My Key Leader Experience

by Caitlin Zibreg (Northern High School in Maryland)

Upon arriving to Arlington Echo back in March, I knew I was in for an amazing weekend. Students, just like myself, who wanted to become better leaders were all around. It was my first Key Leader experience, and it was phenomenal. I shared one weekend out of my year with complete strangers to help them to help me. I learned what a Key Leader truly is. The weekend is different for each person, but one thing I know for sure is that I don't know what I would be now without my Key Leader experience.

During the weekend, Dennis, the speaker/facilitator, had us write letters to ourselves. These letters were going to be sent to us months from the time we attended Key Leader. Key Leader was in March. Just a few weeks ago (mid October), I got mail from Kiwanis International. Low and behold the letter I had written to myself 7 months prior. I had completely forgotten about it. It was amazing to read what I wrote to myself. I thought about all that I had learned that weekend, and I couldn't help but to smile. I realized that I had implemented the Key Leader values in my life without fully realizing it.

Key Leader was an experience I will never forget. I can't wait until the spring Key Leader at Arlington Echo again. Believe me, you are never going to be too busy to spend a weekend at Key Leader. It will change your life. It will encourage you to do things that you would have never done before. To quote Nike, "Just do it!"

For more information about the next Capital District Key Leader weekend (April 23-25-2010 in Millersville, Maryland) and how your Kiwanis Club can support it, please contact District Chair Nicole McDermott at CapitalKeyLeader@gmail.com or 703.917.8877. Search "Capital District Key Leader" on Facebook and become a fan! Visit www.youtube.com/CapitalKeyLeader and watch live student testimonials.