By Conrad Gabriel, International Trustee, New England and Bermuda District
I remember this moment as if it was just yesterday. It was a euphoric sense of accomplishment. The in-the-moment feeling only lasted so long, but the positivity seemed to radiate forever. Perhaps it was one of my most daunting tasks, but it was critical and essential, and I would coin it as the experience of all Key Club experiences.
Arguably, a lieutenant governor plays a vital role in the dissemination of information, not only from the district level, but also internationally. Undoubtedly, maintaining club communication is the most important job as a lieutenant governor — the purpose, to be frank. For me, this was my scariest yet my proudest moment and also the longest moment of all moments. This “moment” I had lasted the tenure of my term. As a lieutenant governor, I set two goals: constant communication and getting in all dues.
The first goal, constant communication, was difficult. Maintaining communication among eight clubs was not so easy, but the easier of my two goals. No doubt, juggling communication among all clubs during the craziest academic year of my life, on top of all my activities, seemed a task load higher than the Eiffel Tower. Nonetheless, I was determined. Ultimately, this wasn’t the “moment moment” of feeling accomplished; however, it was the cornerstone. It proved to me that I had the desire, the priorities, the passion to do my fair share of duties as a lieutenant governor.
I was not prepared for the second goal, getting Key Club dues submitted. Perhaps you can compare the heavy–duty work of getting your clubs to submit dues to trying to dead lift 200 pounds. (Although I am not sure what that feels like, I imagine it must be hard.) After establishing communication, it was rather difficult to get all dues submitted. September and October roll around, and everyone starts to prepare their early–bird payments. Of course, you have a few clubs that miss the date, and that is fine; we get a few more in November and December. However, I had some clubs that missed both deadlines. What did I do, you might ask? I might have bitten my fingers à la SpongeBob SquarePants. That’s how nervous I was. Granted, that might be a little exaggeration, but the meaning is still true! I worked by strengthening communication. By February, I finally got all dues submitted. While it was later than I intended, I did it. And for that very reason, that is my proudest moment.
It is not about being the first, the best or the person who blows everyone out of the water by showing how successful you can be. It is about the duties to which you commit and pour your heart into completing. It is the self-growth that is evident when you decide to push forward instead of giving up. For me, this moment was that feeling: a feeling of leadership, character-building and self-growth.