You are right, your mother is wrong.
Short story (those who have heard it can skip this post).
My kid was active as a freshman in her LGBTQ advocacy club as a freshman, and nothing was happening - a few kids sitting around complaining how the world was bad. We told her that she should drop it and find a place where she could do something. Instead she stayed, and at the beginning of her next year (sophomore) went with a friend to the teacher/mentor and told her (the teacher) that they were taking over. By the time my kid stepped down as the leader, it was one of the largest clubs in the school, with an annual fair, an annual fundraiser, awards, and she had been interviewed by a number of radio stations and local papers. It also was one of the reasons she was nominated for the scholarship which is paying for her tution at a very good college.
TL;DR Daughter chose something she loved over something that “would look better on college aps”, and as a result was selected for admission + full tuition scholarship to an “elite” college.