One’s passion can be an important part of their life. They may go on to pursue a career relating to their passion or participate in extracurricular activities. Like many schools, Chamblee facilitates passions relating to academics and the arts. The school offers clubs and classes for various activities. Of these activities, students have varying opinions on how the current programs work and support passions.

“Mr. B runs some pretty great classes. I take guitar, and that really helps me try new things, because I play a wind instrument and want to expand my horizons.” said Elizabeth Gamba (‘27).

Julie Wang (‘25) also takes the guitar class the school offers, and shares a similar opinion about the program.

“I think that the school does the best it can to foster my passion for guitar because I know before there wasn’t a guitar class… I think it’s really helpful that they have the class because I get to have access to a classical guitar.

In addition, the school also offers extracurricular activities for musicians.

“I have a passion for music, and our school really supports it with all the music programs they they have for us to try out, with Winter Guard, with marching band, with indoor percussion, along with just our pretty solid band, it really gives me a place to challenge myself with more music,” said Gamba.

Similarly, another student agreed that there are many programs for students to explore their passions.

“I feel like the school does foster these passions because there are lots of different classes, clubs, and opportunities that allow me to express and explore my passions,” said Katherine Thomas (‘27).

However, many students noted drawbacks to the current programs and what they wish the school would offer. 

“I feel like the best way to facilitate a passion is to not only provide a space for them to do their passions, but also push them to be better with their passion. I don’t feel like I’m very much pushed to be better,” said Skylar Schwartz (‘25).

Several students noted the availability of the programs.

“I feel like they provide lots of good opportunities. They’re just usually really expensive for theater and they could be even more available,” said Maya Vogel (‘27).

A similar opinion is shared by some students about Chamblee’s music programs.

 “I would like to see the school kind of adapt more and make their music program more supported and have more students and have better afterschool programs. Not that the ones we have now are bad, but if we had more extracurricular opportunities with more variability, and maybe with some lower commitment [extracurriculars] because a lot of the ones that we have now need really high commitment,” said Gamba

Wang also commented on how she would like to see the guitar class improve and be able to play at a concert.

“I think by not treating the guitar class as a filler class, and instead, getting passionate students to play, that will definitely allow the teacher Mr. B to be more confident in his student’s ability to perform in a concert,” she said.

Some students have also been raising the concern that current extracurriculars at Chamblee aren’t promoted enough by the school.

“I would like to see the school better promote clubs and opportunities for students because I feel like a lot of people don’t know about all the clubs and classes and activities at Chamblee that they could participate in,” said Thomas.“The school could promote different types of clubs on their social media profiles and maybe mention them during Bulldog Time,” she said.

Schwartz also offered advice to the staff of the school.

“I just like to see more of a drive. This is less of a school wide thing, but it is more so particular staff, where not only are they providing the space to do your passion, but also just pushing you to be better and better with it. Because I think that’s a very important part of having a passion is to not only do it, but also want to be the best you can be at it,” she said.

To many, it seems that Chamblee offers many programs for students to pursue their passions, however there are flaws to these programs, which includes availability, knowledge of the program, and motivation.

While they have many different ideas about how Chamblee should support student passions, many students share the idea about its importance.

 Schwartz said, “I think that passions are very important for students. And I think that. Once a student has found a passion they should be given that drive and motivation to do it by their teachers and fellow students.”