Knightlife, one of the biggest clubs in the school, provides students with a unique and entertaining way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and ignore the pressures to drink and do drugs throughout high school.

The club, which meets about once a month, promotes a substance-free high school career and also encourages students to educate their peers during two specific weeks of the academic year: Homecoming week and Prom week. “[The clubs tries] to do different activities and events where we try to help people focus on not drinking and driving and doing drugs,” the club’s advisor, Dr. Jeff Steffenson, said. During these weeks, club members hang posters and speak to students about how substances are harmful to minors.

Knightlife offers a variety of activities for students of all grades and interests. “We try to pick events that everyone’s going to be into and enjoy. I think that makes it fun,” Steffenson said.

Knightlife is a great substitute for students who value not drinking or using substances while underage. “I like how instead of telling people not to engage in illegal activities, it gives you other activities that you can be doing instead of that,” sophomore Josie Ross, a Knightlife student leader, said.

By participating in these activities, students get to know other students who have similar values in regards to substance use in high school. “I think those events offer people opportunities to get to know each other a little better, and it’s great to do fun things,” Steffenson said.

Knightlife is  somewhat of time commitment and oftentimes loses members as the school year moves forward due to various reasons. “[Attendance] usually starts off with about 200 or so, and by the end of the year it’s usually about 125. Some kids drop out for various reasons. It’s kind of a tough schedule and people are busy,” Steffenson said.

Students must find a balance in their schedules to allow time for Knightlife if they plan on getting the most out of the club. “[Students] are always balancing things. This club is really promoting great values. However, if you plays sports and are involved in other clubs, you always have something to do. It’s hard sometimes to do that and be in Knightlife,” Steffenson said.

Despite the challenges, the advisers and leaders of the club strive to make the supportive group of chemical free participants open to any students who want to participate. “We’re always trying to figure out how to make people come that have busy schedules. It’s really tricky,” Steffenson said.

Knightlife has been a club for about fifteen years and has continued to grow tremendously in members and influence. “[The club] started off really small and gradually grew,” Steffenson said.

The open and welcoming atmosphere of this club provides a supportive environment for students who want to remain faithful to their values of not using substances.