Zoe Sermons
Staff Writer
The Safe Space Club is a new club that is led by juniors Casey Marsh and Noah Jennings. This is the club’s first year in action, and Marsh and Jennings have many ideas to promote it. Although ACHS offers a variety of counseling services for students, there aren’t as many places for students to confide in their peers. When you just want someone to talk to, speaking to an adult can be intimidating for some students, so Safe Space Club creates another outlet for them.
Jennings had the original idea for the club, and after eventually sharing his idea with Marsh, they decided to run the club together. The club was promoted via flyers around the school and posts on Instagram. They kicked off the club with their first interest meeting held in October of 2022.
The idea for Safe Space Club sparked after Jennings observed our school’s environment. Jennings said, “I know that our school can sometimes be a little bit cliquey, and some students don’t have a place to go where they can be comfortable and be themselves, so I thought Safe Space club could create that atmosphere.”
Safe Space is not just about having someone to talk to. Marsh and Jennings also want the club to be a place to make new friends and get to know students that you would not have met otherwise. Marsh said, “I wanted to be a part of Safe Space club because it was an opportunity to create a very welcoming environment.”
The club creates a lighthearted and fun atmosphere which puts students at ease. The laid-back environment of the club makes the agenda for each meeting quite flexible. Meetings are centered around student voices and opinions. Jennings said, “We start with an icebreaker, and then we’ll do other activities like coloring, group bonding and games. We also eat snacks and listen to music.”
Many students at ACHS are very ambitious with the classes and clubs they choose to participate in, and Safe Space Club is an outlet for students to unwind, while also benefiting students who want to bond with a group full of fellow Titans. Marsh reiterated, “I hope students get a sense of community within the school through our club.”
Safe Space club is not only about making new friends and relating to fellow students. Jennings also wants this club to be a tool for students to better themselves. He emphasized, “In a way, I hope students can gain a sense of independence because my club is really about making people comfortable and giving them the opportunity to share their own opinions. I also want the club to create an understanding of different feelings.”
Featured image by Zoe Sermons
