Hello, SUNny Key Clubbers! Can you believe that it's March? That means sadly that there is only one month left until the 2016-2017 term comes to an end. Though this is a bittersweet feeling, there is still much to be accomplished and a lot that is still coming in the current term before next year's cabinet takes over! I first want to congratulate our new executive board: Sara Ryave, Caitlyn Saw, Justine Wu, and Kristina Theam. I have personally been able to watch these individuals grow throughout the term and I can definitely say that these individuals are going to help the club accomplish so many things in the future term. These individuals are so hardworking, inspiring, and truly are passionate about Key Club and I know that the club is left in good hands. A huge congratulations to these individuals again because running for executive board is not an easy task! Also, a huge shoutout to all the individuals who had the bravery and courage to run- I am so proud and inspired by all of you! Each of you showed in your own ways how dedicated you are towards this club and seeing the amount of passion and love for this club makes me confident that our club will be in safe hands for many years to come! As executive board elections have ended, that means that appointed board elections are out! I hope that for all of you who were interested in applying for appointed board actually did because Key Club Cabinet is such an amazing experience: though it requires a lot of effort and hard work, the results are worth each and every obstacle you face. Without cabinet, I wouldn't have had the courage to run for President nor would I have been able to get as involved as I currently am in Key Club. For those who applied, I wish you the best of luck and I hope you know that I am here if you EVER need anything! I cannot wait to see the 2017-2018 appointed board- I am so excited to meet the next generation of Key Club leaders! Continuing on, with appointed board interviews occurring in early March, that means that the 2016-2017 Banquet is coming up! I cordially invite you all to attend and I hope to see many of you there as we reflect on all the achievements we made during this term before we attend 2017 DCON in Anaheim! Come for a night filled with food, laughs, lots of tears (from the seniors), and much more! It's one night you truly do not want to miss as you will be surrounded by your Key Club ohana and will be able to relive the memorable moments that occurred throughout this term. Details and the venue location will be announced as soon as plans are finalized! As I reflect back on this term, I truly want to thank each of you for making my term as President incredibly memorable and filled with love. Though I may not have been the best President, I was surrounded by members who were and are truly dedicated towards bettering the surrounding communities and individuals who want to make a difference. Because of each and every one of you, we were able to break records and help impact so many lives throughout the term. I am so grateful to have met so many of you as you truly have made my senior year the best that it could ever be. Every time I get to talk to each of you, it brings a smile to my face as I am able to see how happy Key Club genuinely makes you. Though I could seriously write a novel about how blessed I am to have served an amazing club, I'll be saving it for banquet!
Shining with Service, Isabelle Lee
president’s message
¡editor’s note! Hello Key Clubbers, Can you believe it’s already February? Happy February Bees! This is the month of spreading love, so I hope you all take it amongst yourselves to be caring to everyone you meet - especially when serving your community! That being said, we recently had our club elections, where we voted for our 2017-2018 main board, and conclave, where we voted for our Division- 30 South Lieutenant Governor! You can see the results of these elections in this issue, but this board won’t be installed until District Convention in April! The 2016-2017 board is still in service till then, woop! Also, interviews for new officers will be coming up quickly. If you want to give back to your home club and promote character building, please think about running for an officer position! Best of luck! Thank you for a great year so far, and let’s end it as great as it’s always been!
Servin’ with Spirit,
Queena Hoang
How to Make A Graphic As the term comes to a close, cabinet applications for the next and upcoming term have already been submitted by those of you who are interested, and if you applied for the Historian and Tech Editor position, well then this article may be helpful! Even if you aren’t specifically applying for this position, you may also find this information useful for something else. First and foremost, when it comes to making a graphic, you want to make sure that YOU’RE the one making it. What I mean is don’t go looking around the internet looking for a premade graphic that you can take and call it yours; it’s a good thing to get inspiration from other graphic that you might see, but you never want to be copying. With that said, it doesn’t help to use a template to help you get started. Canva is a completely free online website that you can use to create graphics from start to finish. The website contains many templates that you can use to edit specific elements, and put your own creativity into it. Using a template and copying is different; it just is. Secondly, when it comes to making a graphic, you want to know what it is that you’re publicizing so that what you create has something to do with what it is you’re making. For example, when I was making a graphic for the Ice Skating Social, I looked for ice skating related photos. It wouldn’t make sense to put pictures of a rollercoaster in the background (that kind of background is more fitted for a Fall Rally South graphic). When and if you really can’t think of a background to use, then find a plain graphic with a pattern! Personally, I resort to a polygonal abstract background whenever this happens, but that’s just my style. While we’re on that topic, you want to have a certain style that you want people to see. Whenever you make a graphic, you want to have some similarity between what you create, but too many similarities within two graphics. An example of this is how for two certain graphics, I would have polygonal backgrounds, but the backgrounds and the fonts would be different. A goal that you can always aim for is to have someone see your work, and realize that you were its creator! I personally use Adobe Photoshop and occasionally Canva in order to make the graphics. I always keep in mind what it is that I’m making a graphic for, and with that in mind I find a background that I like. Then, I put the information that must go on the background, and I always try to keep as little text as possible. Afterwards, I put some finishing touches for more aesthetics, and I then export my finished product. I do hope that this little article was helpful for those of you who need it or were interested in applying for the Historian and Tech Editor position. And best of luck to everyone who applied for next term’s cabinet. //Jason Park
enjoy the little things.
