Townsend Harris Key Club | March & April Newsletter | Issue No. 01 | 2024-2025
The The Koala-Ty Koala-Ty
EDITOR’S EDITOR’SNOTE NOTE
Hey Key-uties! Welcome to our first newsletter issue of the 24’- 25’ service year! My name is Angela Lee and I am honored to serve as your 2024–2025 Bulletin Editor.
To get to know me a little, I’m currently a rising junior. I love to watch k-dramas, bake yummy foods, and draw. At school, you can probably find me huddled up in the library stressing over my exams or running outside with the track team.
I’ve got some big shoes to fill following Ashley’s amazing newsletters from last year! She set the bar high, and I’m excited to bring the same energy & fun to this year’s editions. Here’s to another successful service year!
Signing In, Angela Lee Angela Lee Angela Lee
Welcome to the first newsletter of the service year by our lovely bulletin editor, Angela! I’m Ashley, your co-president for the 2024-2025 service year! I've had the pleasure of capturing the essence of our beautiful service year as previous editor and as I transition to my new role, I want to commemorate my history with everyone and Key Club. Spending this past Leadership Training Conference with our 2023-2024 officers was amazing, and the brilliant ideas offered there will definitely be implemented this year :) We kicked off April with wonderful events and fundraisers! With my camera, I loved capturing you all exploring booths at Earth Day and having fun at our Billiards fundraiser with QHSS. I hope this month can set the tone for the rest of our service year! Congratulations to our new officers, Lina, Angela, Vaibhvi, Vidhi, and Vivian! Looking forward to working with you all and I know we will do amazing <3 A huge thank you to our previous board for their amazing support. Please reach out and show appreciation for the wonderful people who made Key Club happen! It is an honor to serve you all again. Here’s to service and beyond!
Signing In, Ashley Liao Ashley Liao
Hey, Key Clubbies! My name is Cris, and I am incredibly honored to serve as your Co-President for the ‘24-’25 service year!! :) Many of you may know me as the previous treasurer, processing your membership dues in the fall, leading numerous events in the winter, etc. Looking back on my term, I had such an awesome experience getting to know you all at events, being handed the funniest makeshift envelopes with your cash inside (one person used their physics homework LOL), & overall just working on the board to cultivate Key Club into something better for you all, something more than just a club. This club has given me a plethora of positive and fun memories, allowed me to meet the nicest people I would’ve never met otherwise, and most of all, allowed me to feel completely and utterly fulfilled. If there‘s one thing I’ve learned from being a member for the past 2.5+ years, it’s that Key Club is defined by what YOU, the members, make of it. Key Club doesn’t have to JUST be the “biggest club at Townsend” or “that one volunteering club”, but it CAN be “the club that you can easily make friends in” or “the club that lets you explore the city every weekend”. Most importantly, Key Club can become the second family you never had. The second family that I, and tens of thousands of others our age across the globe, choose to commit to everyday. Together. Whether we’re sweating in the heat or shivering in the cold, walking with lanterns in hand, or getting lost in parades at events, we become a second family by experiencing these things together because that’s what our Key Club is. And that’s the Key Club we commit to. The single best decision I’ve made in my entire high school career will always be joining this club aka paying my membership dues. With that being said, you guys will always be my first priority so feel free to reach out to me for literally anything at all, whether it be Key-Club-related or you just feel like talking, my DMs will always be open :) Let’s make this year one for the books!
Signing In,
Cristian Marroquin Cristian Marroquin
Hi Key Clubbies!
If you don’t already know, my name is Karen, and I’m the past President of Townsend Harris Key Club. My journey in Key Club started during my freshman year during the pandemic, and I’ve stayed since. As my time in Key Club is coming to an end, I wanted to say that it’s been an honor and privilege to volunteer and meet everyone I have thus far.
During my sophomore and junior years when I took on the leadership position of Webmaster, it was genuinely one of the most fulfilling experiences of my high school career. Being Webmaster compiled all my interests: photography, graphic design, social media, and outreach. During my junior year and senior years, I served as the president of this incredible club, realizing my role in Key Club was greater than just digital engagement and convincing people to join. From leading you guys through the train station at 7 AM on weekends to volunteering in parts of cities I never would’ve otherwise visited until 7 PM, Key Club is something I’ll always look back on, gratified with what I’ve contributed to.
