or talk to Mrs. Foster if want to learn more!

Written By: Maddie Mink