The day before club days started, co-presidents of Ecuadorian club, Armando Fabela and Diana Pantoja, were running around trying to get a poster board, photos and permits to be able to attend club days.

“Well yesterday I got an email from Ms. Hanly, that I didn’t realize I got until after school, and I realized that club days were today,” said Fabela Div. 869, who stayed up until 2 a.m. that night making a poster to represent the club.

Being the president of an I-Day club can be stressful as it comes with many responsibilities, such as scheduling events, choreographing a dance, (or selecting a choreographer), picking new members and leading tryouts, while at the same time, getting school work done.

Peony Li, Div. 753, co-president of Vietnamese Club, does not know how she manages all of it.

“I’m pretty much going insane because I have two jobs, Vietnamese Club and college applications with school,” she said. “And before, like last year, I did not have anything to do. I was free every day but I guess with Vietnamese Club it sort of forces you to start being responsible. And I’m glad I had to learn that because I did not have it before.”

While it might be overwhelming, at times, it is not always so. French Club president Kendall Reed, Div. 866, said, “It’s all about organization. If you plan things out, running a club becomes less stressful.”

After being in a club for a while, the leaders get the hang of it.

“I think by this point I have figured it out — like I know how to balance my time because I have been in it since freshman year. I just make sure I try to get everything done over the weekend, so I set up an agenda for the club during the week.” Aztlan president Jennifer Alanis, Div. 767, said.

And through it all, they have help from their vice or co-president and officers of the group.

“Whenever I’m having trouble with something I can just ask him,” Pantoja, Div. 860, said about her co-president Fabela, Div. 869, who is her biggest supporter.

While International Days club activities often center on dancing, the presidents of these clubs have learned many lifelong skills. Alanis, Pantoja, Fabela, Li and Reed have gained leadership skills through running the club, as they have taken on many responsibilities.

“I have to pick out what state [In Mexico] we are representing and what steps and what skirt movement go with it because every state has their own, and then from there you pick the choreography, the costumes and figure out when practices are,” Alanis said.

The presidents of these clubs can take the skills they learn with them when looking for jobs in the future, whether it is managing clients, working with coworkers on a task or running a business.

“French Club has taught me to be upstanding, firm and honest. Those are qualities you have to have to be in charge,”Reed said. “It has made me into a more patient person” as not everyone works and learns at the same pace, he said.

Being in a club leadership role has also taught them about communication and good work ethic, as they have to work hard and manage their time well in order to be ready for I-Days.

“It teaches you how to talk to people,” said Alanis. “You have to set aside friendships and be professional, so you have to know where to draw the line.”

A longer than six-month task, it may seem like a lot of work, but I-Days make it all worth it. “It’s just a fun experience,” said Brian Vu, Div. 766, co-president of Vietnamese Club. “I think everyone should do it.”