Starting Conversations

by Alessia Satterfield
(Xi, University of Nebraska)

As I have begun my travels I have found myself looking on in awe as I observe collegiate women rise to the occasion and accomplish magnificent things. Good news for the world is that there is no shortage of incredibly strong young collegiate females out there ready to show just about anyone that being a sorority woman basically means they can take on anything with grace and dignity.
 
Too often in today’s society women ages 18-22 are not always thought of as a demographic that will lead and manage organizations to accomplish great things. To those skeptics I tell them to look to the VP recruitment who stays up until the wee hours of the morning making sure that everything is in place for the next day of recruitment, just to wake up two hours later. I ask those doubters to observe the chapter member who makes sure that her sisters are happy by singing silly songs in the dining room or writing simple notes of praise and leaving them anonymously in mailboxes. I request you look to the chapter president who sacrifices any of her free time to discuss with chapter members what they see to be areas of improvement for their own chapter. These are not women that one would find randomly throughout the nation these are collegiate women in all chapters who are dedicated, passionate, and enthusiastic about what Alpha Chi Omega stands for.

In addition to being thought of as non-leaders collegiate women can be stereotyped as selfish and unfocused. I say to those critics that collegiate women of today in our chapters are simply incredible. They have high standards and set lofty goals for themselves and for their sisters. They hold each other accountable and require themselves to serve as role models and mentors. These women value philanthropy and service, volunteering their time and talents to assist others. These women watch out for one another and care about each other’s happiness, above their own.

I cannot count the number of times I have witnessed an act by one of our many collegiate women that have me taking pause and simply smiling. I am proud of the work they are doing to become the best version of themselves. I am proud of the way they interact with people of all ages and demographics, that being advisors and alumnae, Panhellenic sisters, University officials and parents. I have been inspired by our collegiate women to work harder, be more passionate, create more solutions, look outside the box and care more fondly. Bottom line is that the future of this organization is in great hands, and the collegiate women of Alpha Chi Omega are impressive and will continue to do great things for our fraternity as well as the world.

by Claire Bailey
(Beta Phi, Bowling Green State University)

While on a recent shopping trip I noticed the various back to school items displayed all over the store. Pens, paper, markers, and all of the other necessities were on sale and ready for purchase. As I instinctively reached for the pack of college-ruled paper, I realized that for the first time in 18 years my back to school shopping list looks much different than before.  I did not need to be searching for a book bag or the perfect binder/folder combination set. I in fact needed to be focused on how many business casual outfits I could manage to cram into a suitcase and how many pairs of shoes were really necessary for a three week long travel schedule.

I am not sure if after graduation I was truly ready for what was to come. My life had been so protected behind the walls of that higher education I did not know what to expect in the “real world.”  I had never found it so difficult to pack a suitcase as it was before my first chapter visit. I found it a struggle to allow myself to put down the tools that had helped me through my undergraduate experience and allow myself to work off of the knowledge that I already had gained. I knew that there was no book list for being a chapter consultant and no manual in the world could contain all the necessary information needed. This was not a pass/fail type of opportunity. My back to school journey was about to look much different than in the years past.

However, upon arriving at my first visit my fears were calmed and my worried subsided. I quickly learned that the joy of my position is that I have the opportunity to be the student and the teacher all at the same time. I am indeed going back to school! I have the opportunity at each visit to learn something new from each chapter advisor, president, executive board officer, and member.  I believe that being open and honest about my desire to learn more helped me to gained the respect and trust of the women I visited.

What I needed to understand is learning does not always take place in a classroom, just as teaching does not need to be confined to what is on a syllabus.  Some of my most interesting and valuable teaching moments so far have been in the president’s room at midnight while looking over ICS.  Just because I have an idea of where I want to go with a meeting or workshop, it does not mean that we can’t end up in a different place and still have a valuable session. I now know that being open to a new type of unconstrained learning in a different and ever-changing environment is going to be key throughout the year.

I think that it is so important for our collegiate members to know that just as they are starting back to school and a new year of curriculum, we as consultants, staff, and volunteers are also starting a new year of learning from them. I look forward to a year full of learning. I am excited for the teachable moments and the times I can stop, watch, and learn. Our Alpha Chi Omega women are fantastic teachers and yet still very open to the suggestions! I am looking forward to sharing, learning, and growing from our ladies over the next year and throughout the rest of my Alpha Chi Omega experience, all while looking fabulous with only two suitcases and a carry on!