Salutations Key Clubbers!!! With so many service opportunities heading our way, get ready for some event filled newsletters! I’m so excited to see of all you AMAZING members participate in service events. At this rate, I’m more than positive you’ll finish your hours by January. With the fall time ahead and its hectic schedule, I hope that you are all taking care of yourselves and maintaining that balance between Key Club and other priorities. When the new members and returners assembled for the first meeting, I was tremendously surprised at the GREAT turnout! You guys rock! But don't forget to consistently come out to fun events. Also, Fall Rally South is quickly approaching! Fall Rally is a wonderful event where you spend your day at Six Flags, meeting other Key Clubbers. WOW!! New friends? This is an event you don’t want to miss, trust me. I’d also like to remind everyone reading that school is tough, but it is only just the beginning. Give it your all! Remember it isn’t about how you start, but rather how you end. It might not feel like Key Club is your family YET, but just know that we genuinely are ALL here for you! Signing out!!! :-) Servin’ with Spirit, Queena Hoang
Presidents Message
Hello, SUNny Key Clubbers!
Congratulations on finishing your FIRST quarter of the school year! I hope that your quarter finals went well and if they did not, it's totally okay! You are much more than a number and please know that one grade will not be the end of your life! Also, a huge thank you to all the 160+ members who turned their Key Club dues on time; however, if you did not, make sure to watch out for our 2nd wave of dues coming soon which you will hear over Facebook, Instagram, and email! This past month, our club had participated in a variety of both old and new events including of the Shalom Project. AYSO 54 Banner Day, Buena Park Nursing Center Decoration, and much more. Thank you to all of the 19 members who came out to October DCM | Region Training Conference where our club was able to receive 3rd Shining Club of the Month! A huge congratulations to all of the members who volunteered this past month as you have truly impacted our community. Thank you to everyone who read all our posts about PTP (Pediatric Trauma Program Week) from October 17-21st and we hope that you were able to learn more about PTP week. Thank you to everyone who came out to our food sale and bought apple pie/ice cream as your donations will help the Eliminate Project! Finally, thank you to everyone who donated or was a homeroom representative for our annual UNICEF Trick or Treat Drive. Thank YOU for always being so kind and generous! Here are a few upcoming events and reminders! Key Club Week is happening from November 7th to 11th! If you do not know what Key Club week is, make sure to read about it in this newsletter. Fall Rally South is happening on November 12th and I am SO EXCITED for all the members attending FRS. It's definitely one of the highlights of my Key Club year. Also this month, we'll be having many volunteer events so make sure to keep an eye on your emails. Make sure to watch out for our November General Meeting where we will be having a small service project (you will be able to earn hours)! As December comes along, our annual Operation Christmas drive will be taking place so make sure to watch out this month for posts from our Vice President, Danielle Lee! As Thanksgiving is also this month, I wanted to thank all of you for always being such amazing members that I have the honor of serving. Every day, I am continuously inspired to see how all of you are such dedicated members who strive to help make the community better through your service. From waking up early to attend a food bank or spending hours at a volunteer service event, I am so blessed to be able to serve such kind, genuine, and sweet individuals. Thank you for always brightening up my day. And as a reminder, please remember that you are loved, needed, and cared for! If you ever need assistance, advice, or anything, I am always here for you.
