The current president of Texas Southern University’s Golden Key chapter has four degrees under her belt, maintains an excellent GPA, and has attended three different colleges. Since Golden Key members need to be within the top 15 percent of their class, the president of a chapter having such an outstanding educational back story may not be surprising. However, what may be surprising is her journey before her current success.

Renata Givens, also known as Precious to her friends and family, was born in New Orleans, LA, but lived in the state of Texas most of her life. In 2005, when she 24-years-old, Givens had just found out that she was pregnant with her first child. During this time, she lived in New Orleans, LA. While the news of her first pregnancy was exciting, a storm was (literally) brewing that would change Given’s life forever.

Hurricane Katrina landed in New Orleans, LA, and Givens had to fight to survive. Givens said, “I cannot swim, and I was pregnant, trying to stay afloat above the water.” She had to wear the same clothes for a week before being rescued and evacuated to Corpus Christi, TX.

After surviving the biggest ordeal in her life thus far, Givens was offered a full scholarship to Del Mar College in Texas and intended to pursue nursing. Unfortunately, this was when the father of Given’s unborn child became abusive and she went into premature labor and gave birth to her stillborn child at home.

It took Givens another two years before she had the strength to leave, but her loss caused her so much grief and mental turmoil that she had to drop out of Del Mar College. “I had no support and no family. I had nobody,” said Givens.

Givens still had her job but no longer had a place to live. She spent nights sleeping on church benches, steps, and even under bridges. “I never asked anybody for anything,” said Givens. She continued to work and fight for herself until she was back on her feet again. In 2008 Givens moved from Corpus Christi to San Antonio, TX, where she got a new job with McDonald’s. At this time in her life, givens felt on top of the world. “[I was] doing great, [and] I finally allowed myself to get closure from my firstborn.”

However, an unfortunate side effect of homelessness is exposure and addiction. Like many, Givens was not immune to this aspect, and her addiction cost her more than anyone should ever have to pay. “I went through another loss with my second child,” said Givens, who was then hospitalized for her mental health.

Still, through all of the obstacles she faced, Givens never gave up on her dreams and maintained her kind heart.

After hitting yet more obstacles, Givens was able to turn her life around for the better. Still, the specific moment that spring-boarded her positive trajectory was a man who showed her human kindness in June 2017 during her lowest moment. “I did not know him, and he did not know me,” said Givens. “He gave me his blanket so that I could sleep for the night.” The very next day, Givens enrolled herself in Houston Community College.

Despite facing ongoing homelessness, Givens never lost her ambition and drive. She persisted through her courses at Houston Community and earned her first associate degree in 2019. That same year, she enrolled at Texas Southern University, becoming a concurrently enrolled student.

Despite early challenges in her college career, she not only made it through her first semester at TSU, but she excelled with a 3.66 GPA. Givens said, “It showed me just how strong I really am.” She’s now a college graduate with four degrees. She’s the current president of TSU’s Golden Key chapter and plans to pursue her nursing degree and ultimately work in pediatric orthopedic oncology.

Indeed, Given’s story is the personification of the proverb, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” She continued pushing forward even when it seemed the world was against her. “I never gave up on my goals, I fought through things, whereas other students would have dropped out by now, but I didn’t.”

Loris Durrant has been the senior staff accountant for Golden Key for over 15 years. Durrant said what drew her to Golden Key were the society’s values centered around helping students excel. “In 2006, my family and I relocated from Florida to Georgia, where I found an opportunity to join this great team,” said Durrant.

She believes that the best benefits of Golden Key are the scholarships, networking, workshops, and the excitement of building a community together. She said what made her proud to be a part of Golden Key this past year was how flexible they became with allowing everyone to work from home.

Durrant explained that Golden Key put a lot of effort into ensuring that everyone worked in a stress-free environment, and the executive team has been very approachable. “This type of environment allows others and me to grow and feel secure in the place we are working for,” said Durrant.

She believes a great leader must have strong listening and communication skills. “I also believe one of the greatest skills to have in life are warmth and relatability,” said Durrant. “My inspiration comes from the golden rule, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Durrant said her longtime best friend was the best person she had ever worked with. “We socialized and traveled together, always looking out for one another,” she said.

She said the best career advice she has ever received was, “Whatever you are doing, do the best until you leave, and don’t burn any bridges.” The top advice Durrant would give new members is to network and take advantage of personal development opportunities.

“If I could recommend one thing to watch or listen to, it would be good reggae music from Bob Marley, Beres Hammond, and many more,” said Durrant. “It will get you through any rough patches, chores included!”

