Nicheness a Nicety?

If there’s one thing Gilman doesn’t lack, it’s clubs. Whether it be a spot for students to compete with classmates and students throughout the nation, or simply a place to unwind after a long day, clubs have always been an essential part of the Gilman experience. Yet, though all clubs are given places to set their posters at the start of the year club fair, not all of them are created equal; some maintain a large and steady membership, while others often contend with low attendance. How, then, do these clubs operate? Do they simply languish beneath the shadows, starved of members and attention, or do they perhaps flourish, as a part of the large yet often overlooked ecosystem that is Gilman’s small clubs? 

Initially founded in 2022, Gilman’s Improv Club aimed to provide a space for students to express their creative interests in the form of acting. Yet, by the end of the year, any momentum that the club previously had died out, leading to the club slowly declining into obscurity. In the spring of 2024, however, Gabriel Zerhouni ‘25 and Dylan Moyar ‘26 decided to revive it for a shared passion for theater and to create a space for like-minded students. So far, this rebirth has worked in favor of the club, garnering 10 members who “are passionate about the club,” according to Gabriel. Furthermore, the club’s initial goal of creating a space for those interested in theater has also succeeded, with Gabriel noting that much of the club’s membership is made up of “a lot of people involved in the theater community.”

However, though a significant amount of the club’s membership is comprised of dedicated theater folk, many of its members are also new to the acting scene, using the club’s relaxed atmosphere to learn about the art of acting. Tim Yoo ‘27, who previously participated in Mr. Rowell’s improv intramural during the winter, referred to the club as “a good way to get into the path of acting.” The club’s effectiveness in drawing in those with an interest in learning about acting and improv is largely due to its fun, low-stakes activities, which give members an opportunity to learn through experience. Nikhil Krishna ‘27, echoed this sentiment, stating that the various activities allowed for people to “be yourself, have fun, be expressive,” something that ultimately not only contributes to maintaining the club’s member base but also to educating on the wonders of expression.

While the Improv Club focuses on the art of acting, Gilman’s Pokémon Club bases itself on an entirely different yet niche subject matter. Aside from the Pokémon Go! craze of 2023, the card game franchise has largely been absent from Gilman. However, in the winter of 2024, Nicholas Guthrie ‘27 set out with the intention of uniting this small but passionate minority. “I’ve been playing Pokémon for a very long time,” Nicholas said, and he wanted to bring more students into this interest as a result. Due to his efforts, the club has grown from zero to nine members in just a year. Whenever they meet, members tend to do “their own thing, whether it’s Poké Mode or Pokémon Battles online,” showing how the club is more of a hangout space than a community with defined goals.

Though some of Gilman’s niche clubs are small in terms of membership, they capitalize on the interests of the few people who enjoy the topic. Gilman’s Classics Club, for example, proudly boasts over 10 members who attend almost every meeting, and it includes students from Bryn Mawr School and Roland Park Country School. Much of the club’s member base is comprised of classics students of all levels. According to club President Jack Mashaw ‘26, people who “enjoy their Latin class and learning beyond what they’re doing in their classes” often find a place for themselves in the club.

Members are motivated to attend club meetings to prepare for monthly certamen competitions,  a type of classics-based quiz bowl in which speed and knowledge bring home trophies while indecision ensures defeat. Rohan Sinha ‘26 referred to certamens as a hallmark of the club, stating that during these competitions, he finds “great people to hang out with,” both from Gilman and from schools across Maryland. 

Though the more niche clubs of Gilman often lack the popularity of the more well-known clubs, the fact that they can maintain a stable community that thrives on their uniqueness is a testament to the diversity of this school; for all our differing interests serve not just to make this school more interesting to attend, but also a much better community to be a part of, as through our differences do we truly find out what it means to be Gilman.