"Identity" by Brenda D

     I am an individual who has a name. A name gives each person an identification and proves their existence out of millions of people in the world. Every time I meet someone new, it begins with casual hellos and goodbyes. With the excitement of introducing myself and giving them a glimpse of my personality, I am left with “goodbye Brian’s little sister.” I know it is common for people to wonder about themselves, but I wondered “Who am I?” However, that question was answered. Instead of Brenda, I was labeled as “Brian’s little sister.” I was stripped of the thing that identified me as an individual, separate from anyone else.
      The initial growth to my brother’s popularity, was due to the fact that he served in Key Club, a community based club that focused on leadership, caring about others, character building, and inclusiveness. Key club was a unique service club on campus because it not only includes the community service aspect, the members in the club were able to shout cheers and openly exhibited their endless amounts of passion for the club. The passion of the club made persuaded for him to make a name for himself by serving as Key Club's President and Treasurer. I realized that if my brother made a name for himself through Key Club, then this was my opportunity to let people know me as Brenda Do. I decided to run for Key Club’s Secretary.
      As I went through the interview process, I had doubts about myself. I was someone who did not have qualities of being a leader. The election involved a speech, but public speaking always terrified me. However, I was willing to overcome my fear in order to have the opportunity to serve the club and to let others hear who I am. Unfortunately, during the speech, I froze and forgot everything I memorized. Instead of letting my fear consume me, I started speaking from my heart, saying that even if I had to sacrifice, I would do it for the benefit of the club. Even if those sacrifices met losing sleep and doing extra. To my surprise, after the long awaited process, it was announced that I would be the Key Club’s Secretary for 20152016 . I was in awe and disbelief that I was elected for the position, but I did not realize the amount of dedication and effort that had to be put into this position. From that experience, I realized that I had to be confident and not let my fears hinder me from reaching my goals.
      I was blinded by the greed of wanting to make myself known that I forgot the responsibilities of a secretary. At first, I felt overwhelmed with all of my new responsibilities. I had no experience as a secretary, let alone a leader. As time went by, I realized that Key Club was definitely not about the spirit and service. It was about harmonizing the four core values of Key Club into our everyday life and teaching these precious core values to people who tend to forget these things. I was reminded of these core values when I attended workshops that helped me trained to become a substantial leader. As I was trained, I learned that it was more than simply taking notes. It was the backbone of the club. In Key Club, the secretary serves as a mom; someone who guides and reaches out to the members and shows each individual that their existence is important. I made sure that I knew each and every one of their names so that nobody would feel forgotten or unknown like I had in the past.
     Through this opportunity, I am grateful for those who labeled me as “Brian’s little sister.” It prompted me to do something that would set me apart from my brother. Being in Key Club and having the once in a lifetime experience of serving others, is a moment that has changed my outlook on life. Before I was given the privilege, I was solely thinking about giving myself an identity, but I have learned much more there is to life. I am now able to care for and interact with others. I have blossomed and matured into somebody that is a good person: a leader who helps others build character by being inclusive and caring. As a result, I was given the nickname “Mama Do” by taking initiative to care for others and being there with open arms. I can now confidently change the answer to the question “Who am I?” I am someone making a difference in people's lives as Brenda Do, not as Brian's little sister.