Joining the Golden Key International Honour Society means opening the door to a whole world of opportunities. There is a HUGE range of scholarships, partner benefits, events, and career development resources available to ALL Golden Key members – so we strongly recommend you step up […]
By Connor Simpson Marisa Duong joined Golden Key in 2017 after discovering the society through her Bachelor of Philosophy degree coordinator. Marisa was seeking the opportunity to develop her academic career and explore fields of research that interested her. After learning more about Golden Key’s […]
Issa Kabeer is on a hero’s journey. A graduate student in Diversity Leadership at Temple University, he used to shy away from campus activities before joining Golden Key. Now, Issa sparks the flame within us to become greater versions of ourselves. As co-president of his local Golden Key chapter and a member of the school’s student parliament, he motivates his fellow students to participate in AIDS walks and literacy programs. When Issa’s on your team, everyone wins.
Issa dreams of becoming a U.S. ambassador and is inspired by the historic peace-making efforts of the Camp David Accords. He took time out from GK’s Asia-Pacific leadership summit in Australia to share three surprisingly powerful ways to lead:
Listen and Connect.
As a chaplain and campus leader, Issa is often the peacemaker. He says, “Conflicts happen because people don’t listen to each other. Leadership is not focused on being better than someone, but on being present with someone.”
By listening to what people say, asking questions, and caring about their opinions, you become their champion. The results are worth the journey!
Flesh out the details.
Working on legislation in the student government taught Issa to target the specifics. His fellow leaders liked his proposal for suggestion boxes where students could share their ideas for change on campus, but they needed the nitty-gritty details. “They want to know where we can put these boxes, who’s going to make them,” he explained.
An idea is good, but coming up with a step-by-step plan to implement it is the key!
Follow your hero’s journey.
Issa lights up when he shares his excitement about being an ambassador for Golden Key. Through travel grants from GK he has connected with a global family of friends at GK’s leadership summits. Issa loves to talk about Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey and how it applies to everyone from college students to Harry Potter. “It’s worth it to go out of your comfort zone. Because that’s the only way you’re going to succeed and make it.”
Take risks. Go out of your way to meet people who aren’t like yourself. Challenge yourself to go on your own hero’s journey!
Golden Key strives to encourage its members in three aspects: Academics, Leadership and Service. Kitty Hoi Yan Wong, a Golden Key member since 2017, perfectly encapsulates the values of Golden Key, and her work in Community Service has proved truly impactful to her local community. […]
Caitlin Kramer began studying Robotics engineering at Flinders University in 2016 and is now in her fourth and final year, with big plans for her future. Throughout her degree, Caitlin has expanded her knowledge by taking part in three overseas trips, which she says gave […]
With the new school year rapidly approaching, we are very excited to announce our 2020-2021 International Council of Student Leaders (ICSLs). These students have been elected to address the needs of each chapter in the region ranging from implementing new service projects, answer questions from e-board members, and engaging honorary and alumni members in their region.
Shazia Adjumain
“My name is Shazia Adjumain. I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) on Childhood brain cancer at Monash University, Australia. In the future, I hope to continue my research on to a PhD which will enable me to identify potential therapeutic targets in childhood brain cancer. I was elected as a Golden Key member in 2019 when I was pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Deakin University (2016-2019).In the same year I was fortunate to be elected as the President of the Deakin Golden Key chapter and here I am representing the Golden Key Asia Pacific chapters. I’m absolutely thrilled to be a part of the International Council of Student Leaders for 2020-2021. I look forward to serving the society in all aspects to the best of my knowledge and capabilities.”
Sahil Maharaj
“I Sahil Maharaj and I am a 5th year medical student at Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (UKZN), in Durban, South Africa. I joined Golden Key in 2017 and served as president for the medical school division in 2019. I have also served on executive committees for other student organizations including the South African Medical Students Association (SAMSA) and UKZN Student Surgical Society. I am currently a research placement at the Centre for the Program of AIDS Research in South Africa (CAPRISA). I have also been involved in volunteer work, most recently of which was a medical mission to provide health care to an underserved community north of Durban. South Africa boasts a wealth of talented individuals. Unfortunately due to socioeconomic circumstances, many are unable to access opportunities to develop their potential. My goal is to help expand access to opportunities to break the cycle of poverty that is so vicious in this country. The Golden Key society is to be lauded for the many benefits it offers to members however, I most appreciate the nurturing environment created for growth and development.”
Sulihat Aloba
“I’m Sulihat Aloba, and I am very excited to be serving a second term as the representative of the International Council of Student Leaders (ICSL) for Region 3. I am from Nigeria, West Africa but came to the United States in 2011 to obtain my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Mississippi. I have been a part of Golden Key since my sophomore year and transferred my membership to Auburn University when I moved for graduate school. I was the chapter president of the Golden Key International Honour Society for two years at Auburn University where I got my master’s degree in chemical engineering. During my role as the president, our chapter recorded its best membership drive in history and obtained the prestigious Key chapter award for the first time in two consecutive years. It has been an amazing experience being a part of Golden Key as I have learned to grow and make decisions as a leader, participate in various service projects which I enjoyed both domestically and internationally, and I have had the opportunity to interact and share ideas with a diverse group of people at summits in beautiful locations. I am privileged to be working as a part of the ICSL for the 2020-2021 academic year and look forward to serving as a resource for members and chapters to realize their full potential through the pillars of Golden Key: Academics, Leadership, and Service.”