Last year, I attended the Lunar New Year Parade with some of my friends, and as we were walking around talking to underclassmen Key Clubbers, I recall thinking, “I feel like younger me would be proud.” The middle school me, who was reluctant to talk to adults and turned away opportunities I knew I’d succeed in, has completely changed. Through Key Club, I’ve not only become more experienced in my creative niches but also in my ability to interact and understand others. In one of my college application supplements, I wrote about one of the events I attended: the NYSoM Back to School Wonderland.
At this event, Townsend worked alongside a bunch of other Key Clubs like Stuy, Bxsci, and Franny to pack backpacks with school supplies for families in East Harlem, an area where poverty rates more than double the state average. I don’t know if it was because I met so many people from across the boroughs or if it was because it reminded me of when I was one of those kids receiving free resources in my housing project apartment, but I was incredibly proud of this organization seeing so many Key Clubbers help out a community in need.To my members, I cannot stress it when I say that all of you are making a difference, even if it doesn’t feel like it. I know a lot of yo for the sake of fulfilling your 40 or 80 community hours, as did many of the board members. I think ov four years, my main takeaway was that you eventuall count of the hours. The real value becomes the expe
I hope you all continue enjoying Key Club– Townsend Club in particular. Some Key Clubs don’t even have ten members, but we’ve increased by 100 just this year alone, totaling over 400 Key Clubbers. We couldn’t have reached this level of success without all of you, so thank you. I’ll miss you all dearly. Keep staying Kind and Committed through Key Club!
Signing Off, Karen Lin Karen Lin Karen Lin
Vice President’s
Hello Key Clubbies!
As you know, I am Melinda, your former Secretary and now past Vice President. I am so honored to be able to call Key Club part of my home here at Townsend. Even though I’m leaving this year, Key Club has made the biggest impact on my life. I can’t stress this enough but I’ve genuinely changed so much as a person, leader and companion through my time serving the club and community at large. Going to HK Dragon Boat Festival and staying on the dock for hours on end or even serving customers on 5th avenue during Japan Fes opened my eyes to the city that we call home, and taught me principles of dedication and commitment. You really will love your time in this club despite the painful dues that we all have to pay during the beginning of the year because trust me, it really is worth it. For those that are reluctant to apply for a larger position in the club, don’t be s frequently remember my nerves as a freshman going into a Zoom interview with former President Esther Dai. It is scary, but overcoming your comfort zone and really pushing your face onto the Key Club image of our club trumps any jitters you may have going in. I hope you all become even more involved in Key Club in the coming years, and good luck to the new board as well as the generations to come. Key Club, how do we feel?
Signing Off, Melinda Wang Melinda Wang Melinda Wang
Hey Key Club, how do we feel?
This service year absolutely flew by and it has been such an honor to serve as your 2023-2024 Webmaster. I joined Key Club my freshman year through glitchy online meetings and no real understanding of what it really meant to serve my community. It wasn’t until I got to go out with my friends to in-person that I really understood how incredible it was to be able to meet new people and genuinely enjoy helping others. Key Club gave me an outlet to explore the world after being stuck inside for so long, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to be a board member. Being able to capture and share such special moments was an absolute highlight of my highschool experience and I would not trade it for anything el eternally grateful for my fellow board members, com heads, and key clubbers for showing me the importance of community and having people to depend on. I wish the new board the best of luck as I know they will accomplish incredible things, and I hope that all current and future key clubbers may continue to feel good, feel so good.
Signing Off, Rachel Tan Rachel Tan Rachel Tan
I’ve been in Key Club since my freshman year, which was held online in the midst of the too-familiar pandemic. Online community service projects were an interesting start to my experience with Key Club, but I’ve come to appreciate its unique aspects— I was able to connect with my peers virtually, and when school began in-person, I joined the Events Planning Committee to help curate the events our club attended. From expanding my graphic designing skills through serving as our club’s Bulletin Editor for the 22'-23' service year, to developing my communication skills as a Co-Secretary for my final term, Key Club has given me the opportunity to grow and explore my abilities in many unique and challenging ways, and I am eternally grateful to each one of my fellow club members and board members for being a part of my experience. Alongside each of you, I’ve encountered new experiences, learned about the diverse culture of my city, and developed the spirit of community service and connection. I’ve watched our club grow, and I have no doubt it’ll advance even further under the leadership of the new board. Best of luck to our new cabinet, and to our devoted members, I wish you all the best of experiences in the future with Key Club.
