When he was in high school, Joshua Martin Pastore was encouraged to enroll in as many after-school activities as possible. High school counselors often provide advice just like this to students who hope to attend prestigious colleges and universities. By focusing on their extracurricular activities, these students are learning new skills, and they're adding value to their education. When college application time rolls around, they'll have valuable experience to highlight in their essays.
Out of all of the activities he performed, Joshua Martin Pastore may have received the most benefit from Key Club. Here, he was given a chance to hone his organizational skills, and he was encouraged to help others at the same time.
Key Club is a high school organization sponsored by Kiwanis International. Key Club participants are encouraged to "lead through service," looking for volunteer activities that can directly contribute to the health and well being of children and adolescents. The clubs are run at the local level, meaning that each club has its own funding and its own board, but the clubs are expected to focus on philanthropy above all else.
In his experience with Key Club, Joshua Martin Pastore was asked to coordinate volunteer activities with a health care center. He had to look for volunteers, develop a schedule for those volunteers and ensure that they adhered to that schedule. It was a difficult task, to be sure, but Joshua Martin Pastore learned a significant amount about the power of staying organized, and the importance of reminding people of their promises. These are tasks that are certain to come in handy when Joshua Martin Pastore enters the workforce.
Through his experience with Key Club, Joshua Martin Pastore also developed a deep and abiding love of volunteering. By donating just a few hours of his time, he found that he could make a big difference in the lives of people in his community. He felt good whenever he gave back in this way, and as he has progressed through his college career, Joshua Martin Pastore has continued to volunteer on a regular basis.
