By Youssef Isshak
Editor, Celebration Key Club
Across all high schools in Osceola County, teenagers are learning how to transition into young adults in their academic and social lives.
Managing this concern can seem like an obstacle. However, this is the time for teenagers to develop useful qualities and tools that they’ll be able to use in adulthood. One of the best ways to do this is through Key Club, a student led organization that promotes volunteerism, service, and character-building in high school students all over Florida.
Key Club is a valuable resource that teaches students different traits of leadership, cooperation, and inclusiveness toward their communities as they organize projects and volunteer opportunities to serve their community and environment. At Celebration High School, Key Club was recently reintroduced after several years of inactivity by Alexa Perez (President) and Sofia Valencia (Vice President), who recognized the importance of invigorating the spirit of selfless dedication to service for all students at Celebration.
Isabella DeLeon (Secretary), Francesca Erdody (Webmaster), and Eva Torres-Tarter (Treasurer) are also involved with leading and managing the club so that members can benefit as much as possible during their time at Key Club.
Thus far in the year, the club has been collaborating with all members on a number of projects, including a recycling project aimed at promoting a cleaner school and environment and spreading the spirit of giving back to the community. Upcoming events include participating in the MLK Day of Service with CAAIRE (Children Athletes & Artists Involved in Recreational Events), which consists of a community giveaway to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, and, in May, a Stroll for Scholarships 5K and 10K, which aids the Kiwanis Club of Kissimmee in raising scholarship money for seniors around Osceola County.
These are only a few of the initiatives that Key Clubs around Osceola County and Florida are engaging in, and truly reflects the positive impact that teamwork and volunteerism provide. The message that Key Club sends to high school students is priceless and likely to remain with them throughout their lifetime. Learning to preserve and care for the community around all of us is a valuable learning experience, and the Key Club takes great joy in educating and training students to develop those qualities and skills.
Arranging these projects requires abundant time and effort to organize, so the Key Club at Celebration humbly requests sponsors or organizations that can use volunteers in any projects they need. Please contact janyw@aol.com or alexaperezpij@gmail.com to cooperate. Again, it is Key Club’s mission to teach students to put their community first and to be serviceable citizens. They can always remember: “Be the change, be the key!”