Have a lot on your plate? Yeah, me too! But that doesn't mean you won't have time for anything else. It is important to give yourself breaks and to take a step away from everything, once in awhile. All it takes is some time management, and having the ability to enjoy yourself and the little things in life. Take opportunities to hangout with friends. If you’re available and you've been busy all week, find a friend and go out to eat or just have a good time. Take a break from studying and just relax. This will give you the chance to recollect yourself and not be stuck in a world full of numbers and letters. If you're in the middle of studying for a test, go grab a snack to eat to boost your energy. A quick nap of 20 minutes is also a great idea. Remember that life doesn't revolve around school and studying. There are many aspects of life that need to be enjoyed! Family outing? Go! Family is one of the most important parts of your life. They are your support system and the ones that love you the most. Go and spend time with them because by the time college and adulthood comes around, there won't be many other times where you can do that. And finally, give yourself some alone time too. It's always important to give yourself time to think, to relax, and some me time is good to process everything that has been happening. It is okay to take a few moments in your life just to breathe and think. Studying isn't all of life's adventures. No matter the importance of education, always remember about your loved ones surrounding you and enjoy the nature and small things that make a big difference in your life. //Justine Wu
stop loving yourself
From an early age, I was exposed to the harsh realities that many children in developing countries faced- mainly through my participation in church programs. Whenever I saw images of children with bloated stomachs and stick-skinny limbs, I would feel the urgent need to do all that I could do to provide assistance. At first, I started being more mindful of my own actions. I would make sure that I was not being wasteful with food. Then I began to influence my family, not letting anybody spend money on what I considered "unnecessary for survival." I would go as far as prohibiting other kids from throwing away their unfinished plates. I would spend my Sundays running around church, telling adults to donate their money and clothes. I not only felt the desire to help others, my soul needed to help others. In this generation, the media tells you to leave "toxic" people and to live for yourself because "you" and your agenda are all that matters. This deeply saddens me. How devaluing is it to label people "toxic" and then to say that it is better to leave them alone? I believe that our world is hurting greatly from this message. Think about your own life. You may think that you are not one of these people, but think harder. Most people strive for more power, money, and fame- "success" as they call it. Really think about it. What are the intentions behind your actions? Being promoted to a higher position? Gaining more material wealth? Stability? Happiness? Becoming more known? You tell me. The message I want to get across is simple: stop believing that you are more important than anybody else; love others by denying yourself, your needs, or better stated, your wants. Desire to add value to this world.
