Keys for student success Keys to be the Change club seeks to make a difference

BY CHRISTINA TONG

KONK LIFE STUDENT WRITER

Teenagers often run into dangerous situations and have trouble finding a way out. Keys to be the Change at Key West High School (KWHS), is working on a solution to this.

According to executive director Heidi Golightly, Keys to be the Change is a youth organization whose main goal is to prevent drug, alcohol, and violence amongst the students at KWHS. This organization is well-recognized in the Keys community and does a lot to give back. A new initiative they are currently promoting is: “It’s Not Worth It,” a hopeful solution to getting teens out of dangerous situations.  

This initiative was started by Divia Navani, Kelly Rivera, Mariyam Akhmetkaliyeva, and more people have become involved since it began. “Plus, we have support from everybody in the club,” says Navani.

She explains that the club is partnering with some car services, such as Uber, to get codes that people can use “if they’re ever in a situation they can’t get out of, or they need a safe way to get home. They can just type in this code, and somebody will come to pick them up for free, and they wouldn’t have to worry about driving under the influence; or even if they don’t have money, or if they’re with people who are not good influences, they can get home safely and not have to worry about it.”

The Keys to be the Change organization is involved in other services for the community, too. In this way, Golightly explains, they stand out from other high school clubs, “People come to our group to join it because they know we do so many things in the community. We mentor little kids at the elementary schools for reading literacy, and we grow a garden in the back for people to help feed them nutritious vegetables. We do monthly prevention programs on campus to try to promote the fact that leading a drug and alcohol free life is a better choice for us all.”

Golightly explains how easy it is for students to join, “Just show up at 2:30 on Thursdays.” Keys to be the Change meets every week in room 4-206 at KWHS.

Photo provided

Keys to be the Change members (left to right: Keylin Castro, Brooke Ftacek, Ashley Hammon, Dana Dauletgalikyzy, Divya Navani, Sasha Glenn) encourage students to sign handprints for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Shooting during a 17-minute memorial at the Friendship Garden at Key West High School on February 21.

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