In a fast-paced school day filled with screens, exams, and constant assignments, finding a quiet time to reset yourself can be a challenge. Enter the Origami Club, a calm, welcoming space where students can gather to slow down, step away from technology, and take simple sheets of paper and turn them into unique artwork.
The club was revived by President junior Sophia Zhang, who saw an opportunity to bring the club back to life. “I joined the origami club mainly because I liked the craft and it was a small hobby for me to take a break from homework,” Zhang explained. “I saw that the club was inactive last year, and I wanted to revive it; hence why I keep coming back, because I want to spread the passion of origami.”
With a few members in the club so far, they hope to expand. The meetings are biweekly on Thursdays. They meet in Ms. Clapp’s room in J280, and no prior experience is necessary, just an ambition to learn.
Instead of feeling like a mandatory requirement, meetings are designed as a stress-free environment. “During club meetings, I try to make it feel more like a hang-out spot where people can enjoy the craft rather than it being a serious thing, as the club is supposed to function as a break from school,” Zhang shared. “I want to allow people to explore or start a hobby they have and take a break from technology.”
This club’s relaxed atmosphere is exactly what stands out. For members, joining the club reignites an old interest while building new friendships. Junior Isaac James Aguilos noted that “what first drew me in to join the Origami Club was being reminded of the passion I had for art ever since I was little. What keeps me coming back was how much fun I had in making origami with people.”
While making origami requires focus and patience, the result can be rewarding. While trying to make difficult pieces, members lean on each other and practice taking things one fold at a time. Aguilos also noted how “handling a tough design is not easy, but being patient, asking for help, and getting to understand the complex folds of the piece, it all becomes rewarding in the end.”
Beyond the creation of art, the practice of origami adds valuable habits that carry over into academics and everyday life. “Doing origami allows me to pay attention to the finer details and also shows me that the work I put into something will always pay off, whether that is making a complex origami piece or studying through an exam week,” Zhang reflected. For the club, the craft offers a simple mental reset.
Overall, with the Origami Club, whether students are looking to master a new design, they are able to make new friends across grade levels, or take a break from their phones and schoolwork for a bit. The Origami Club provides the perfect place to pause and reset. One fold at a time.
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