Shining with Service, Isabelle Lee Key Club President ‘16-’17
REGION 3 TRAINING CONFERENCE
I’d have to say, out of all the multi-school events in Key Club, this year’s RTC would have to be the most fun. The workshops were so fun and overall it just made me more passionate about Key Club. Walking out of RTC, I wanted to do so much more for Key Club and it’s all because of RTC. It’s a great way to get exposure to what Key Club is really all about. With the many different workshops, it also inspires people to try new things/ learn new things. I attended a graphic design workshop because that’s what I was interested in, and I learnt so many cool tips and tricks. Another workshop I attended was the “how to plan my summer” workshop. That one really made me excited to get out and start doing more things. I HIGHLY recommend attending an RTC. You get so much out of it; you get advice from high schoolers just like you so they can give reasonable advice having understood all the stress we go through, you get to learn and go even deeper to know about Key Club, and of course, it’s all about meeting new people. A whole region attends this conference so there is ampel amount of people that you’ll have the chance if you attend. So stay tuned because the next RTC isn’t far away, it’s a mustattend in my opinion. Have and sunny day and good luck to everyone with those first quarter comps! //Ankita Morari
The October DCM for Key Club was the Region 3 Officer Training Conference. It was one of the most amazing DCMs that I have ever been to because of the numerous amounts of information that I was able to obtain and the number of people I was able to meet. DCM stands for Division Council Meeting, and that is the time when the the whole division comes together to talk about different things such as past division events, new events and activities for the future, and to do service together. DCMs give Key Clubbers the opportunity to meet people from other schools, and learn so many new things about Key Club, service, and other important life lessons. The October DCM was such an insightful experience for me and for many of my other friends and fellow Key Clubbers. Arriving at the DCM, we started out with a service activity which involved making dog toys out of old shirts and also writing cards for Veterans. Then, we were sent to get multiple slices of pizza and some water and head back to discuss about the events and upcoming events in our division. Afterwards, the region came together, and bonding over our love for service and volunteering, we cheered and did our spirit chants and a few ice breakers too. One of the best parts of the whole DCM was the workshops that they offered to all the Key Clubbers who attended the DCM. The workshops that I attended were How to be a Secretary, How to Live on a College Budget, How to Apply for Colleges, and last but not least, CNH Scholarships. All these workshops were not only beneficial for Key Clubbers, but it was also very helpful for future college life, and along the way, I even got the chance to learn about how Key Club offers many scholarships. At the Officer Training Conference, I met new friends, I learned so much, and I was able to bond with many of the people from Whitney Key Club and Region 3, in general. As a result, I encourage everyone to attend DCMs if they receive the chance because they may be surprised at all the fun that will encounter! Although the hours may seem long, DCMs never disappoint. Last year, I attended a DCM where I was able to work alongside other Key Clubbers to make blankets to donate and to do other service projects. It motivated me to continue volunteering in Key Club because I was truly able to see what being a part of the club was all about. Going to a DCM may be the start of your journey in Key Club, just like it was mine! //Justine Wu
OCTOBER DCM
On October 8th, Key Clubbers from all over 7 different divisions that make up Region 3 joined together in order to learn more about what Key Club is and how we should serve as the CNH Busy Bees. The training conference started with a service project that involved either writing cards to the veterans who were serving our country, or making dog toys to donate. While all kinds of Key Clubbers waited for the last people to be registered and sent to make dog toys or write letters, the lieutenant governors were preparing themselves to welcome all of Region 3 to this well planned and carefully thought out region training conference. At the opening session, all the people who attended were greeted, and more topics were covered. Icebreakers ensued, and the schedule of the workshops available was given to us in a pamphlet. Key Clubbers were given the option to go to various workshops, and each Key Clubber was allowed to attend 4 workshops. There were a variety of workshops, ranging from Public Speaking, How to Bee and Effective Leader, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer Workshops, to name just a few. After the ending of the opening session, Key Clubbers began to go to the workshops that they wanted to go to. I first attended the how to bee a leader workshop hosted by Division 30 South’s Lieutenant Governor: Kelly Tran. In that workshop, the people who attended were given helpful information on how to, well as the name of the workshop suggests, be a good and effective leader. By giving a lecture and giving the attendees an activity, I feel as if many were able to gain valuable information from that workshop. The next workshop that I attended was the publicity workshop hosted by Kelly also. In this workshop, my goal was to reinforce what I had already learned about publicity and making the graphics to do so. I know that for many, that workshop was helpful and was applicable to more than just Key Club. The third workshop what I attended was the Public Speaking workshop hosted by the Division 4 West Lieutenant Governor Frank Le. In this workshop, I learned about posture, voice, and appearance. Although the workshop was a bit of what some would know as a clown fiesta, it was informational. The final workshop I attended was the President’s workshop hosted by Whitney’s very own president Isabelle Lee. In this workshop, she talked about various topics and gave a plethora of information to Key Clubbers who were already presidents and to members who were hoping to become one themselves in the future. After all of the workshops had ended, the ending session was held, where thanks were given, and some more icebreakers were led. The event overall was very informational, and it was a really good chance to get to know more about specific duties or general things like information on college and financial aid. I believe that Region Training Conference was an event that many should go to if one wishes to learn more about how to serve. //Jason Park
In this event we helped the Cerritos sheriff’s station on being apart of the haunted jail cell at their annual Haunted Jail Event! There were volunteers from key club and volunteering group within Cerritos helping out. When we get there we are asked what design we wanted on our face to be “scary” as well as costumes that were provided. I chose to be Frankenstein's monster while other chose to be clowns, bloody nurses, and special effects were put on people’s faces. The painters did a really great job despite some not having a lot experience with face painting or just starting out! The event was held from 3-9 and in that time the volunteers were all assigned where to go in the haunted jailcell and to scare away each group that comes by. Throughout the jail cell there were decorations that had a creepy science lab, bloody shower room, clown infested rooms, and creepy dolls! This event didn't have just a haunted house but a car show where people get to vote which one was the best overall, two jumpers for little kids, a costume contest, food, and many more activities! This event really brought our scary side by jumping and screaming at people, I definitely recommend this event for next year if you're interested in “scaring” children and your favorite holiday is Halloween; you get lots of perks like free food, amazing makeup affects, new people to talk to, and get behind the scenes of how they do things around the station!