Tom Themeles truly is the living embodiment of the phrase, “life doesn’t always go according to plan.” A little over twenty years ago, Themeles attended three different schools and earned four degrees. He started at McMaster University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Geoscience and History with honors. He then attended Wilfrid Laurier University and earned a Master’s in Psychiatric History. Last he went to Brock University for Teachers College and earned a Bachelor of Education in teaching.

With so much education and potential under his belt, Themeles should have had a straightforward trajectory into the career of his choice, right? Unfortunately, that was not the case. “The advent of the internet and its subsequent rise in the digital era displaced the concept of a career,” said Themeles. According to him, the subject matter he had just learned was irrelevant shortly after he left school. Themeles said, “I felt behind, tried to keep up, and stayed up to date. It was a struggle.”

After remaining unemployed for some time after finishing his education, Themeles took a government position at Crown Corporation in Ontario, handling insurance claims in Canada. He said, “I did not have the correct information, skills, education, and experience to pursue anything else at that time.”

Although he wasn’t on the career path he had chosen, Themeles continued to excel in his place of work. He held four different positions while employed by Crown Corporation, with his last job title being an Operations Manager. Themeles said that even though his work at Crown Corporation was unrelated to his university degrees, the transferable soft skills he learned could still be applied.

The other positive takeaways from his job were the people he worked with and the leadership and management skills he learned. “One of the best parts of the job was the people. I made some great friends that I stay connected with to this day,” said Themeles. “I also had terrific managers whom I enjoyed working with and who taught me many things.”

Shortly after gaining employment at Crown Corporation, his life also took a happy turn. Themeles met and married his wife, Marla, and they have a beautiful daughter. With his new family, Themeles now also had a new perspective on life. While working for the Canadian government, Themeles felt he did not belong in that institution. “I felt trapped, continuously stressed, and worried about my future and health,” said Themeles.

It was time for Themeles to change his journey from pursuing an income to pursuing his passions. However, it had been years since he was last in university, and Themeles wasn’t even sure what he was passionate about anymore. “I decided to research my future work. I discovered this whole world centered on technology,” said Themeles. “I read about data science, robotics, the development of AI, 3D printing, and so on.” He felt reinvigorated and decided to be part of what he considered to be ‘the future’.

“To do that, the first thing I did was empty most (but not all) of my prior learning,” said Themeles. “I had to start over.” He did some research and started taking data science at Sheridan College, where he learned a variety of platforms, concepts, and programming. In 2020 he finally acquired the certification he needed to begin his new career path. Themeles said, “The program was fantastic, the professors were great, and I also met many people who have become good friends.”

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic started shortly after completing his certificate program. The good news was that, by that time, Themeles was ready to take the next step. The leadership and management skills he learned while employed at Crown Corporation became instrumental during the early days of the pandemic. He had to learn how to react, problem-solve, and mediate various issues. In late 2020 Themeles began a new job that he now enjoys tremendously. With his new direction in life, he feels as though he is once again filled with immense potential.

Today Themeles is thriving in his new career. And in his spare time, he writes articles for the Golden Key Academy. His journey is a reminder to all that life can be unpredictable but that it’s never too late to make a change. Themeles said, “Today’s world is moving quickly, and you need to determine the trends, topics, and subjects to keep up with. Being adaptable, flexible, and open-minded will keep you sharp, in the know, and geared for success.”

Gillian Cloete has been the Relations Manager at Golden Key for over five years. However, she has been involved with the Golden Key Structures for over ten years. Cloete was initially drawn to Golden Key as a member and part of the team because she wanted to be part of a global network focused on excellence and serving the community.

Cloete said she had seen the development of members over the past year and how they have grown and driven themselves to be impactful industry leaders. Witnessing this development firsthand has made her proud to be a part of Golden Key. She explained that she’s inspired by young people making a difference in communities.

“Many young people are focused on becoming social media sensations, making millions, and being better than the next person,” she said. “[However,] when I see exceptional young leaders getting up and giving back, it gives me a sense of inspiration and hope for a better world tomorrow.”

Cloete explained that the best career advice she has ever received was to do something she’s passionate about, and she will never work a day in her life. She said, “as a very passionate individual, this has always stuck with me.”

Cloete said that Dr. Elmie Castleman is the best person she has ever worked with. “She is such a passionate, assertive, and dynamic leader,” she said. “She absolutely loves what she does and strives for excellence every second of every day.”

Cloete explained that a great leader celebrates and helps each team member develop their strengths and talents. She said that a great leader allows teammates to grow as individuals within a team.

