A resume boost. That’s why I joined FHN’s Knights of Excellence, or KOE. I just needed more clubs to show my involvement in high school. However, KOE proved to be more than just a club. It’s a way to be a part of something bigger than regular meetings and yearly picnics.

I first realized that I underestimated KOE from the Adopt a Family program. From the surface, it appears to be a thoughtless project for members to participate in. Selling bracelets is not that big of a big deal, right? Actually, it is. Through KOE, I learned that by selling bracelets, I was helping a local family in need. I was helping a local family buy clothes, feed themselves or even get to school. I was helping a family do the things I take for granted in my life every single day.

I’ve grown up surrounded by a family full of educators, so I take any chance I can to help my teachers. To my unwarranted surprise, KOE supplied plenty of opportunities to make even small improvements to a teacher’s day.

The programs set up by the sponsors of KOE help students actively become a bigger part of their school-wide community, on top of the traditional area-based community service.

KOE is no longer simply a resume boost for me. It is a way to feel confident walking into school every day. It is a way to feel like I can truly make a difference and show others about the problems that desperately need help in our community.