//Kyla Basiana
Hi, all you sunny Key Clubbers! I know there are other articles that talk about destressing for school and whatnot, but, to me, it’s not only important but ESSENTIAL that you are maintaining your mental and physical health during comp season. I know the feeling of being constantly drained of energy, and especially at a school with so much competition, it’s hard to feel like you are enough. Hopefully with these tips, you can become a happier person! :-)
1. Ask for help when you need it. Don’t spend two hours working on a math question when you could have asked a friend for help. I know it makes you feel accomplished to finish something on your own, but you have to think about what is more efficient - asking for help and still understanding how to do the problem in a short time, or understanding the problem after a long period of time with nothing else done. 2. Take breaks. It’s easy to forget to go to the bathroom or even take a drink of water when you’re cramming for tests. Make sure to stay hydrated and EAT or else you’ll be surprised at how much you are unaware of the day after (when you’re sleepy and tired). 3. Take a nap if you need to. Make sure they’re short naps - a good amount of time to nap for would be around 15 minutes. Anything longer than that may make you even groggier and tired, so something useful to do would be to have your friend or parent wake you up. Don’t force yourself to study when you’re falling asleep while reading your notes. To study efficiently, you have to be in the ZONE. 4. Speaking of studying in the zone, play some YOGA MUSIC while you study. I started doing this recently and, honestly, it is revolutionary. White noise and background music helps me stay focused because I feel like when it’s too quiet, my mind tends to wander too much. There’s plenty of relaxation and meditation music that’s great for study sessions. You can even search up “rain” on YouTube for background noise when you study. Also make sure that whatever you’re listening to has no words - when you listen to a song you know or a song with words, it’s hard to read the pages in your textbook at the same time. 5. Talk to someone if you can’t handle it. Ranting to a friend or your parent about how stressed you are can relieve your stress and, afterwards, make you feel more focused because you have those angry and flustered thoughts out of your mind. Always remember that your Key Club ohana is there for you at ALL TIMES (literally - most of us sleep really late) and never be afraid to randomly message one of us. Even if we don’t know you well, we can get to know you, and we’re still here to help you and will always be friendly and open to everyone. I hope this helped you feel somewhat better during this stressful time! :-) We are all going through our own battles, so remember that you are not alone in this. Good luck on comps and I believe that all of you will do well - if not, reflect on how you can do better (you can even talk to an upperclassman and ask for study tips!) and know that life has better things in store for you. Happy comp week! //Caitlyn Saw
HOW TO DESTRESS BEFORE AND AFTER COMPS
How Key Club Made the CERT Training Event a Success This past month, your Whitney High School Key Clubbers volunteered at the Cerritos Police Station to be apart of the Community Emergency Response Training event. Volunteers helped act the roles of victims who have suffered from injuries to do disaster scenes, such as an earthquake or fire. Our key club members were able to truly act the part and received complimentary makeup that depicted the results of scenarios such as fractured bones or severe burns. We got to choose the specific injuries we wanted from a list of card options, each being unique, and then went to our make up artist who designed our “injuries”. I personally choose to a compound fracture to the leg, which meant I had broken my leg and my bone was sticking out! I was amazed by how easy, yet lifelike they were able to create the injury. First, she used a mixture of vaseline and corn starch which acted as the skin around the bone. Next, she used a styrofoam peanut to act as the bone and placed that on top of the vaseline mixture. Then, she applied a variety of makeup techniques to make the coloration seem as real as possible, like using a mix of red and blue eyeshadow. Finalizing her masterpiece, she applied a generous amount of fake blood to enhance the severity of what an actual episode may entail. After our makeup was done, this was when we were able to put our acting abilities to good use. We walked over the civic center lobby room and basically attempted to convert the space into a post-earthquake mess. We flipped over coaches, tipped over signs, and scattered debris throughout the floor. After creating the best “worst” scene possible, we were told to scream in pain and cry for help. At first I was a little skeptical but soon enough we realized this imitated the chaos of what a real event may look like. All of us had a good time and learned a brief overview of the different procedures that a community response team must perform in an emergency scenario. We all shared several laughs and to wrap up a day of fun and makeup, the CERT trainees thanked us for our [participation and we were rewarded with pizza and drinks for our jobs well done! I highly recommend everyone being apart of this event the next time they show up because not only is the event a truly fun experience but typically they occur right here in Cerritos. Offering a local and informative volunteering opportunity, CERT Training was fun and fulfilling experience. //Justin Hogenauer
