People often say that high school is the one of the best times in one’s life, and often advise others to make the best of it because there is so little time to accomplish certain things during the four years. Many rush to busy themselves with academic classes piled on top of one another while another may try to overload his or her schedule with sports or clubs. It seems impossible at times to keep a schedule straight when one must balance his or her school life, family life, friends, etc. Even more difficult is balancing it well by keeping up grades, serving the community, and so forth.
Despite all expectations and common beliefs, Jenny Nguyen is one such busy bee student that has learned to successfully balance her act. All the while keeping up grades to be top ten in her graduating class, what is impressive is the fact that Jenny is involved in various clubs that include National Honor Society, CSF, and Friday Night Live. One that stands out in particular in which Jenny immensely pours her whole heart and time into is Key Club.
As an upcoming senior at Bolsa Grande High School, Jenny Nguyen started off high school as a shy freshman joining Key Club to hopefully be able to add the name to her college application in the future. This summer, she is now getting ready to not only face the stressful college applications and summer homework load, but take on the role of Key Club President.
Unlike most others who entered high school not knowing what club was what exactly, Jenny first heard of Key Club prior to high school from her older sister and inspiration Stacey Nguyen, who was a former president of the honorable club in her high school years.
Jenny recalled, “Throughout her (Stacey’s) four years of high school, she constantly encouraged me to join and told me how fun and amazing the club was, so I had to try it out for myself. Despite time issues, I knew I had to try to be bold and reach out on a limb!”
Today in Bolsa Grande’s Key Club, Jenny Nguyen is known for her bubbly personality and outstanding leadership skills that stem from her passion for the club. When asked about her first impression of Key Club and what she really wanted to get out of it when she first joined, she candidly replied, “All I wanted to get out of Key Club was membership and something to fill as well as balance out my schedule! But after I was admitted, I wanted to do more than just have a membership.” With a smile full of poise and audacity, she added, “I wanted a high school experience to cherish for a lifetime, and Key Club was going to do that.”
In addition to her club work and experience in her other on-campus organizations like Friday Night Live, Key Club did indeed turn out to be a memorable experience and journey that she was going to cherish for a lifetime. From weekdays to weekends, Jenny does not waste any free time to sit idly. When Jenny is not busy studying or completing projects for her rigorous six classes, three of which are AP courses, she can be found making differences through various ways after school and on weekends as well. This includes things such as collecting loose change and money for Leukemia patients everywhere she goes, serving the elders at the retirement homes on weekends, and interacting with elementary students to teach them how to help the community.
As she expressed her profound fondness of Key Club, Jenny reflected, “Every hour spent at the retirement homes, charity walks, Cook elementary, beaches, and park reserves is all worth the smiles and lives saved.”
With her pure dedication and heart put into the club, Jenny grew from every coin she collected to save babies from Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus, from every elder she made smile on Saturday mornings at the Pacific Terrace Retirement Homes, from every cheer she shouted to support a walker with Alzheimer’s, and from every water bottle she passed out to a runner at three in the morning. She went from being a shy individual who doubted her ability to be well rounded successfully and hid behind others to follow their actions to now be the bold leader she is in leading fellow students to complete such services. Through every event, Key Club not only impacted Jenny’s life, but has also become an integral part of her life.
Jenny credits Key Club for allowing her to meet amazing individuals over the years and interact with people from across the school, divisions, regions, and districts, all the while shaping her personality and making her the unique individual she is today, a successful busy bee indeed.
From a simple Key Club member to Class Director her sophomore year, to Vice President her junior year, Jenny now takes on the role of Key Club’s 2014-2015 President as former 2014-2015 President Rachel Yi steps down to leave for college.
As many a Key Clubber will often say, Key Club is not just a club, but rather a lifestyle that consumes an individual’s time and sometimes sacrifices one’s school life. Jenny defies the belief by managing her time in such a way to achieve success in all angles.
On the aspect of being a “busy bee,” Jenny notes, “Through my years of high school, I have learned that ‘busy’ does not necessarily mean a bad thing. You cannot be afraid to pack your schedule and aim high. In terms of ‘busy’, I can be busy caring for others, studying hard, spending time with family, or playing games with my cousin.”
As an outstanding scholar and dedicated president, Jenny plans to create more unity and encourage positive attitudes among the members in the club she will lead. “One of my goals in high school is to not only be a good friend, student, and daughter, but also to be an inspiration. I hope that one day, at least one person will say, ‘Wow, I want to do what she did.’”
With all that Jenny has done and influenced on campus here at Bolsa Grande, it is safe to say, “Wow. I want to do what she did” too.