Macbook Keyboard Only Types Weird Symbols

Yesterday my macbook all of a sudden started typing only weird symbols. Every key pressed provides these weird symbols. I have searched for answers on how to fix this but none seem to work:

I have plugged in an external keyboard and that works, so it isn't the OS/software, it is the laptops keyboard.

I have cleaned the "alt keys" in case they were sticking.

I have checked my preferences and the US American Flag is selected.

I am completely open to starting from scratch and resetting the entire system but it doesn't appear to be a solution to this problem.

Any help would be appreciated. I can bring it into a apple store but was hoping I could figure it out through here first.

Thank you.