If anyone asks, I’m not an artist. My drawings are a feeble attempt at best, and in a competition would win a participation award, if any. Sure, I put in a lot of effort, a lot of which is to no avail, most of my end products looking like they were handcrafted by one half my age. All the while, I still had high hopes for the Halloween Decoration Making activity for the Buena Park Nursing Center. Whitney Key Club usually holds activities to create decorations for the nursing center during holiday seasons, so that we can spread some spirit and uplift the mood at the nursing center during these next couple weeks. We set up all the supplies in Senior Square, found the shadiest spot under the tree, and began to work. Through this event, I got to meet plenty of new freshmen in our club as well as interact with returning members, and it was truly inspiring to see them want to work on crafts for the nursing center. The Halloween Decoration Making activity from last year was one of my first events that I attended during the school year (I had been to a couple already over that summer), but this was one of the first times I saw the entire club, cabinet and members alike, all in one place and working together and interacting as one big family. This year at the event, the freshmen volunteers spoke about Key Club and the Key Club events they had been to since joining a month ago, and it was amazing to see all of this happen through the eyes of an older student, since last year, I was still a freshman. Being able to plan and run the first or one of the first events in the Key Club path of these freshmen was a lot of pressure but also an unforgettable experience, because I remember that one of the things I first noticed about Key Club and found refreshing, was the kindness and inclusivity of the people and how organized the entire club was, and I was hoping to recreate that feeling I felt, at this event. Even though none of us may have been considered amazing artists, we all put 100% into what we were making, and that really showed through the creativity and vibe of a lot of the decorations. Lots of what we were able to create astounded me, what with our limited supplies of a few dozen sheets of construction paper, a stick of glue, roll of tape, a bag of markers, and a pair of scissors. However, after an hour and a half of crafting and talking, we were left with a pile of signs saying “Happy Halloween,” and cutouts of ghosts, pumpkins, mummies, spiders, and candies, and I couldn’t have been prouder. //Meghan Lee
As October DCM | Region 3 Training Conference took place on October 8th, those who attended were able to get a deeper understanding of what Key Club is, learn about future club positions, and much more. For those who were unable to attend, Key Club week is a week that truly allows members to learn more about Key Club as each day has something special entailed that relates to Key Club whether it be a service project or spreading awareness about Key Club and its core values/main messages within your community. 
 Starting off Key Club Week, Monday (November 7th) is known as "Show your K in Every Way." This day is used to spread awareness about Key Club by dressing up in Key Club shirts or wearing a blue/yellow colored shirt. On Monday, some of our cabinet members will be going on Whitney HS Live to talk about Key Club week and you will be able to learn about how you can partake in this week while also learning fun facts about Key Club (ex: did you know Key Club was originally an all-boys club?) On Tuesday (November 8th), this day is known as "Kudos to the Key Players." We'll be having something special for all the members this day but more information will be announced as Key Club week comes closer. This day is a way to thank all of YOU for playing such a huge role in helping our community throughout the past few months, years, and much more. Members are the top of our Key Club hierarchy and we hope you know that! Wednesday (November 9th) is known as "Dare to Care" where we'll be focusing as a cabinet on publicizing about the three different preferred charities (UNICEF, March of Dimes, and Children's Miracle Network) and talking about service projects each year that are associated with these charities. Our general meeting may be on this date and if it is, we'll also be having a service project where you can earn hours while also participating in our general meeting. If not, we will be hosting a service project during lunch or afterschool in a teacher's room where you will be making cards for our Kiwanis family! . Thursday (November 10th) is known as "Random Acts of Kindness." Small acts such as a smile to a stranger, thanking a teacher, holding a door open for other students within Whitney definitely can make someone's day a lot brighter. Our challenge to you as a cabinet is to participate in one random act of kindness as you never know how much of an impact it'll have on another. Friday (November 11th) is "Connect the Ks." Connect the Ks is a day where we connect with the Kiwanis Family which include of K-kids (elementary students), Builder's Club (middle school), Key Club (high schoolers), Aktion Club (adults with disabilities), Circle K (college), and Kiwanis (adults/elders) Spirit Session #3 for Fall Rally South will be taking place at Cypress HS from 5:00-8:00PM! Most of the schools in Division 30 South will be attending so this is a GREAT way to connect with the Kiwanis family as there will be Kiwanians as well as Key Clubbers! Happy Key Club week Key Clubbers! I hope you are ready for all the excitement and fun that will be happening this week! Please let me know if you have any questions! :-) Stay shining! //Isabelle Lee
what i’m thankful for ….
