9th
Student Influence & Communication Association · Cupertino High School
Practice the conversationsthat shape everyday life.
Leading group projects. Making friends. Handling disagreements.
Not speeches. Not debate. Just practice.
Have you ever…
You had something worth saying… but stayed quiet.
You thought of the perfect response… after the conversation ended.
You wanted to introduce yourself… but talked yourself out of it.
You knew the answer… but never raised your hand.
Those moments happen to everyone.
They aren’t personality traits.They’re skills.
If you’ve experienced even one of those, you’re exactly who SICA was built for.
A meeting is forty minutes at lunch. You learn one idea for ten. You pair up and practise it for twenty. You get one specific piece of feedback. You leave with one thing to try that week. That is the entire club.
Each of these is its own week. None of them is public speaking.
School expects you to learn these naturally. SICA gives you somewhere to practise them intentionally.
Think about a group project. One person naturally gets everyone talking — they listen, keep things on track, get people to agree, and lead. Someone else in that same group is quiet, maybe even the smartest person there, but never says much.
That gap isn’t talent. It’s a skill nobody ever taught either of them. SICA is about that gap.
Built for students who already want an edge — in leadership, interviews, networking, or just being taken seriously. Whether you’re naturally confident or naturally quiet, the practice works the same way.
Here is a real one — Active Listening, start to finish.
One practical idea. This week: why most people listen only to respond.
You turn to one person, not the room. They talk; you can only ask and summarise.
Specific, and only ever two parts.
You asked twice before saying anything about yourself.
One thing to tryLeave a beat of silence after they finish.
Have one conversation where you ask five questions before giving an opinion.
No lectures. No memorising speeches. No experience required — and you’re never thrown on stage. Everything starts in pairs. Everyone starts somewhere.
What it’s actually like
You’ll probably laugh.
You’ll probably mess up.
You’ll leave knowing two more people than when you walked in.
30 weeks. Six phases. Each one builds on the last.
Notice what you do under pressure and build steadier confidence.
Pick up on what a group needs and ask better questions.
Turn an idea into words other people can follow.
Disagree with respect and work through conflict.
Start a conversation, guide it, and help a group decide.
Use everything you’ve practiced in a final challenge.
Employers consistently rank communication and teamwork among the most important things they look for.
Nearly 90% of employers screen for problem-solving and nearly 80% for teamwork — while reliance on GPA as a screening tool has fallen below 40% and keeps dropping. Source: NACE Job Outlook 2024–2025.
These aren’t just school skills. They’re the ones that actually decide outcomes.
Yes — but SICA isn’t only for people who struggle with this. Plenty of members join because they’re already ambitious and want an edge in leadership, interviews, or networking. Shy or confident, the practice works the same way.
No. Most activities begin in pairs or small groups.
No. The goal isn’t winning arguments. It’s becoming better at working with people.
None. Everyone starts somewhere.
Any grade. Every skill level. Beginner to advanced.
Come to a meeting. That’s all.
As Vice President of Codestarters, I watched something strange happen over and over: the students who got picked for leadership roles — and who actually performed once they had them — weren’t always the ones with the best grades. It came down to communication. The ability to give your ideas real weight, to influence a room instead of getting talked over.
That’s why I built SICA: a club that teaches you to be listened to. Not just heard — listened to.
Meet people. Try a challenge. Leave with one conversation you’ll handle better than you would have last week.
No preparation. No pressure. Just practice.