Alpha Phi Omega, Leadership, Friendship, Service. When I started at Susquehanna in 2015, I never expected those six words to change my life.

Alpha Phi Omega is the coed Greek organization that is dedicated solely to service to others. We support many different philanthropies and work hard to better our community. We stand strongly by our three pillars of Leadership, Friendship and Service.

Starting in January of my first year, I had never heard of APO and during their Spring Recruitment week one of my friends was going to their Open Chapter and asked me to come with him.

I really only agreed because I had nothing else to do. That one hour meeting completely changed my life.

I saw this group of people who came from all areas of the campus community, of all majors, athletes, musicians, members of other Greek organizations, and it really called to me as something I wanted to be a part of. Without knowing really anything else, I sent in an application, was accepted and began my new member process.

At this point in time I was struggling a lot. My depression was at the worst it has ever been, I felt very much alone and I was struggling to really find where I fit in on campus.

I was strongly considering transferring closer to home, or dropping out of college all together.

There weren't many people I could talk to about this and therefore felt very isolated in my struggles. APO showed me that there were so many opportunities here and it gave me an outlet to meet new people, and get involved not only on campus but around the community too.

During that time as a new member, I decided that I really needed to make the most of this and do everything possible to integrate myself into this group. With that decided, I joined the new member exec board as a service chair with my friend Jocelyne. From that point, APO became my life. I was fully dedicated to it and wanted to integrate myself in every way possible.

I believe that APO truly saved my life, and my career as a student at Susquehanna. After joining I became much more confident in myself and happy on campus.

I made the decision to attend the Women's Leadership Symposium through the SWSB and from that Symposium I learned of a job application to work for the Office of the President.

I applied to be the Events Coordinator Intern for the Office of the President and work for Liz Hahn. I thought it was the biggest long shot in the world and they would never choose me. I remember vividly the day I found out I had gotten the job.

It was during finals week and I was taking a nap in between studying for exams. I heard my phone go off and in a daze opened it to see an email from Liz that said CONGRATULATIONS!

At this point, I was fully awake and rolled over to get out of bed, only to get my legs twisted in my blankets and fell, from my fully raised bed, to the floor. It is definitely a moment I will never forget.

After that first semester in APO and I had completed the new member process, I knew that I needed to make the most of this organization because it would do great things for me.

I decided to be a spirit chair my second semester in APO and then the following year I took over as secretary. Last semester I made the decision that I wanted to run for President and am so honored and happy to say that I am the current APO, Xi Iota chapter president and it has been the greatest experience of my life.

Don't get me wrong it is all kinds of stress and crazy but every minute is completely worth it.

Alpha Phi Omega is more than just a greek organization because we are dedicated to helping and benefiting others. It is for that reason that I think joining APO saved me.

We are not only helping members in the community but we are helping each other. We support each other, look out for each other and my APO bros have truly become my family. I am so proud, and so thankful to be a member of this organization. So, to Alpha Phi Omega, I say, thank you. In LFS, thank you.