kiana hernandez
What I'm thankful for
It's almost November and Thanksgiving is right around the corner! This is the best time of the year and it's when I realize all that I have and am so grateful for. I realize that I shouldn't be dreading the mornings I have to drag myself to school because I'm lucky to have to opportunity to get an education. I might be grumpy and angry the moment my alarm rings but I am so lucky to see a new day. I am thankful for my family who is always by my side no matter how annoying my siblings might get. I'm especially thankful for my parents who do all that they can to support their kids and love all of us unconditionally. I am so grateful to have the friends I have because they can always find a way to make me laugh no matter what mood I am in. I am so happy to have food always on my table or clean water because there are thousands that wish to have the same. I realize that I have a bed to sleep in and a roof over my bed when someone might only have a blanket outside under a tree. When it’s cold outside, I shouldn’t be complaining but rather fortunate when there are others to not have enough clothes. I am happy to have a way that everyone can express ourselves and art because the world would be less beautiful if it didn’t exist. I am so grateful for dogs, which may sound silly, but they really do make me smile and can change anyones mood to a more positive one in seconds. It’s really important to take a step back, see what you take for granted, and truly be content with what you have. This month, I’ll definitely be grateful for what I have and give back to those who are less fortunate.
One of the best parts of the holidays is being able to do all the fun DIY ideas! One idea can be put in your home or room to remind you of all the things you should be grateful for. First, get a cork board and cut out leaves in yellow, red, and brown. At the top of the board, pin a paper saying “Things we are grateful for”. Leave it in your family room or living room with pens and the paper leaves. It’s such a great reminder and you’ll always be able to read and post on it in your house. Another simple thing to put around your house can be leaves or candles. Candles always make the house or your room feel very festive! Although pumpkins may be thought of for halloween, they do look very nice around thanksgiving time because the orange screams autumn. Candy always makes people smile and something great for you or your guests can be thanksgiving snacks such as candy corn, rice krispies, or cake pops out on the table. They are fun to make and look very nice. These ideas are very fun to do and easy to make with friends or family. Hope you have fun with all the crafting you can do this month and happy holidays! //Kiana Hernandez
THANKSGIVING DIY
korean american festival.
