On Monday mornings at Herrin Junior High, classrooms across the building pause to watch a student-produced video. It might include the week’s announcements, a lighthearted skit, or an interview with a teacher. Behind those productions is the Media Club, a group of nearly fifty students who are learning how to tell stories, build confidence, and strengthen their school community.

The club began during the pandemic, when the school could no longer gather for assemblies and students needed a new way to stay connected. School social worker Charsi Kane was asked to step in and try video production. “I didn’t really know what I was doing at first,” she admitted, “but I knew students would want to be involved.” What started with just two members has grown into one of the school’s most popular clubs, where students now manage interviews, research, scripts, filming, and on-camera hosting.

Sixth grader Betty Moore-Coleman says the club has already given her experiences she never expected. She interviewed Mr. Hawk about the events of September 11, learning details she hadn’t known before. “It’s a really fun place to be,” Betty said. “The interviews are fun, but they’re also nerve-wracking at the same time.” Seventh grader Olivia Yates points to the projects as her favorite part. “We did a big St. Patrick’s Day movie with a leprechaun, and it was so funny,” she recalled. “I met so many new people, and it was worth staying late to finish.” Fellow seventh grader Abigail Monchino described the club as a chance to grow. “It helps you learn how to interact with people and see how others feel during different events,” she explained.

The projects vary from week to week. Around holidays, students might create a skit about Thanksgiving traditions or Valentine’s Day memories. Other times, they produce more serious segments highlighting awareness events such as Hispanic Heritage Month. One week may bring comedy—like a staged banana-peel slip in the hallway—while the next might focus on an interview with a teacher. Whatever the theme, the videos are designed to inform and entertain, and they have become a Monday tradition for the entire school.

Part of what makes Media Club special is the way it brings together so many different interests. Some students are drawn to the spotlight, eager to appear on camera. Others prefer research, question-writing, or helping set up the equipment. Kane says that the mix has made the club an inviting place. “There’s really something for everyone,” she explained. “Students can find their fit, whether it’s behind the scenes or right in front of the camera.”

The students themselves agree. Betty prefers being on camera, where she can show her personality. Olivia describes herself as “a talkative person” who loves hearing people’s stories. Abigail likes both interviewing and researching, saying it pushes her to talk with new people. By rotating roles, everyone gets a chance to try something different, and many discover skills they didn’t know they had.

Special events and traditions have added to the club’s growth. Each year, members compete in a gingerbread house challenge that mixes creativity and laughter. Last year, the group even took its first field trip, visiting Southern Illinois University’s School of Communication. Students toured the radio and broadcasting department, read from a teleprompter, and got a glimpse of professional media work. “They thought that was big-time stuff,” Kane said proudly.

The club has also extended into summer school. Betty remembers how valuable that experience was as she entered junior high. Students practiced camera work, learned editing tools, and even created a short film. “It gave me something to look forward to,” she said. “I met people I didn’t know and became friends with them.”

What stands out most to members is the supportive culture. Olivia said that the Media Club feels like a safe place where everyone is welcoming. Abigail advises students not to join an activity just because friends do. “You have to choose it because you really want to,” she said. Betty believes it has helped her learn to work with people she might not know well at first. “It encourages you to find a way to communicate and agree on things,” she explained. Those lessons in teamwork and communication are just as important as the videos themselves.

Kane agrees that the club is about more than cameras and editing software. For her, the goal is to help students connect, build confidence, and discover interests that may follow them into high school and beyond. “I just want every student to have a place where they belong,” she said. “If it happens to be Media Club, then that’s a wonderful thing.”