When he first joined a Rotary Club five years ago, Marion resident Brooks King was just looking to impress one of his teachers at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School.

Little did he know, the club would become an integral part of his life.

“I was trying to get on my teacher’s good side. I was a slacker. So, I volunteered. I didn’t really understand what was going on, but it is one of the most life-changing experiences,” King said.

In keeping with the international association’s mission to promote community service, 20-year-old King works alongside businessmen and women on numerous fundraisers.

“It opens my mind to a whole new way of interacting with people. It’s like a culture walk – you learn what it’s like to be a part of a certain demographic,” King said.

After high school, King joined “Rotaract,” a youth Rotary Club at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

In between working as a cook for the Beverly Yacht Club in Marion and being a full-time student at UMass, King spends countless hours as one of the leaders for Rotaract.

A slacker no more, King is a writing major at UMass and has aspirations of being a journalist after he graduates.

A typical week for King consists of balancing classes, his job at the Yacht Club, and leading business meetings to organize fundraisers for Rotaract.

One such fundraiser came after King attended a Rotary International Convention to New Orleans. There, he became involved with “Shelter Box,” a national organization that provides relief to victims of a natural disaster.

The items included in a Shelter Box vary depending on what is needed by a community, but can include medical supplies, cooking utensils, tools, and a tent. Each box costs $1,000.

When King wanted to raise funds for the charity, he decided that Rotaract should organize a concert in Rhode Island last year.

The concert, “Rock the Box,” featured a number of musicians, all of whom performed for free.

Between the concert and additional fundraisers at UMass, Rotaract has raised enough funds for 10 Shelter Boxes.

Of the experience, King said, “It’s hard to measure the monetary impact for everything that happens. For me, I like to see what the Rotaract kids do afterwards. That’s rewarding.”

For their efforts, King and his fellow Rotaract member, Beth Richards, were honored with the Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow Award.

The award honors club members who have generated more than $1,000 in service projects.

“It’s the best award you can be given,” King said. “I’ll never forget it. We both burst into tears.”

A Rotarian for life, King recalled his experience doing a trust fall with Richards at one of the club’s meetings. When Richards’ turn came to fall, King said, “Don’t worry. I’ll catch you.”

He has since had that phrase tattooed over his heart.