Throughout the span of 3 days, the Korean American Festival was held in Garden Grove. The event coordinators of the event have done previous festivals where they join another ethnicity group in Garden Grove in order to host somewhat of a business expo where many businesses can promote good business as well as familiarize themselves with the people who lived in the area. There was, however, one issue with the whole event. The event coordinator had misunderstood that there were going to be multiple shifts where volunteers would be coming in and out while some others stayed. They had a system where volunteers would wear red shirts so that the coordinator, when walking around, could see whoever was a volunteer and who wasn’t. The only issue was that although they bought a large amount of shirts, those shirts ran out within the first shift of the event on Sunday, when I attended. While in the room waiting for something to help with, the event coordinators suddenly asked everyone to sign out and just go home immediately. Here was where the miscommunication lay. The coordinator didn’t realize that people would be leaving and after be replaced by other volunteers; but because there were no more shirts, people were just told to go home. Even though I got the last shirt myself, I was still asked to leave and sign out. What was controversial was that the coordinator said that she would give everyone hours for being told to go home. What was even more controversial was that some people took up on the offer and called their rides, while others were very confused as to what to do; we all knew that we couldn’t reason with her because she was not willing to listen or reason with any of us, and there was no way that we would be recognized. I was discussing with someone what all the Key Clubbers should do, when another coordinator asked for help from the person I was talking to. I noticed that things were getting quite awkward because of the language barrier, and in deciding to end the awkwardness, I translated what they were trying to say to one another. Turns out that I was able to volunteer that day because I knew how to speak Korean. During the event itself, I spent most of my time volunteering with Katella key clubbers, and I got to know many of them better. For a majority of the event, it was helping out at the game booths and making sure that we allowed people to play the games should they come by to play them. I also helped set up the stage with other volunteers for the various performances that were going on at the time. Throughout the many hours that I stayed at the event that day, there weren’t too many people who came around to the game booths, and the people who came were adults looking for businesses who were promoting their goods, meaning I got to talk and get to know the people that I was volunteering with. The event itself was controversial in that some people may have gotten hours for not doing anything, but for the people who did volunteer, it was a fun experience for all who attended. //Jason Park
Plain simple truth: some days are just hard. On those days, it seems like everything finds a way to pile up, and sooner or later, you feel like there's a heap of bricks on your shoulders weighing down on you. Sometimes, it seems like these days will never cease. Day after day after day after days end are a burden, and you suddenly forget what it was like to enjoy life. Sometimes, it seems like you're alone. Everybody else is fine, and you feel like you're the only one drowning. Sometimes, it seems as if you're running dry. There's only so much of you left to offer. You're exhausted from running. You're tired of feeling like you're going nowhere. And at one point, you ask yourself: Why is it that I feel like I'm doing things just for the sake of doing them? Why is it that I feel so empty? Why is it that I feel so alone when there are so many people around me? Why is it that I'm so helpless? Why can't I do better? And at that point, I answer: Dear beautiful soul, you feel like you're doing things just for the sake of doing them because you are blinded by the struggle. Once you refocus, you will remember why you started what you have. Dear friend, you feel so empty because you haven't taken the time to notice and applaud your progress. You've taken so much of your energy fighting to reach a destination, that you forgot how far you've traveled. Dear kindred spirit, you feel so alone because you have not become vulnerable. You feel like you need to keep your problems inside because
everybody seems to be fine. You wallow in your pain and soon find yourself suffering. But dear child, you are not helpless, you have people who are wanting to help. Don't ask yourself why you can't do better. You are doing fine the way you are. You have accomplished a great feat just by getting to where you are now. Although you may feel pain, let me tell you that there is no need to suffer. Realize that the hard days are not what define you. Sometimes, it may feel like these days will never cease. But they will cease. Sometimes, it may feel like you're alone. But you're not alone. Sometimes, it may feel like you're running dry. And that's when you need to remind yourself that you're only human. So I guess what I'm trying to say is to never give up because of how things seem to be...because things will always seem to be.
THE HARD DAYS Written by: Eunice Shim
authenticity Shel Silverstein is a renowned artist most known for his poems, and "Masks" is one I adore very much. It goes, "She had blue skin, And so did he. He kept it hid And so did she. They searched for blue Their whole life through, Then passed right byAnd never knew." Why do I bring this up? I bring this up because I think so many of us are losing our authenticity. Such a great deal of people conform and adapt to what others think is cool or acceptable in fear of losing approval from our peers, especially so with teenagers. But in doing so, we fail to realize that the world loses its value when we pretend to be somebody else. By disguising our bonafide selves with masks, we wander, never recognizing that we pass what we search for, simply because we are not being transparent. So do yourself and others a favor by being you in your truest and unfiltered self! //Eunice Shim
DONATE
This upcoming week, from October 24th to October 31st, Whitney High School will be having our annual UNICEF Drive for MNT! I’m sure you’ve heard of MNT and the UNICEF Drive by now, so I won’t delve too deeply about those. However, here are a few reasons why you should donate when that bright orange box passes by you in homeroom. 1) YOU have the ability to save lives. Not just one, but many. All it takes is $1.80 to provide for 3 shots, each costing $0.60, for a mother. These 3 shots will protect a mother for the rest of her life, and will prevent all of her future children from getting the horrible, excruciatingly painful disease that is Maternal Neonatal Tetanus. When do we ever get to ability to be proactive in terms of saving lives? Of course, there are plenty of opportunities when you go out and look for them, but this chance is one you can take every day for a week in your homeroom. 2) We’re fortunate to not suffer from MNT. Each of every one of us are able to live the lives we have now because we didn’t die from MNT. MNT is painful, and we wouldn’t be where we are today if we had it. We have the resources to help other people and help prevent them from developing MNT. We should pay it forward. Why should we be bystanders and just watch people suffer when we had the power to prevent the suffering from happening in the first place? I personally would feel guilty every time that box passed by and I knew I didn’t donate at all. Of course, not everyone has the resources to donate, but this message is for those of you who can, but don’t.