//Eunice Shim
what i love about key club Entering Whitney as a 7th grader, I was a shy, awkward girl who disliked being in the spotlight and had a semi-difficult time of making friends. And this continued on until the beginning of high school. I remember going to club rush and seeing over 30 clubs out with their posters and candy, trying to get people to sign up. Out of nowhere, I heard people yelling at the top of their lungs- curious, I peered over and saw 10 high schoolers smiling and having fun making a spectacle of themselves. I remember seeing the joy in their eyes and as I came over to their booth, I remember the friendly smiles each individual had and I decided to sign up just because of this and because it was a service organization. And I thank myself for making that decision. For many others, Key Club is another service organization that can be used on college applications. Key Club = service events = hours. For me, the equation is different. Key Club = family = service = unforgettable memories = happiness. Key Club has been my second family for years. It's more than just another organization; it's a collection of individuals who share the same passion and interest: making the world a better place through their service. This was the first and only club that truly made me feel like I was part of another family as the individuals I interacted with always were sweet and represented the four core values of Key Club. Through Key Club, I have been able to meet so many individuals who inspire and motivate me on a daily basis, met so many amazing community members through service events, got to impact my community, and make unforgettable memories with people who accept me for the awkward woman I am. Not only did Key Club allow me to get out of the Whitney bubble and meet more people, it also raised my self-confidence levels. As said before, I hated public speaking and never wanted to be in the center because I was afraid of making mistakes. Yet, Key Club taught me that mistakes are part of the learning process and that everyone makes mistakes- but that's okay. Through the opportunities at general meetings and service events of leading a group of amazing Key Clubbers, I was able to grow as a leader; I began to like public speaking and putting myself out there because the people I surrounded myself with were always so supportive. Key Club also taught me that age doesn't matter in wanting to impact the world. The organization told me that regardless of my age, if I had the passion, the drive, and the will to make an impact within my community as well as the world, I could achieve this. Before, I was always told that I was "too young" or not "mature enough" but through Key Club, it showed me that I could change my community and make it a better place by just going to a volunteer event. It taught me that a change - no matter how big or small - is still something to be proud of. Key Club has been such a huge part within my high school life- I wouldn't be who I am without Key Club. It was the first place I was able to find myself and find a group of people who I could always count on. And I hope that this organization will become another family to you and that you truly experience Key Club to the fullest because it has so much to offer. //Isabelle Lee
This time last year, I was honestly so torn up about applying for Key Club Cabinet. Despite the plethora of homework and tests and outside stressors in my life at the time, the question I found myself plaguing my mind half the time was if I could join the spirited, caring, and somewhat intimidating, Key Club Cabinet. “What if they think I’m too awkward and not what they’re looking for?” I asked myself as I prepared myself for my interview. Thoughts were racing through my head and my heart felt like it was ready to jump straight out of my chest. But, I managed to brace myself and get through the application experience in one piece. Now, as applications are emailed out, I can’t help but remember that terrified, somewhat inadequate feeling I felt around this time last year, and as the new term began too. I even went back to my cabinet application from last year, and I can’t help but feel that I’m almost a completely different person from the one who wrote the answers on the application, because being on cabinet this past year has given me so many lessons, experiences, and so much insight. So, for anyone curious about how being on a club cabinet teaches one to lead and really grow, for anyone applying to cabinet for next year who would like to see what’s in store for them, and for my own reflection, here are some things I’ve learned in the past year while serving as Historian/Tech Editor: Express my ideas: Part of leading is to voice your ideas when you have 1. them, and learning how to present them in a way that will lead to something actually being done. Don’t care about what others think, or what they will say, because the best projects start out as ideas with people who had the exact same worries of rejection. Asserting myself: This one goes kind of hand-in-hand with the first, but 2. assertiveness is definitely a department I’ve struggled with in the past. However, I learned to talk to people when I wanted something and when I noticed a problem (instead of passively suffering through, which I‘ve always done before this year). Ask for help: This one was pretty hard. Oftentimes however, admitting your 3. own faults and weaknesses is actually a strong quality, especially when you remember that what I’m doing affects others. So, I have worked and continue to work on swallowing my pride and being vulnerable, because I’ve learned that vulnerability is really a sign of courage. //Meghan Lee
letter to myself
over the term
The 16’-17’ term is sadly coming to an end but I am so thankful and happy to have been able to serve in this year’s cabinet. I was able to meet and get closer with several people who are also in cabinet and it is amazing to work with people that are so passionate about service as well. When preparing for big projects such as Project Eliminate, Unicef, or Operation Christmas, not only was I able to gain knowledge about the many charities we support and how we put together the drives but I was able to see why Key Club makes so much of an impact not only in the community but in my everyday life. When volunteering, I am filled with joy and there is always a smile on my face whether it be cheering marathon runners on or shivering through the freezing temperatures at the Rose Float decorating activity. The people around me and the environment Key Club always is so cheery and it has helped me to be a more bright and positive person. Overall, it has been such a rewarding experience and I encourage everyone to apply for cabinet or get more involved within our club as a general member because you will create unforgettable experiences.
