Many students at South are involved in Young Life. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors come out to Young Life club on Monday nights.

Word of the club spreads from upperclassmen to underclassmen encouraging them to come each year according to freshman Sarah Haug who also participates in Young Life.

“Young life is really cool! We socialize with friends, play games, and sing songs. I love that club is on Monday because I have something to look forward to even though it’s not the weekend anymore,” she said.

Haug also said she loves the variety of people that go.

“Every club there’s someone new. I love getting to know people in other grades and groups,” Haug said.

Junior Clare Whitener is a regular at Club.

“My sister, Bri, told me to go freshman year and I’ve been going ever since!” she said.

Whitener said she loves the games and songs every Club as well as the lessons about Jesus and Christianity.

“I love going every Monday, having fun, and inspiring others to be the best version of themselves,” she said.

Freshman Braden MacIntosh also goes to young life.

“My favorite part of club is singing songs, and my favorite club was the Ice Cream Olympics! We were all covered in ice cream at the end which was really fun,” he said.

P.E. teacher Matt Roach is one of the group’s leaders.

“Young Life was offered to me at my high school. It had a huge impact on me and I got involved to give that impact back,” he said. “Seeing kids having a good time, laughing, and learning valuable lessons that are relevant to their day to day lives is really cool, and it allows a place for a kid to be a kid.”

Another unique part of the young life experience is camp. There are 39 Young Life camps across the United States. Camps include Windy Gap in North Carolina and Castaway Club in Minnesota. 

“There are a ton of different camps all across the U.S., and we try to go to a different. Camp is one of the only places to limit distractions. Today everyone spends a lot of time on their phones and social media, and camp is a place where you’re away from all of that, having fun, and living in the moment,” Roach said.

Whitener has also been to a camp.

“Camp was the best. I got to spend so much time with my friends, while learning about something I really care about. It really was the best week of my life!” she said.