why donate? 3) Helping others makes you feel good. I mean, when does it not. When you put some spare change into that box that goes by, you can’t help but feel good for the rest of the day. When you’re feeling down, or just want a pick-me-up, donating is honestly a great way to do just that. When you feel down, whenever you do, I know it helps a lot to remember that you donated and you’re helping to save lives. 4) Caring is our way of life!! They Key Club motto!! Even if you’re not in Key Club, making caring your way of life is a great mantra to live by. The world is tough place to live in, but sending a smile down someone’s way will make his or her day brighter. We can all make a difference, no matter how small, and you honestly have no idea how far a little gesture will go. When that little bright orange box goes around, I implore you, think before you pass it down. It’s worth it to donate. It’s worth it to spread word about such a worthy cause. We really can make a difference. //Kristina Theam
With Project Eliminate, Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. Neonatal tetanus kills one baby every 11 minutes—nearly 49,000 newborn children every year. A significant number of women also die due to maternal tetanus. The effects of the disease are excruciating—tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and extreme sensitivity to light and touch. To eliminate MNT from the Earth, 129 million mothers and their future babies must be immunized. This requires vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, thousands of skilled staff and more. It will take $110 million— and the dedicated work of UNICEF and every member of the Kiwanis family. Now, together, they are eliminating MNT from the face of the Earth. The project reaches the poorest, most neglected mothers and babies with additional lifesaving health care. The end of this one disease means the beginning of better health for so many families. You can make a difference, so please become more aware of this issue and donate to the drive whenever it is held at Whitney. YOU can make a difference. //Dani Lee
Key Club helps individuals develop important Social and Emotional Skills, which allows club members to understand self and develop meaningful connections with others. Club members learn to calm down when angry, initiate meaningful friendships, resolve relationship conflicts respectfully, and make ethical and safe choices. While volunteering, key clubbers understand self-awareness. Accurately accessing one's feelings, interests, values, and strengths/abilities, they learn to maintain a well-grounded sense of self-confidence. Self-management and regulating one's emotions to handle stress, persevering in overcoming obstacles, setting personal/academic goals, and then monitoring one's progress toward achieving them comes from the positive encouragement the club offers. Volunteers obtain social awareness by taking the perspective of empathizing with others, recognizing and appreciating individual and group similarities and differences. Different volunteer opportunities provide different environmental locations and social standards of conduct, teaching students to recognize and use family, school, and community resources. Key clubbers also pick up relationship skills, establishing and maintaining healthy and rewarding relationships based on cooperation. They are able to resist inappropriate social pressure and prevent, manage, and resolve interpersonal conflict, all while seeking help when needed. Lastly, they learn responsible decisionmaking skills in consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, appropriate standards of conduct, respect for others, and consequences of various actions. Contributing to the well-being of one's school and community, they gain decision-making skills to academic and social situations. Â Being part of Key Club not only provides you with volunteer opportunities and different ways to get involved in the community, but also life long skills that will help you anywhere. So get out there and go volunteer! Make a difference and gain important life lessons. //Dani Lee
Key Club Skills
The word “leader” has so many definitions that sometimes it’s confusing. What really makes someone a leader? You don’t have to change the world overnight to call yourself a leader. It’s the little things that add up— volunteering at a food bank, raking your neighbor’s leaves or even talking with someone sitting alone. By taking small steps and creating tiny pictures, you’ll slowly start to make an impact on the big picture. Hold a door open for someone. Smile and say thank you. Walk the elderly across the street. You’ll make someone’s day a little bit brighter—and that’s a big deal. Even if you still don’t consider yourself a leader, that’s OK. The world needs a few followers too. A leader without followers is like a global movement without momentum. Admitting you’re a follower, even if that means you are some great unsung hero, is still no easy task. So, which one are you: a leader or a follower? The good news is you don’t have to choose. Being a leader doesn’t mean you’ll lead every single day and being a follower doesn’t mean you’ll never get to accomplish something amazing. So, volunteer every way you know how. Work at an animal shelter, tutor children, or pick up trash around a park. You might not start a social movement in your lifetime, but if you keep up with random acts of kindness, one day you’re going to truly make an impact on someone’s life. And in that person’s eyes, you’ll be a leader in the most sincere way. So what I’m saying is, to truly make a difference in the world, you need to be both a leader and a follower - they go hand in hand. You’ll still have the chance to shine, even if you aren’t front stage center at this certain time. //Dani Lee