//Kiana Hernandez
Recently, Whitney Key Club got a chance to volunteer at the Great Chocolate Race in Long Beach. I went along with my friends and all in all, it was a good experience! Our shifts started at 5 am and ended at 10 am. The volunteers were divided up into water helpers to course directors. I got to be a course director. We stood on a part of the course and directed the runners. It was great to see the motivation on the runner’s faces and cheering them on. It even inspired me to sign up for fun runs myself! Fun runs are a great place to volunteer and a great activity that I encourage everyone to sign up for. So next time there is a fun run, I definitely stress to either volunteer or sign up at one! //Ankita Morari
—-the great chocolate race—-
Cerritos Elementary Educational Foundation
One of our past events was the Cerritos Elementary Educational Foundation Musical, which took place at Cerritos Elementary. Our volunteers were asked to be there for four days out of that week, and help with various things: lighting, microphones, costumes, props, scene changes, and supervising the cast. For me, I decided to sign up because it wasn’t typical volunteer work - I think it was the only event that was a musical this year - and I always wanted the experience of working backstage! On the first day, the director, Patrick, had us sit and watch the characters run through their lines so that we could get a feel of what it was about, and when things needed to be done. The cast consisted of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, and they were all so cute. Their musical was called “Honk!” and was about a mother duck named Ida who somehow had a swan egg in her nest. When it hatched, the chick did not look like the other ducks, and so, he was nicknamed Ugly. Throughout the story, Ugly gets lost and is in danger of being eaten by the Cat, sheds his coat into his white swan feathers, and finds his mom again. For the two following days, volunteers helped with the tasks needed and made sure that the cast stayed quiet backstage while characters were performing onstage. The following Saturday was the performance day, in which volunteers made sure everything ran smoothly! Volunteering at this event made me realize how involved these kids are and how they seemed so mature as a result of it. Through these types of performances, they learned the basics of acting and singing, of course, but they also learned other important skills, like how to portray self-confidence in front of a large audience, how to talk to adults respectfully, how to work with their peers efficiently, and how to react and respond when put in unexpected situations, like if a character forgets a line or doesn’t make their entrance. Seeing these little kids work so effectively and communicate with the director in such a mature way made me think - huh, I don’t remember being that mature when I was in elementary school. I also don’t remember ever putting myself out there like that when I was younger - I only came out of my shell once I joined Key Club and started forcing myself to talk to people I didn’t know! In this way, I admired them so much and this experience refreshed the thought in my mind that you will only grow as a person faster if you put yourself in uncomfortable situations. :-) I have such respect for performers of any kind. //Caitlyn Saw
key club photography tips
One of the reasons why Key Club is so well known is the publicity. Everywhere you look around the school, during any time of the year, there is always some sort of Key Club publicity going on, whether it be for a fundraiser or drive we’re participating in, elections, a food sale, or even just information flyers about a project we’re participating in. Even if there’s nothing going on, we always have our club wall, which always stays updated thanks to our amazing Directors of Publicity (Kiana Hernandez and Kyla Basiana). Though there’s a lot of publicity at school, there’s a lot of publicity OUTSIDE of school to, in the form of social media and people posting about Key Club events. Whether your favorite social media be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or even Snapchat, here are some tips and tricks to score that perfect Key Club photo, to show each and every one of your friends why Key Club is such an AMAZING organization.
Tip #1) Use a quality camera. No, it doesn’t have to be a fancy DSLR, because honestly, smartphone pictures these days are actually really high quality. If you don’t happen to have a nice camera on you, ask a friend to take a picture of you! Don’t be afraid to ask a Key Club stranger either. Trust me. We don’t bite ☺
Tip #2) Focus on the subject! When taking your picture, or when having a photo taken of you, you want to make sure your subject mater is in focus. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the subject has to be in the center of the shot, but center shots never fail me. On an iPhone, you can tap on the screen to focus on a certain area. Additionally, if you want to adjust brightness before taking the picture, just tap the area of focus again, and when you see a little Sun (YES D30S) pop up on the side, you can slide your finger up and down to adjust the brightness.
