When I walked into the first-ever NeuroClub meeting last January, I had exactly two things: a slideshow about brain lobes and an embarrassing amount of enthusiasm. No big expectations, no master plan—just me hoping at least five people would show up and not immediately regret it. Spoiler: more than five did. And somehow, one year later, NeuroClub is an actual thing.

So, what did year one look like? And where do we go from here?

Lesson 1: People Are Curious—If You Make It Fun

High schoolers don’t exactly sprint toward more science in their free time. But here’s what I learned: if you make neuroscience interactive (like mini Brain Bee challenges, optical illusions, or the time we tried Stroop tests on each other), people buy in. No one wants a second AP Psych lecture after school. But they do want to know why they can’t say the word “blue” when it’s printed in red ink without their brain glitching.

Lesson 2: Leading a Club Is Basically Herding Cats

I used to think “leadership” meant giving speeches and making executive decisions. Reality check: it’s chasing people down for dues, reminding officers that “meeting at 8:15” does not mean 8:23, and triple-checking the attendance sheet. But in between the chaos, I realized how much I love building something with people who actually care. NeuroClub isn’t just me anymore—it’s a whole group of students who’ve made it theirs, too.

Lesson 3: Outreach > Perfection

Our first outreach event with middle schoolers was not flawless. Half the kids wanted to poke the fake brain model, the other half just wanted snacks. But by the end, they were asking real questions about memory and why people dream. That’s when it clicked: the point isn’t to run the “perfect” event. The point is planting a seed. And maybe that seed grows into them taking AP Psych, or even just thinking, “Huh, the brain is kinda cool.” That’s a win.

Lesson 4: Neuroscience Is Bigger Than Competitions

Yes, we prepped for the Brain Bee. Yes, some of us stressed over brain anatomy flashcards like they were SAT vocab words. But the best moments weren’t about competition—they were about connection. The random conversations about mental health, the laughs over botched memory games, the debates about whether Inception is scientifically accurate (it’s not, sorry). That’s what made the year feel important.

What’s Next

Year two feels different. Now that the “will this even work?” question has been answered, I’m excited to focus on bigger things:

• More outreach. I want NeuroClub to be more than a lunchroom club—it should be something that inspires younger students and connects with the community.
• New experiences. I’m planning “NeuroLabs,” where we actually test out experiments instead of just talking about them. Think reaction time challenges, memory tests, and maybe even EEG demos if we can swing it.
• Making it sustainable. I don’t want NeuroClub to fizzle when I graduate. My goal is to build enough momentum, resources, and excitement that it keeps running long after I’m gone.

A year ago, NeuroClub was just a random idea I pitched in a counselor’s office. Now it’s a group of people geeking out about the brain together. That’s the biggest takeaway for me: ideas matter, but action matters more. You don’t need everything figured out before you start—you just need to start.

And if you can throw in a few brain puns along the way? Even better.