Clubs are an integral part of the Francis Lewis culture. They bring students together to socialize and get involved in their academic and creative pursuits. But, among the several clubs to exist in our school, one stands out to me the most, and it’s the Modern Philosophy Club. The club’s goal is to encourage students to open their minds up to complex and abstract ideas. This club can’t be categorized into one sector. Instead, it falls into multiple: intellectual, political, artistic, and even just for plain fun. If the clubs continue, Philosophy Club can be a positive addition to FLHS.

What makes Philosophy Club special isn’t just the topics discussed, but the kind of environment it creates. Mr. Green, the club’s advisor, explained that his interest in moderating it started from his own college experience.

“Philosophy gave me the opportunity to think of things in a new way—new lenses, new ideas—that you don’t get exposed to much in high school.” To him, philosophy isn’t about always finding the “truth,” but rather learning how to explain things and understand the world from multiple angles. It’s that spirit of inquiry that drives the club forward.

One challenge, Mr. Green says, is that schools don’t always have a clear place for philosophy in their curriculum.

“It’s hard to pin down where it fits,” he admits. “But I think a lot of students are naturally interested in philosophy, even if it starts from something like TikTok or social media. The club gives them a deeper, more academic approach where they can engage with ideas in a rewarding way.”

The club’s openness is another defining trait. Mr. Green emphasized how welcoming the atmosphere is.

“Anyone who came, even just for one day, was encouraged to speak up and engage,” he said. “That’s a big thing that sets it apart.”

According to him, the club offers a rare safe space where students can explore their thoughts and test new ideas—something increasingly important in a world where respectful disagreement is often lost.

Daniel, the club’s founder and president, had a simple motivation for starting it.

“I fell in love with books, especially ones that touched on philosophy. I wanted a space where nerds like me could have open conversations.”

For him, Philosophy Club wasn’t about debating for the sake of it. It was about creating a space where students could engage in meaningful dialogue—something he felt was missing from most school environments.

“You’re not going to talk about politics in your math class,” he points out. “But in Philosophy Club, we could talk about the things that don’t fit into the standard curriculum.”

He also noted that many clubs in high school today are heavily focused on resume-building or professional development.

“That’s great and super important,” he acknowledged, “but it’s also nice to have a space where you can just… talk. Where you don’t have to perform or be on all the time.”

For Daniel, the club became a space to slow down, be curious again, and reconnect with a childlike sense of wonder—something often lost in the race to grow up fast.

Club member Ella echoed this sentiment.

“I wanted to meet people who were interested in topics that don’t usually come up in everyday conversations,” she said. “It helped me unwind at the end of the day but also kept me thinking.”

She appreciated how every member had a voice, and how the discussions ranged from student-suggested topics to philosophical concepts planned ahead.

“It definitely sparked thoughts in others and in me,” she said.

The benefits aren’t just personal. Mr. Green pointed out that learning to navigate disagreement and complexity is a crucial life skill.

“As you go into the real world, you’re going to meet people who think differently than you,” he said. “Philosophy Club is a place where students can practice engaging with those differences in a thoughtful, non-hostile way. That skill is incredibly under-taught in society.”

So, will Philosophy Club become a long-standing tradition at Francis Lewis? Mr. Green and Daniel both think it’s likely. With committed members, student leaders who care, and a growing interest among the student body, the foundation has already been laid.

“I definitely see it becoming a tradition,” said Ella. “I personally enjoyed it every time I was able to attend.”

At its core, Philosophy Club represents something FLHS—and all schools—need more of: a space to think freely, listen openly, and grow together. In an academic environment full of deadlines and expectations, sometimes what students need most is simply a chance to ask, “Why?”