Hello Florida District!
My name is Christina Kozman, and I am a senior at Nova High School honored to serve as your Florida District Governor. Over the years, I have experienced Key Club as a member, club president, Lieutenant Governor, and now Governor, and each role has shown me how much can begin with one person who cares. One of my earliest service memories was supporting individuals with special needs, where a Kiwanian told me I could call him “Uncle Richie.” That small moment stayed with me because it reminded me that service is not only about what we accomplish, but how we make people feel. Since then, I have seen one invitation create a leader, one idea become a project, and one member transform a club. That is what inspired me to serve the District, and I cannot wait to see what Florida Key Club creates together this year.
Leadership Journey
Being Governor means supporting, connecting, and advocating for members across Florida. I work alongside our 41 Lieutenant Governors, District committees, executives, advisors, and Kiwanis-Family partners to strengthen resources, share opportunities, and help what we create at the District level actually reach our clubs. Behind that are plenty of emails, Zoom calls, spreadsheets, and late-night brainstorming sessions, but the goal is always to make something easier or more meaningful for a member. One initiative especially close to my heart is Hygiene Homes, a project under our Large Scale Service Project that creates community stations stocked with essentials like soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. More than anything, I want clubs to notice what their communities need, feel confident responding, and live out our motto, “Caring—Our Way of Life.”
My Key Club Journey
My Key Club journey started as a member at Nova High School, but it truly began changing me when I became club president and promised that every meeting would include an opportunity to serve. I wanted members to experience Key Club, not just hear about it, and I carried that mindset with me as Lieutenant Governor. That year, I helped organize 12 Divisional Council Meetings with 12 service projects, from making sandwiches and collecting supplies to supporting individuals with special needs and creating care items. One of my favorite projects was a CPR certification event that I was initially told probably would not work. After months of planning and a Florida Opportunity Fund grant, we were able to offer certification for about $10 per member. It taught me that persistence, the right resources, and one person willing to start can turn an unlikely idea into reality. More than any project or position, though, the people I met along the way are what made Key Club feel like family.
Leadership & Growth
Key Club has completely reshaped what leadership means to me. I used to think a leader was the person making the announcements, sending the emails, or standing at the front of the room; now I believe leadership is about creating the foundation that allows other people to succeed. Sometimes that means speaking up, sometimes it means listening closely, and sometimes it means realizing someone else’s idea is better than yours and giving them the freedom to pursue it. One of my biggest lessons as Governor has been learning how to provide enough guidance to keep everyone moving toward the same goal without limiting the creativity that makes each person valuable. My advice to members who want to lead is to start exactly where they are: volunteer, follow through, notice what is missing, help without being asked, and give your current responsibility everything you have. Then apply, run, and take the opportunity—even if you are nervous—because leadership often begins long before anyone gives you the title.
Rapid Fire
Favorite food – Koshary, the ultimate comfort food and, in my opinion, proof that carbs belong together. You have to look it up!
Favorite show – The Nanny— easily one of the funniest sitcoms of the ’90s.
Favorite movie – Enola Holmes
Favorite artist – Saint Levant
One word that describes me – Optimistic
Dream destination – Palau
Favorite Key Club event – DCON
Favorite service project – Making “Do it Yourself” pillows for people experiencing homelessness (which may or may not have involved building a pillow fort before we donated them!)
Fun Facts!
I was born in Egypt and moved to the United States when I was four years old. Even though I have spent most of my life here, my family has always kept the world feeling pretty small. We are spread across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and the UAE, so traveling has often meant getting to reconnect with people I love, not just seeing a new place. I think that is a big part of why I love traveling so much and hope to see as much of the world as I can. When I am home, you will probably find me near the water. I have spent most of my life swimming and playing water polo, and some of my closest friendships and favorite memories have come from those sports. I also love working with my hands and making things my own—I built my desk and am constantly finding something in my room to repaint or redesign. Looking toward the future, I hope to pursue medicine and eventually become a dermatologist, a career that combines my interest in science with the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
A Day in the Life
My days look a little different this year since I’m completing early admissions and taking college courses in organic chemistry, anatomy, statistics, and nutrition. Most mornings start around 8:00 a.m. with emails, District projects, or Key Club work before I switch over to classes. Afternoons usually mean coursework, meetings, school organizations, and district calls—with college applications, FaceTimes, family time, and my twin brother finding new ways to test my patience squeezed somewhere in between. A lot of being Governor happens behind the scenes. A webinar, graphic, event, or resource members see for a few minutes can take weeks of conversations, revisions, and collaboration to unlock. There are definitely a lot of moving parts, but seeing an idea finally come together and help members across the state is one of the most rewarding parts of the job—and probably the key to why I love it so much. Most nights end with homework and another round of Key Club work, so midnight and I are basically on a first-name basis. My schedule may be eventful, but between academics, service, friends, and projects I genuinely care about, I wouldn’t trade the chaos for anything.
Governor’s Advice
My biggest piece of advice is to do everything with intention and always play to win—not against others, but against the version of yourself that would rather settle. If you want to lead, do not wait for a title; give your current role everything you have, then apply, run, and take the opportunity even if you are nervous. If it does not work out, try again or find another way to contribute. I also wish I had known earlier how many resources Key Club offers, from grants and scholarships to DCON, officer resources, service support, and an entire Kiwanis Family ready to help. Sometimes the most important step is simply asking.