Cloete explained that the best skill to have in life is the ability to work interdependently. She said, “this [will] assist in having respect for the different ways people think, learn and process information. Increases self-awareness and appreciation for others.”

Cloete loves all of Golden Key’s benefits and recommends everything on the Golden Key Academy. She said, “it is like a treasure chest of growth and development opportunities.”

She also encourages all new members to participate and constantly push their limits. Cloete said, “you cannot grow when you are in a position of comfort.”

For members looking for a recommendation outside of Golden Key Cloete, the book The 5 am Club by Robin Sharma is recommended.

Izzy Pinto has been the finance and operations manager for Golden Key’s Asia Pacific region for over five years. She was initially drawn to Golden Key as a member and part of the team when she started working for Golden Key as a contractor filling in the previous accountant’s role. Golden Key then offered her a full-time position.

“I wanted to slow down in my career,” said Pinto. “I wanted to work for an organization that gave back to the community. With Golden Key helping students achieve their potential, I thought it was the right fit and a great addition to the community along with aligning with my values.”

What inspires Pinto the most are women working in male-dominated workplaces who dare to speak up against workplace bullying, racism, and misogyny. She said, “unfortunately, all these things still occur in some workplaces, and I applaud those women who stand up against this.”

This past year that what made Pinto proud to be a part of Golden Key was working with such a forward-thinking CEO. She said, “Golden Key’s CEO cares about the staff.”

Pinto said this compassion has always made her proud of where Golden Key is now. “If we didn’t have that, our organization would have been a casualty of covid,” she said. “Everyone has put in more than expected to allow us to continue to succeed through covid.”

Pinto explained that working as part of a team and being able to communicate makes a great leader. “I feel that many leaders feel that their position is about how they want to feel rather than how they make their staff feel, and it shouldn’t be about that,” said Pinto. “It should be about how to pass down your knowledge to those who rely on you.”

There have been many different people during Pinto’s career who have positively impacted her working environment.

“My manager in my first ever job was my favorite person to work with as she taught me that being kind and not taking your position too seriously was the key to being an amazing boss and mentor,” said Pinto.

She has tried to follow what she learned from her old manager over the years. The best career advice Pinto has ever received was, “prove your worth to yourself and not to others, as you are the only person who will truly appreciate what you do for yourself.”

Pinto also explained that the best skills to have in life are empathy, compassion, and common sense. “I feel they are skills you need to have these days as they are disappearing,” said Pinto.

Golden Key allows members to show employers that they have worked hard to reach the top rank at a university. Pinto said, “the most important benefit that I think we offer the webinar program, which, in the APAC region, has been a big hit.”

Pinto’s top advice for new members is: “Don’t aim at achieving what you want; aim at achieving what you need, as that will get you what you want in life.”

“I think our new members who are still finding their way in their career path would benefit from our webinar presentation run by Megumi Miki,” said Pinto.

Megumi Miki’s webinar presentation can be found in the Golden Key Academy.

Ian Sankey has been the Canadian Director of the Golden Key International Honour Society for more than 13 years. He first heard about the opportunity to become the Canadian Director through a fellow Canadian expatriate in Atlanta, also employed by Golden Key at the time.

“The idea of working with university students across Canada sounded great,” Sankey says.

When first interviewed, he met with a number of the staff and was delighted to discover such a friendly team.

“We had some good conversations,” says Sankey. “I knew it would be a good working environment. I think the people you meet through Golden Key are one of the biggest benefits of being part of the organization. I have met some incredible students, wonderful university professors and administrators that advise the student groups, and really impressive alumni and honorary members. I have come into contact with people from all around the world and grown my personal and professional network far beyond many typical job contacts.”

Although he has met even more people through his role working with Golden Key, Sankey believes these networking opportunities are there to enjoy for all global lifetime members.

“I think the members can experience the same widening of their networks by getting involved with their local chapter and then also expanding their contacts out to other chapters around the world,” he says. “These connections are good avenues to lifelong friendships, work networking contacts, and learning opportunities.”

For Sankey, 2022 has been challenging since the world is already two years into the epidemic, and many schools are operating at least partly online. Nonetheless, he said he is delighted with the student leaders at Canadian institutions for their persistent efforts to unite students and serve their local communities. Student leaders continue to arrange meaningful service projects for their communities, and the pandemic has not deterred them from doing so. Their optimism is uplifting in light of the difficulties caused by the spread of COVID-19.

Prior to joining Golden Key, Sankey worked in various positions in the non-profit and education fields. He explains that it was in a previous role at the Maritime National Park in San Fransisco that he met the best person he’s ever worked with, a fellow instructor at his job.

