Club fills niche for English enthusiasts and aspiring writers

Every language besides the obvious: English.

At MVHS, English is the only core subject without a national honor society. In a school with a high focus on academic achievement, the lack of concentration on reading and writing prompted senior Allyson Gottlieb to create more opportunities for English enthusiasts. She is currently the president of MVHS’ National English Honor Society chapter.

“There is nothing like this at MVHS. We’re so math and science focused that it’s really lopsided,” Gottlieb said. “It always makes me sad to think that we have so much support for math and science, but we have barely any opportunities for English lovers.”

Gottlieb and English teacher Matt Brashears, the club’s advisor, have opened meetings to anyone with an interest in writing and reading, whether academic or not. The club is a chapter of a national organization, which specifies that all members must have taken at least one year of high school English and has an English grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

While MVHS does offer literary publication-based clubs such as Verdadera and La Pluma, these organizations are based more on selection and exclusivity rather than focusing on the creative process. NEHS will concentrate on writing skills and the English language in general.

“It’s hard for people who aren’t on the staff of those publications to get more involved. At NEHS, everybody will be able to be a part of the club, and events that are open to the general public,” Gottlieb said. “You won’t have to submit anything, it’s all open.”

The club will also unify the English community, as Gottlieb strives to connect NEHS to organizations with similar focuses. She hopes to inspire a creative hub on campus, where students from other humanities clubs will gather and work together.

“First and foremost, we want to encourage people who love English. We also want to improve English grades and provide essay help,” Gottlieb said. “And thirdly, we want to show people the opportunities that are out there. We want to bring a positive reputation of English to MVHS.”

The club will also attempt to educate students on topics that are less prominent in MVHS culture, such as the self-publishing world and indie authorship. Gottlieb’s own self-published novella propelled her into the public eye, and she wishes to help other students achieve success and spread their written word.

“[The club] could be my legacy. I didn’t want to graduate as just another face in the yearbook,” Gottlieb said. “I wanted to do something special.”

She hopes that the club will promote an acceptance of people who pursue literary careers and that students of diverse interests are offered the same opportunities.

“It’s important: writing is universal. Asking why writing is important is like asking why problem-solving skills are important: writing occurs in every part of life,” NEHS Treasurer Abhi Vaidyanatha said. “You can’t have any career and just not write. It’s important, and it could make you an asset in the future. It’s not just about academics.”

Though the language skills are important in college and adult life, Gottlieb puzzled over why an English Honor Society club has never been established in the 69-year-old history of MVHS. She wondered whether the lack of such a club has been detrimental to academic growth.

“It’s easy to get recognized in a science fair or physics competition, but it’s harder for somebody to get recognized as a writer,” Brashears said. “We would like to provide guidance for people who are thinking about pursuing a career in English and to support people who are reading and writing [in their free time].”

The club also hopes to bring in established writers and other professionals in order to educate budding writers. As the year progresses into workshops, personalized advice and both academic and nonacademic support, NEHS joins campus as an organization of literary pursuits, fresh opportunity and most of all: diversity.

“Writing always seems to take the backseat. But now we want to make it more accessible,” Creative Writing Coordinator Ann Fu said.

Students can apply for NEHS by filling out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DW7kkKIxS7oiNi56ngJAIsQVRk5pOwFOIQ8c2u4idV4/viewform