The Internet and the Death of School Clubs

I've been wanting to make this blog post for a while, so here goes:

I don't know if this is just a problem at my school, but I have noticed in recent years that nobody seems to want to attend club meetings anymore. I have been an active participant in my school's GSA for 4 years now, but currently I am the only person who frequently attends GSA meetings. The club is slowly dying, and it is painful to watch it die a slow, excruciating death. I have poured my heart and soul into keeping the club alive, but it is obvious that it probably won't be around for much longer. I have also noticed that my school's music club has dwindled in numbers over the years, and some teachers who are sponsors of clubs have mentioned how students don't attend club meetings anymore.

I feel as though the Internet has played a huge role in slowly killing school clubs. Since so many people are finding communities online, many seem to assume that they don't need to be a part of a school club; they feel as though their online community is all that they need. I strongly disagree with this sentiment, however. While online communities are great, becoming a part of a physical community is just as important as becoming a part of an online community. As humans, we need to make connections with the people that surround us on a daily basis. School clubs are a great way to get to know those in your community and find like-minded people that live near you. By joining a school club, you can also forge life-long friendships with people you otherwise would have never interacted with. This is extremely important because it is important to meet people who differ from you; oftentimes those who stay online a lot want to meet people who are exactly like them, which is not always the best idea. It is important to learn to get along with and even forge friendships with people who may not be exactly like you.