As more clubs and organizations are added to North Forsyth’s roster of extracurriculars every year, honor societies or clubs that have been around for longer can occasionally be forgotten about for whatever is newest or shiniest. One honor society that deserves more attention is the National Spanish Honor Society. With the ins and outs of NSHS, president Brianna Marker has the inside scoop.
NSHS is an honor society that strives to promote a continued interest in Hispanic studies. When asked what makes NSHS at North Forsyth special, Marker emphasizes “It’s a pretty small honor society…so it’s a lot more, like, closely knit than some other societies are.” Many of the members are returning for 1+ years, and thus create an increasingly welcoming community for new and incoming members. The hope of the honor society is that in the future this close-knit atmosphere will attract more members who are looking for more than a place to practice Spanish, but a place to expand their knowledge of the culture and how it can be expressed in a high school setting.
NSHS is open to anyone who is currently enrolled in a Spanish class from Spanish IV and higher. It provides opportunities for these students with an affinity for the Spanish language and culture to further nurture said appreciation within a defined community. “Since it’s so small, everybody [involved] is actually doing something.” This is one of the biggest benefits that Marker cites to joining NSHS as a way to get involved at school; it is more than just a college resume fluffer.
Marker includes that once you are a member, it is relatively easy to maintain your membership throughout one’s high school career. Spanish lovers interested in joining need “a 3.0 GPA [in Spanish]…and 5 volunteer hours per semester,” but students do not need to stay enrolled in a Spanish class once they have been inducted. With lower expectations for service hours and GPA requirements, the organization is more welcoming and accessible to a larger range of students. This makes it a great step along the path to becoming the well-rounded student every college dreams of.
Overall, Marker’s biggest hope is for NSHS to “thrive”. She has many plans for the rest of the year, and hopes it can be carried on with the same passion that she has put into it. So, if you’re a Spanish lover or think you could be, think about the National Spanish Honor Society the next time Clubapalooza rolls around!