Brittany Ladson
“My name is Brittany Ladson and I am a 3rd year medical student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, MI. I will be completing my rotations at Sparrow Hospital. I am hoping to pursue a residency in either emergency medicine or infectious disease. I am also the current president of Golden Key at MSU. My favorite thing about Golden Key is being able to connect with people across the USA and the rest of the world. I love attending international and regional summits to network with others and learn from all the great speakers. I can’t wait to represent my region and meet all the wonderful e-board members in the area.”
Calen Buford
“I Calen and I am a student at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. This fall, I will be entering the senior year of my undergraduate degree. My major is Applied and Computational Mathematics, with a minor in Computer Science. Interestingly enough, I have also completed a minor in Visual Arts. Most people would say math and art work in opposition, but I disagree! I am passionate about solving complex problems and creating beautiful things. As such, I currently work as a software engineer for a start-up, helping to build a magnificent online marketplace. As my career progresses, I hope to turn toward executive roles, for I also love building organizations. That is one of things I love about Golden Key so much: as student members, we can forge our chapters and the society at large into something truly great! I look forward to an amazing 2020-2021 year!”
Samantha Brock
“I Samantha and I am a graduate student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville where I am studying a Masters of Science of Chemistry. After graduation I plan to be a civilian contractor for the United States Military. Golden Key has opened so many networking opportunities that has led to many inter- and intra- personal skills that will last a lifetime!”
Alexis McKoy
“I Alexis and I am a rising senior, psychology major at Morgan State University. I plan on becoming a forensic psychologist who focuses on juveniles and at-risk youth in inner cities. I hope to help unpack the traumas that these youth have faced growing up in an adverse community. I love Golden Key’s commitment to community service, because I love to give back to the less fortunate.”
Lamarcus Jermaine Hall
“I’m Lamarcus and I am a doctoral student at Indiana State University. I am also a husband and father to three beautiful children. I enjoy facilitating training, motivational speaking, and research on Black Males. I am also an adjunct professor at Martin University.”
Jessica Newbury
“I’m Jessica and I am currently the president and treasurer for the chapter for Flinders University in South Australia, she is studying her final year of a double undergraduate degree Bachelor of Education (middle & secondary) / Bachelor of Science, majoring in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, minoring in forensics and currently undergoing an internship at Reynella East College. At university she has been in various leadership roles over the past few years, including taking part in mentoring first year education and science students, then moving up to mentor the current mentors in this program. Having roles in the club Flinders Thinking CaPS at the university where she has been Outreach Officer and Executive Education Officer, and still holds the latter position. Outside of the university Jessica is a mother of 5 children and also a Sensei for Go Kan Ryu Karate where she teaches self-defense to others. She has competed at state and world levels, and has a Guinness World Record for participating in the “Most people to break a pine board simultaneously in one location” at the GKR Karate World Cup 2017. After graduating she will be aiming to do a year of Honors in Education and Science, and become a leader in STEM Education.”
Jaishree Subrahmaniam has been a Golden Key member since 2011 when she was doing her Bachelors in Botany from Miranda House in University of Delhi in India. With her 10-year anniversary coming up, Jaishree has a Master’s in Botany and recently finished a PhD in […]
Meet Kailanianna Ablog! She’s a graduate of 2020 from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa where she finished with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a certification in Ethnic Studies and Korean. She was born in Hawaii but partially raised in Saipan, where her […]
Nozipho Nkabinde is unstoppable. While serving as fundraising director of her GK chapter at the University of Pretoria and majoring in accounting and auditing, she transformed a simple school book drive into a full-fledged multi-year library project. Nozipho, a servant leader inspired by Michelle Obama and poetry from Prince Ea and Shane Koyczan, who is now on the Council of Student members for South Africa, took time out from her busy schedule to share three things she learned from tackling this epic challenge.
Dream big.
When Golden Key members visited a disadvantaged school with plans for a book drive, Nozipho says, “The principal told us that they don’t have a library at the school and were trying to get funding to create one. It surprised us.” They felt called to help and weren’t afraid to go big.
Nozipho saw the project was too large to finish during her term, but she was determined to make it happen. Instead, she devised a multi-year plan: first fundraising, then turning a school storeroom into a library, then providing reading material, computers, and much more.
Always have a backup plan.
Pretoria University’s strict rules on how registered campus organizations can spend money made fundraising tricky. How do you get supplies quickly when buying them requires jumping through bureaucratic hurdles? “We got people to actually buy the stuff instead of giving us money,” Nozipho said. “We posted to social media and said, okay, guys, we need paint brushes, we need so much paint, we need this.” That’s creative thinking!
Lead through love and kindness.
Inspire people to do their best through caring. “Golden Key has shown me that every act of kindness can make a huge difference in one’s life,” Nozipho says. “The best gift that you can give someone is love and your time, because when people feel love they feel equipped to do anything.” Even lay the foundation for a future generation’s literacy.
On behalf of Golden Key International Honour Society, and our over 2.5 million members around the world, I wish to express my deep sadness over the senseless and horrible deaths of far too many black lives. Men, women and children of color across the US, […]
GK SCHOLARSHIPS: Ather Sharif
GK Scholarships: Logan Thornton