DIY is a club at Olympic Heights Community High School where students gather after school to explore hobbies and activities they enjoy. They participate in hands-on projects to bolster creativity. “DIY, standing for Do It Yourself, is centered around art, harboring skills that extend to multiple forms of media that will hopefully stick with all of our members,” says DIY club president Angelina Magnaye. “Skills such as painting, baking, pottery, etc. are taught in the club.” Magnaye’s concept for DIY club began during her sophomore year last school year, where she planned to officially start a DIY club for the first time this current school year. The founders and staff for DIY club’s first year are Angelina Magayne (president), Sarah Suarez (vice president), Alejandra Rodriguez (secretary), Kayla Deosaran (treasurer), and Krish Kaura (interclub relations manager).

DIY club’s initial vision was to create a club for like-minded students to express their passions without the financial burden. Magnaye and Suarez hoped to teach the club members practical and essential hands-on skills that are useful in day to day life. This was accomplished through collaborative projects that foster creativity and contribute to the community. Overall, this club aims to teach general skills that directly support a real world cause and help students in their everyday lives.

One key component is to embrace everyone.  Magnaye and Suarez say that their favorite part of DIY club is the welcoming demeanors expressed by the members.  They make sure to keep their doors wide open to anybody even remotely interested in what they do. In doing that, they’ve established a friendly and casual atmosphere in the club, which was part of their vision. Magnaye mentions that she sees new faces at every meeting; these students are truly passionate about the meeting’s activity. “We hope to see more new faces in the years to come,” Magnaye shares. This club also creates a strong camaraderie. Suarez’s favorite part of the club is how she has a community where she can enjoy and share all the things she’s passionate about with new friends who enjoy the same things as her.

DIY club has accomplished a lot in its first year, amassing a total of 194 members and hosting a total of 28 events. Some main events they participated in were a Valentine’s Day flower fundraiser, where 150 bouquets were sold; a dog toy donation drive, where 80 dog toys were made from donated clothing; and a coloring book donation drive to hospitalized children. They even baked apple pies and lava cakes.

The DIY club staff has big aspirations for next year and hopes to increase members and add more events, activites, and even field trips. In the fall, DIY club will be looking for new members to fulfill leadership roles, including a new interclub relations manager and photographer. If you’re an OH student and interested in joining next year’s DIY club, stop by Ms. Levene’s room in 6121 for more information, join the Google Classroom (Cthss7i2), or follow the club on Instagram @ohhs.diy.cluboffical.