FOLLOW THE LEADER
I’m thankful for… Thanksgiving is all about taking a step back to realize and appreciate the things we take for granted in life. Many times, it’s better that we focus not necessarily on what we don’t have, but what we already have. It allows us to truly be thankful for the luxurious lives we live compared to many others in the world out there. Some everyday things we take for granted are: -
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Good health: you’re lucky you’re able to walk around freely and have the physical ability to do what you want Good friends: you wouldn’t be anywhere without your friends by your side to push you to do better things and to encourage you to be your best Freedom of religion: sounds small, but it’s a luxury that not everyone gets in the world Your parents: even if they’re annoying, they gave you your life, food to eat, a home to grow up in, and lots of love to embrace Weekends: where would we be without them? Pets: they give you unconditional love, and they’re adorable balls of fur Education: you can hate school but love learning. They’re two different things, but be grateful you get the chance to learn, as it’s not always available to everyone, whether they want it or not A home: no matter where you live, your home is your safe place. Just think what your life would be like without it. Cars and transportation: would you like to walk everywhere you wanted to go to? Clean water: many people in the world don’t have access to this. Cell phones: our lives revolve around our cell phones, don’t try to convince yourself otherwise Love: imagine a world without love Challenges: we aren’t the people we are today without the challenges we had to face in our past. They shaped us to the people we are now.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and make sure to appreciate the luxuries (although it may not seem like it) that we have in life! //Denise Chan
spreading positivity: With comps just around the corner, I know things can get really stressful and you often feel like you’re drowning in your schoolwork. Take some time to relax, listen to music, sleep, read a book, or just hang out with friends. If you ever feel down, here are some sayings to inspire you to keep going. You’ve done so much already, so why give up now? “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr. “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Francis of Assisi. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” Vince Lombardi. “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” Aristotle Onassis. “Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.” Walt Whitman. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.” Steve Jobs. “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Jimmy Dean. “Believe you can and you're halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt. “Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” Jim Rohn. “Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” Swami Sivananda. “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.” Paul Bryant. //Denise Chan
CABINET INTRODUCTIONS
CAITLYN SAW Name: Caitlyn Saw Grade: 11th Cabinet Position: Spirit Chair I'm the person that laughs at anything and everything. I'm super smiley and I love meeting new people, so please come talk to me! I'm usually a very happy person and I love to hug everyone. On the weekends, I'm out and about at Key Club events or at the senior center volunteering. I listen to music all the time (rap and hip hop ^_^) and I love playing piano and oboe when I have free time. Service and music are two major components of my life. Some interesting things about me are that I've never been to Knott's or Disneyland, I can nap anywhere, and I'm looking into computer science or graphic design for college! You can find me cheering Key Club chants obnoxiously at general and division meetings so don't be afraid to become friends with me! :^) Favorite Food: French Fries and Dried Mango Favorite Movie: UP Favorite Book: The Life of Pi Favorite Drink: Green Tea with Boba Half Empty of Half Full?: Half FULL! Fears: I’m scared of spiders crawling into my mouth when I’m sleeping.
DENISE CHAN Name: Denise Chan Grade: 10th Cabinet Position: Kiwanis Chair My two favorite pastimes are tied between reading fanfiction on wattpad and watching Korean dramas. I base everything that happens in my life-my actions and hopes and thoughts- on those fantasies that only happen in movies, which is really bad, but that's just me. I love drama, action, and adventure ! Favorite Food: Chicken Marsala Favorite Movie: Fast and Furious 6 Favorite Book: After Favorite Drink: Sparking Orange Juice Half Empty of Half Full?: Half empty Fears: Spiders, Heights, Being Alone
When was YOUR “Key Club moment?� Be as descriptive as possible. I think I have a Key Club moment every time I volunteer. I'm happier than ever when I can do something for someone else. All my worries go away, and I'm just there in the moment. To me, that's a Key Club moment, and I hope I have many more of them in the future. Huge congratulations to 10th grader Sara Ryave 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!
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