Signing Off,
Hasana Hasana Hasana
Abdullah Abdullah Abdullah
Secretary’s Farewell
Hi fellow Key Clubbies!
Time passes by so quickly, and it was as if yesterday was the day I first joined Key Club. Key Club was the first club I joined coming into high school, and I’m so glad I did because I got to meet so many amazing people. Every year, I’ve bonded with dedicated members across different grade levels all working toward the same purpose of leaving our community better than we found it. I joined Key Club during COVID year, and in a time of disengaging from the community, I found a way to connect even through virtual events. Once we were able to do in-person events, I joined as many as I could, and each one has been a blast from uniting with lanterns against Leukemia to park clean ups and even parades and festivals. Key Club has been so much fun, and showed me that I can make an impact even in such a big world. I hope that Key Club is as fun to all of you as it was for me. The people you will meet from within the club and at events are truly the kindest and mo people you will come across in high school. Lastly, I would like to thank the rest of the cabin best team I could ever ask for. Best of luck to bot and incoming cabinet members! It has been my pleasure to serve as your secretary for the past year and I hope you are all excited for the new board and service year. Thank you!
Signing Off,
Jialin Chen Jialin Chen Jialin Chen
March March
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE
MEMORY WITH KEY CLUB? MEMORY WITH KEY CLUB? hours hours
HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE
Ditya Mehta
Check out our LTC Video!!
Never Never
Card-Making Card-Making
I loved the idea that each card made was special and individualized, but all still joined together in achieving a like goal: spreading love and companionship to elders in reminding them that they are not alone.
Julina Chen 27' Julina Chen 27'
Card-Making
Too Old Too Old Card-Making Event
Event
Megan Lee 25' Megan Lee 25'
I definitely appreciated that this event was more laid back and it gave attendees a chance to wind down from the schoolwork. At the same time, it gave us an opportunity to reflect on how loneliness pervaded every part of society, even senior citizens. It's a small deed, but I hope this event was able to reach any one of those affected people.
NYSoM NYSoM
Easter Extravaganza Easter Extravaganza
I really enjoyed working and dressing up seeing their loved helping them out with making. I really enjoyed with since there were many with a lot of new people definitely come again or
Adiba Adiba
Extravaganza Extravaganza
with the children their faces light up. I with their craft the people I worked many schools I talked like me. I would do anything similar.
Adiba Islam 27' Adiba Islam 27'
POOL FUNDRAISER POOL FUNDRAISER
The fundraiser was fun. We got to play unlimited pool for a few hours and I would most definitely do it again. I got to play pool with new people and be
FUNDRAISER FUNDRAISER
April April
Fiona Chang
HOW HAS KEY CLUB SHAPED YOU AS A HOW HAS KEY CLUB SHAPED YOU AS A STUDENT/PERSON? STUDENT/PERSON? hours hours
Dragon Fest Dragon Fest Dragon Fest
The Dragon Fest was was able to see many foods next to each other them out. Although standing and walking how people get together celebrate all different delights.
Alvin Alvin
ThaiFestThaiFestThaiFest
was a fun experience. I many types of cultural other and even try there was a lot of walking it was cool to see together in order to different types of
Alvin Lin 26' Alvin Lin 26'
GREENSTYLE GREENSTYLE SWAP SWAP
It was a really nice event to attend. The concept of the GreenCycle Swap was unique and a good way to reuse secondhand things. I mainly sorted out the items and directed people to the main area. It was good community bonding and I hope to see more of these types of events
Valencia Li 25' Valencia Li 25'
EARTH DAYEARTH DAY
I really enjoyed the different hands-on activities at the Earth Day event. I would definitely go again because I think it was really interesting how these organizations and businesses had different ways and tactics to teach people about the Earth and our environment.
Evelene Chao 26' Evelene Chao 26'
KARAOKE FUNDRAISER KARAOKE FUNDRAISER
I had a lot of fun being able to hang out with my friends while also helping with the fundraiser. I really enjoyed the experience It
KARAOKE FUNDRAISER KARAOKE FUNDRAISER
I really enjoyed this event as I was able to have fun with my friends while singing to songs and even met some nice people too. I liked that we were able to be in smaller rooms too since our room only had five people, giving everyone a chance to sing along. I
Overall, I would say the event was a success. Unfortunately, there were not enough bowling lanes for my friend and I to join so we ended up spending the entire time in the arcade. However, it was still fun nevertheless and I enjoyed getting to play the various games and
