Personal Narrative: My Experience As A Key Club

It was my first year as a Key Club member and my excitement for Fall Rally North was insatiable. Every year, Key Club members from all over the San Francisco Bay Area gather at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to show off their spirit for their respective division through cheers, spirit battles, and overall friendliness. As I sat on the bus seat, anticipating what was to come, I was also worried. Will I be able to meet new people? Will I have the courage to say “hi” to others, or will I be the one who gets said “hi” to? The park came in sight and immediately my worries dissipated and instead, transfigured into feelings of adrenaline and elation.

Thousands of Key Clubbers, wearing different colors and from different areas, flooded every part of the amusement park. I stepped off the bus, took in a deep breath of air, and then I knew, I was ready. I transcended the state of an individual and became one with my division--with every step onto the black pavement towards the park, our spirit augmented. I cheered, sang, and laughed with my club members until we reached the stadium, where we were to compete with other divisions for the spirit stick, the ultimate recognition for the most spirited
Beforehand, I was the kid that never initiated conversations and frankly, meeting new people made me uncomfortable. However, as an active member of my community, my shell of awkwardness and seclusiveness slowly broke down with every service event that I was a part of. I waited for the first time in Freshman year during a charity dinner and the gratitude I received back was quite astounding to me. They all shook my hand, had bright smiles, and one man specifically thanked me for making his night. While my guests experienced joy through my waiting, I experienced likewise from their response. Instead of a risk for an embarrassing situation, I realized that helping people brought me genuine