“We became roommates, and he is still one of my best friends to this day,” says Sankey. “Working with him was always fun and interesting, and his quick wit and wonderful storytelling ability kept the students engaged and entertained. We played off each other very well as instructors. He later became a writer and book publisher. It is always great to work with people who really enjoy their jobs, and you can feel that their enthusiasm and talents are well aligned with the job.”

The best professional advice Sankey ever received was to seize chances when they presented themselves. A few years back, at a GK New Member Recognition Event, he was listening to a presentation by a Golden Key honorary member. One of the speakers was a doctor who dedicated their career to understanding how the brain works and how it develops.

The speaker reminisced about meeting a neurologist at a party while he was just out of medical school. They had considered family practice, but he had always been fascinated by the brain’s inner workings. After a late-night neuroscience discussion, the neurologist invited him to join his team and participate in an upcoming research study. He shifted his focus to neurology and hasn’t looked back since. Because he was curious and willing to seize possibilities as they presented themselves, that fortuitous encounter led him onto a new route (which he now enjoys).

“I think the general idea is to not be afraid to try different things and to take opportunities when they arise,” he says.

Sankey said that an excellent manager and leader can inspire and motivate their team to achieve their goals.

“It is great if you are very capable and talented at what you do,” explains Sankey. “It is even better if you can also help others around you and lift them up by helping them when they need it and trusting in them as well so they can shine on their own.”

Sankey also believes that a consistently good attitude can do a lot for a person.

“I don’t want to sound like a daily affirmation poster but being able to stay positive and shift how you think about things is a powerful mental tool,” says Sankey.

Sankey explains that unknown challenges, adversity, self-doubt, and the occasional “what the heck is going on?” will affect most of us. He advises that everyone keeps going, keeps working, keeps trying, and reaches out to connect with people and activities that are important to them.

According to Sankey, things will typically work out for the best if people are friendly to themselves and try not to worry too much. He says that his parents were the first people to inspire him.

“They have always been there for my brother and myself, and I am fortunate enough to get to spend time with them every week,” he says.

“My wife and kids also inspire me,” he continues. “My wife is an amazing person who has a great career and a wonderful family, she is a great mom and partner, and she somehow always knows how to buy people the perfect gift.”

Sankey also considers his children to be a source of his motivation and he wants to serve as a positive example for them.

“Their playful natures and inventiveness keep me engaged and motivated to show them the world and provide them with the best education possible,” he says.

Finally, his top piece of advice for new members? Get involved!

“There are a lot of ways to make the most of your lifetime membership,” he says. “Apply for Golden Key scholarships, attend events put on by your local chapter, register and explore the Golden Key Academy, or join a student leadership team and organize events yourself if you have the time. Golden Key can be much more than a line on your resume, and I think those who put themselves in the position to meet other people and get involved in activities can really take their membership to the next level. There are a lot of member stories at www.goldenkey.org/canada that demonstrate how other members have made Golden Key a big part of their university experience and beyond.”

“I am honoured to receive the Outstanding Member Award and hope to continue demonstrating exceptional achievement in all three pillars of the Golden Key International Honour Society,” Buntle says.

Currently, Buntle serves as an Associate Consultant at EY-Parthenon.

“I am a strategy consultant with over three years of experience in helping companies navigate complex strategic and regulatory challenges to drive innovation and growth in developing and emerging markets,” Buntle mentions. 

Buntle shares the challenges that exist while living in South Africa.

“South Africa has a long and well-documented history of using education as a tool of discrimination, oppression, and segregation,” Buntle explains. “Despite the abolition of colonialism and apartheid, many historically disadvantaged individuals (HDI) continue to live through the sustained economic marginalisation of these political systems. One of the consequences of sustained economic marginalisation is a persistent challenge for HDIs to access (institutions of) higher education.”

In spite of these challenges, Buntle is proud of all of her accomplishments.

“As a black woman in South Africa, I appreciate what a privilege it is to have access to higher education and be part of an academic honour society that supports academic excellence and provides avenues for students of all backgrounds to source educational funding,” Buntle says.

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Buntle; we wish you the best of luck at EY-Parthenon!

“I am honoured and humbled to receive the Golden Key Outstanding Member Award for 2021,” Julia says. “This year with Golden Key has brought a myriad of opportunities and connections, and with that came a great deal of hard work, resilience, and dedication behind the scenes. I feel truly lucky to have these efforts recognised.”

Julia is thankful for everyone who has supported her.

“Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the amazing people that both supported me and worked alongside me, without whom this award would not be possible,” Julia mentions. “My fellow chapter member and friend, Amy Jones, co-directed the GK Mentorship Programme with me and was the most amazing support system throughout the year. Also, my presidents, Sujin and Suyoun Jung, who ran the University of Canterbury chapter with poise and resilience.”

She is extremely dedicated to the betterment of her community.

“Personally, I am wholly dedicated to the work that I do in the community and running the Golden Key Mentorship Programme for 2021 was another rewarding experience,” Julia shares. “Together, we created a programme that fostered passion and direction in young students; the smiles on their faces during the final presentation evenings were a tribute to the impact that such a program can make. Golden Key continues to motivate me to engage in this community work, making a small impact wherever I can.”

Julia is thankful to Golden Key for allowing her to express her passion for academic excellence. 

“Golden Key also fosters my passion for academic excellence, driving me to gain the knowledge I need to make a difference in the world,” Julia reveals. “Studying psychology means being wholly dedicated to your field, and I hope to one day use my theoretical knowledge as well as the skills I have learnt through volunteering to better the lives of others, both at an individual and societal level.”

She is grateful to Golden Key for awarding her this scholarship.

“Overall, this award means so much to receive; however it represents something much bigger than just myself,” Julia says. “It represents my community, including everyone who came before me, stands with me, and is to come after me, all of whom are doing what they can to see a real change in this world.”

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Julia; we wish you the best of luck completing your psychology degree!

Lessons I have learned:

1. In the Malawian medical system, nearly all medical knowledge is discussed as it would be in the United States. Still, after the conversation is complete, the physician would say, “but, here…” because the resources are so strained that they need to approach patient care differently.
2. The medical equipment is very much outdated; however, it is important to keep in mind that it does the same job differently. Therefore, things may take longer, but they will eventually be accomplished.
3. As much as we are there to learn from the Malawians, they are also learning from us. Medicine is a collaborative sport everywhere.
4. Malawian physicians see so many extremely ill patients and those with advanced pathology that we would rarely to never see in the United States. This lowers the physicians’ threshold for alert and concern, but to us, it seems very alarming.
5. A physical exam is very important and very thorough in Malawi. Without the advanced technology and easy availability of imaging, your hands and eyes need to be your best tools. In emergency rooms in the United States, just by walking through the door, you earn an image of some kind.

To anyone contemplating studying abroad, no matter what part of the world, please do it! You will not regret the experience, and you will be a better person because of it! Golden Key helps support students who are interested in studying abroad through their many scholarships. Apply and watch your world change!

“I would like to express my gratitude for being awarded this Golden Key 2021 Outstanding Member Award and scholarship,” Tatenda says. “I have been a part of the Golden Key University of Cape Town Chapter since 2019, and this is my first award. Winning this award means so much to me, my peers at UCT, and my families in both my home country and country of permanent residence, Zimbabwe and South Africa, respectively.”

Tatenda is devoted to her education and hopes to continue studying to honor her family.

“I hope to continue my academic journey, up until the level of obtaining a Ph.D. someday,” Tatenda shares. “This is an especially meaningful goal for me as the first girl-child in my family to be pursuing postgraduate education. I am truly passionate about the gift of education and how it truly keeps on giving.”

She appreciates all the support she’s received throughout her academic journey.

“With the supportive network of the Golden Key International Honours Society and its welcoming Chapter at the University of Cape Town that connects students and role models, I have benefited from having my confidence uplifted and motivated in times where I felt most hopeless,” Tatenda mentions. “Despite the painful and isolating experience of an unexpected pandemic these past two years, I feel optimistic about the endless possibilities in my continued journey as an academic, leader and advocate for social justice and prosperity.”

Tatenda enjoys developing her research and writing skills.

“As a UCT Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, I have had the opportunity to deeply reflect on and explore my research interests and develop my academic writing skills,” Tatenda reveals. “I am particularly enthusiastic about sociolinguistics and have expressed this in my involvement in numerous MMUF writing workshops, regional seminars, and in the MMUF’s annual Summer Research Training Program hosted by the University of Chicago.”

Tatenda plans to use her education to improve education and the awareness of African languages.

“From my academic interests in linguistics, I hope to contribute to the project of decolonizing education through the lens of language,” Tatenda says. “I am particularly passionate about the promotion of African languages as equally valuable communicators of intellect and hope to make contributions towards the development of effective multilingual language policies in education through my research. I strongly believe that transformation and decolonization in African education begin with us being able to use our own languages to write our futures.”

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Tatenda; we wish you the best of luck completing your bachelor’s!