Clubs play a pivotal role in the school environment for many students. It teaches young scholars the skills that make them successful and ready to face any challenge in the future. Some clubs help with doing good for society, contributing to actually shaping people’s lives. But overall, their role in many students’ lives was that of encouraging higher self-esteem and dedication. National Technical Honor Society and its project of Kidney Cancer Association is one of the major examples that has both shaped many students’ lives and given back to the people in the community.
KCA: Behind the Scenes
KCA is a charity club that is dedicated to helping children battling cancer. Its sole focus is raising funds and using this money for charitable events and contributions. This club focuses on the greater good for our society and really helps to offset the traumatic experiences that young patients are facing in the world today.
“The purpose and main mission of KCA was for NTHS to raise money and raise awareness for kids who are fighting cancer,” senior Purva Patel declared. “We donated our raised funds to the American Cancer Society.”
Fundraisers are an essential component of KCA since the funds go directly to the organizations supporting the younger generation facing these huge obstacles in their life. Students involved in KCA get together in sessions, usually held on Wednesdays, to discuss what the fundraiser is going to be about. They plan and gather supplies, spending at least one day before the fundraiser week preparing everything.
“The purpose of KCA is to reach kids with cancer and give them hope that they might not have,” senior Valerie Bernal stated. “We want to make a change and bring more awareness to children who have cancer, which is not talked about often.”
During the fundraiser week, the club spends at least two days collecting donations to then distribute them into goodie bags or use the funds to make necklaces. The pricing tends to be reasonable and affordable. Once they collect all the money, it is sent to the American Cancer Society, which then distributes it to different spheres that help younger patients.
Doing, Giving, Growing:
The activities that NTHS members have worked on play a crucial role in developing bonds and improving their social skills. Working together helps create stronger outcomes and a more supportive community. Through these experiences, students improve their teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. All of this can help them achieve their goals and become better versions of themselves.
“Each month, we participate in service activities, career-focused events, and leadership opportunities that connect us with both our school and the wider community,” senior Laura Ardilla stated. “From volunteer initiatives to professional workshops, every project is designed to help members grow, gain experience, and stand out.”
Participating in different activities also enhances critical thinking skills, focusing on global crises and ways to solve them. Communication is also an essential part of NTHS as student feedback on club activities and goals is highly valued. This enables intellectual growth and mental enhancement, and improves connections between students.
“As a club, we aim to complete various projects per month,” senior Alonzo Stephenson declared. “A variety of which are based on community outreach, school empowerment and member development.”
This club is not only about making an impact for individuals, but also making a meaningful impact on our community and school. Helping the members gain leadership skills, and improving the outcomes for others is the main focus of this club. With its overarching reach of positively contributing to the community, NTHS develops a culture of service, collaboration, and compassion.
If Our Club Were Three Words…:
Although NTHS expresses its values in many ways, they are all centered around one message: To never give up and persevere through the difficult times.
“If I could describe this club in three words it would be ‘Be the Light’,” Bernal stated. “This is because it is important to be there for other people when they might be in a dark or difficult moment in their lives, this will make them not feel alone. They will know that they have people cheering them on and can give them more strength to keep fighting.”
Dealing with the tough times can sometimes make students overwhelmed, leading them to want to give up. But finding strength to push through this is what builds strong character. Helping the underprivileged communities, or supporting organizations such as KCA, and seeing their actions have real impact on dozens peoples’ lives, can serve as a reminder that despite any doubts, your actions matter.
“I would describe NTHS as academic, fun and resourceful because this club is all about taking what you know and being able to share your knowledge and finding opportunities for your interests,” senior Purval Patel declared. “It is fun to get together with other members to organize events as well as a good place to learn new skills.”
This club is not only about scholarship and academic achievement, but it can be a fun and calming environment for the students. This is mainly because they will have each other to lean on for support during challenging times. NTHS teaches about the value of student connections and the positive impact they can have.
Leaving a Legacy:
NTHS and KCA play a crucial role in many student’s lives. They strengthen bonds, improve creativity, and have an ever-lasting impact on the lives of those in our community. As this club continues to grow and flourish, it reminds us that true action isn’t just measured in rewards, but in the lives it impacts along the way.