Tip #3) Location. Key Club events are usually held at pretty cool places anyways, so location isn’t a hard tip to take. Location is important because although the background of your photo is just the background, it does add to the aesthetics. I think some of the coolest Key Club pictures have natural setting backgrounds, or have a background filled with other Key Clubbers (best achievable at events like FRS and DCON because everyone will be decked out in Spirit Gear!! Tip #4) All pictures are good pictures. I know, hard to believe, and even I have a hard time remembering this. But hey, you’re at a Key Club event and you’re doing what you love. Who cares how derpy your face looks? No one. Because we’re all in the same boat as you!! I hope you enjoyed these tips and tricks! Hope to see some cool Key Club pictures up soon! //Kristina Theam
Valentine’s Day Shoutouts
To: QUEENA!! <3 From: ISABELLE :-), 12th grader Seeing you grow this past year has truly been such a blessing and seeing your newsletters grow so much (they're beautiful pls go for division news editor im begging LOL) has been truly heartwarming! you are such an enthusiastic, beautiful, sweet, and kindhearted person and your positivity truly inspires me!! i love you so much and getting to know you this past year has been such an amazing gift!! <3 Thank you for everything you've done. Extra Words: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
To: My Key Club Cabinet & the Club From: Isabelle Lee :-) To Key Club Cabinet, thank you for sticking with me this past year. I know there were times when all of you were tired and times when it was hard to handle both academics, Key Club, and your social life. But thank you so much for sticking with me through the ups and the downs. Getting to see each of you grow this past year has truly been one of the best moments of my life and getting to get closer with you all is something I am so grateful for. Thank you for your love, and for always being there for me through the ups & the downs. I might not have been the best president I could be, but thank you for loving me :') This past term has been something I will never be able to forget because of all of you. I love you all To my club members, thank you for everything you've done for the club and the community. Without each of you, there would be no club. All of you are so vital and so needed in our club because without you, we are nothing. So thank you, thank you for waking up at 5am sometimes or staying out until midnight to volunteer. Thank you for giving back to your community when you could be doing many other things, especially coming from such a rigorous school like Whitney. Each and everyone of you have truly impacted my life & inspired me to be the best I can be. So thank you for always volunteering and serving the community with a smile. Being in this club was the best decision I made as a freshman and I hope that each of you have loved your Key Club journey as much as I have loved mine. I love you all <3
To: Manav Gandhi, 12th grader From: Anonymous I know we've been great friends for a while, and to be honest, I've always thought you were kinda cute. Let's hang out more and see where it goes! :) You are such a crazy good dancer and I'd really like the chance to get to know you on a deeper level! Extra Words: You're so cute and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to be even better friends but that's okay if you're not looking for anything too serious! Let's just talk more!
To: Casey Chu, 12th grader From: Cody, 12th grader CASEY!!!! OMG that one day I took the pictures for you was so great! You are so talented and smart. You're literally one of the funniest people I know and I'm so happy my sister is besties with you! Stay slaying! <3 Extra Words: :) XD
To: Ethan Matt Xu, 10th grader From: Tenth Grade Friend Ethan, you were such an amazing candidate for VP! I know you may be disheartened or discouraged, but I know one day all your efforts will pay off. I am so proud of how much time and passion you put into this club. You worked your butt off for ALL 14 schools in our DIVISION as executive assistant, and that should NOT go unrecognized! Good luck in whatever you do! :)
To: Rhea Raman, 9th grader From: Anonymous You are a really sweet person, and you always make me smile.
To: Alyssa Menjivar, 9th grader From: Anonymous You are so loved! :)
To: Bala Thenappan, 12th grader From: Shreya Gupta, 11th grader Thanks for always being there for me and I hope we can get that Dosa soon!
To: Lesli Chaidez From: Anonymous Happy Late Valentine's Day! You honestly have a great personality and you're beautiful! Keep smiling!
To: Joshua Garcia, 9th grader From: Alvin Lim, 10th grader Thanks for being a great volunteer buddy for all this time. It's thanks to cool people like you that I enjoy Key Club so much and have such a great passion for it so I, to put in simply, appreciate your existence. <3 ( ° ͡ ʖ͜ ° ͡ )
To: Joshua Garcia, 9th grader From: Anonymous Thanks for always brightening up my day and being an amazing friend! I <3 you Josh!
To: My DoF's! From: Eunice Shim, 12th grader Hey guys! You two have been such great leaders and I'm so proud of your work! You deserve all my praise! Thank you so much for taking initiative in all that you have done this past term + I wish you all the luck you'll need for next year. Keep on keeping on! With much love.
At what point did you realize Key Club was like family? This year was my first time attending the 12-hour Lock-In, and some of my friends who were planning on attending decided to drop the event at the last minute, so I thought that I would be lonely throughout the day. I came a little late, so it felt really awkward to me when I walked in, but when the icebreakers began I felt myself getting more and more comfortable with everyone. Half way through the day, I had opened up to many people and I was having so much fun doing the various activities! Even the cabinet members seemed very approachable to me! When the day had ended, I had made many new friends, and became very relaxed in the presence of the club members. I didn't think that I would have such a great experience at the Lock-In, but I did, and it's thanks to all the Key Club members. They made feel welcomed and loved, and I am so happy and grateful to be part of this Ohana!
Huge congratulations to 10th grader Hana Patel for having the most BUZZIN response!
WANT TO SEND Want to be featured here? Send your article to bulletin editor Queena Hoang (AKA me) at queenaqhoang@gmail.com! Tell us your “Key Club Story,” “what Key Club means to you,” anything to related to Key Club, or simply advice and/or tips for our club! Maybe you’ll see your article in the next newsletter!
AN ARTICLE IN?