Meditative. Thought Provoking. Conversational. The sponsors of the Philosophy club are Susan Theotokatos and Michele Bonadies who make sure that it remains a safe place for people to share their ideas and debate abstract ideas.
The club’s president, Nicholas Selimos and vice president, Alexis Petros lead it along with Bonadies and Theotokatos.
Theotokatos mentioned, “When the club started, it was a space where kids could come and talk about philosophical ideas like what is the nature of love, crime and punishment, existence. All the traditional ideas that philosophers have tried to think about for centuries.”
The leaders work together to put up a video or an article which everyone reads and uses to discuss. Now, what they are planning to do is use surveys in the club and have everybody read a book and discuss it.
The club is making progress in terms of making itself the way its members want it to be.
According to Petros, Philosophy club is unlike any other club in the building as students are truly encouraged to practice their interpersonal skills by talking and interacting with their peers. “It is more discussion based than other clubs,” Petros added.
Theotokatos said, “The goal of the club is to make students feel comfortable, and build community within MHS.”
Theotokatos believes that Philosophy Club is meant to give students a better understanding of who they are along with sharing their perspective with peers which can be helpful to them in the future.
There are a lot of skills that one takes away from the club like interpersonal and communication skills. Selimos said the most important skill the club teaches is “the ability to sit, hear, and respect someone else’s stance on a certain subject” while addressing one’s own opinion.
Selimos thinks, although discussions get intense sometimes, overall, it is a casual atmosphere for the students to have discussions and learn from each other!
Everyone is encouraged to talk and jump into conversations, but they can also listen. While most club members are involved in conversations, their level of participation is up to them.
Selimos described their experience at the club as “one of his favorite hobbies outside of school” and Petros has found the club “inspiring and interesting.”
The club leaders and sponsors want all members to learn that they can connect the philosophical discussions in the club to their own lives and overcome struggles using the ideas they are exposed to during the discussions.
The leadership and sponsors aim to keep the way the club is in the future. However, they do wish that more people knew about the club.
“I hope to see the club grow in size and thought,” Petros said, while Theotokatos wants to keep it the safe space it is meant to be.
Philosophy Club meets every other week, before and after school alternatively. Get in touch with Mrs. Theotokatos or Mrs. Bonadies if you would like to get philosophical!
