Major: History and economics
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Year: Junior
What made you want to become a leader in the Greek community?
For me, I was kind of thrust into it. I did Greek Emerging Leaders in the spring of my freshman year just for fun. I never really considered doing any executive positions until the opportunity presented itself when the president before me resigned. A lot of people said I might be good at it, so I thought about it for about a week, or so, and ended up running. It was more personal for me than just the Greek community as a whole.
Was the position what you expected?
No, it’s much worse than I could have possibly imagined. However, the person I was before I was president is much different than the person I am now. It definitely helps you grow up and realize that there are serious problems that we need to take care of. It made me realize there are actually important things in my life and in the lives of others. It helps you grow up a lot, with the amount of difficult situations you are put in as president, especially as a 21-year-old guy. It’s remarkable.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned from being president of Phi Delt?
I would say I have slowly become more patient with people who don’t necessarily think the same way I do. When you have an incredibly diverse amount of people in the way they think, you are forced to consider everyone’s opinion when making a decision. That’s really difficult for me to do, still, but you have to do it.
What discrepancies have you found between the perception and reality in Greek life at Northwestern?
It’s much better than I thought it would be in that everyone is cordial to one another. For instance, every week, all the presidents get together, and I’ve made some great friends from that. I thought once I was in Phi Delt, it would only be Phi Delt, but I feel comfortable talking to everyone at an event or on campus. In comparison to other Greek life around the country, we are pretty progressive. You read about these things in the news, and our chapters do make mistakes, but not nearly as violent or terrible as at other schools.
What event put on by your chapter have you most enjoyed this year?
I would say Fright Night, mostly because we don’t have a keynote philanthropy event, as of right now. It was a great way to meet a lot of freshmen. I wasn’t invited freshman year, which I think is funny now, looking back on it. I also really enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner because it’s a great way to bring together all the brothers, who I don’t really get to see as much, anymore. I also get to meet a lot of freshman that are really interested in joining the chapter, which is great.
Is there anything you want Northwestern students to know about your chapter specifically?
I would say that we have the most diversity of opinion. The beauty of Phi Delt is that when you think of one person in particular that is representative of the group as a whole, you get a lot of fun people in that sense. The joke is that when you’re in our chapter, you can find five people at one point in time to do anything. If you want to find someone to play basketball or go to a show with you, you could find five people who would go with you.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully working, maybe in Chicago. Doesn’t really matter. I’m applying to all Chicago jobs right now. I want to work in investment banking. My dad is an investment banker, so I grew up with it. In third grade, my teacher asked my class what we wanted to be when we grew up, and I said investment banker.
Name: Laura Smith
Major: Journalism with a concentration in marketing and communications
Year: Junior
Hometown: Naperville, IL
What made you want to become a leader in the Greek community?
When I first came to Northwestern, I knew I wanted to join a sorority, but I had no idea this would be where I would end up. Growing up, my parents always taught me that when someone does something nice for you, you either write them a thank you note, or do something nice in return. So, with any organization that I have been involved in since high school, I try to give back.
How you do you balance everything that you do?
Camp Kesem, Gamma Phi, school, and keeping up any social relationships is hard, but I work best when I’m busy. You learn how to balance and learn time management. Plus, it’s all stuff I like to do, which makes it easy to get things done.
What event put on by your chapter do you most enjoy?
The events I get most excited for are our sisterhood events because we can goof off, be ourselves, and bond. We just had our Christmas party, which was so nice, and my freshman year, we went into Chicago to American Doll, which was something I will never forget.
Is there anything you want Northwestern students to know about your chapter?
I’m on the Panhellenic Board for next year, and I think every chapter on this campus is so unique, but I can’t think of one word to describe us. The women in our chapter do awesome and wonderful things, but I know that other chapters on this campus feel the same way. I think the differences between the chapters are a great thing about Greek life, but you can also find a lot of the same characteristics throughout all of them. I think it is a family away from home. I know that there are stereotypes at other schools, but I don’t think they accurately define a group of women or men.
Why did you decide to become a part of the Panhellenic Board?
The reason I decided to continue being a leader in the Greek community is because, through being president, I got to meet all the presidents from all the other chapters. They all really inspire me and help me grow as a person, and I wouldn’t have gotten to do that without my role as President. Since I will be head of programming, I am hoping to continue this inter-sorority and fraternal bonding. There is so much we can learn from each other, whether it is in our own strengths or weaknesses or those of the organization. We are not just defined by our chapter, but we are defined by the fact that we are Greek.
What do you like to do with your free time?
When I have free time, I don’t know what to do with it. It’s more of a surprise if I have any, so I spend the first part of it thinking what do. I’ll end up watching TV or calling my parents and catching up with them.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I don’t know where I see myself in two years, so 10 years is kind of pushing it. I hope to be somewhere happy. I know I will have to work a corporate job, but I would hope to be working, eventually, giving back to my community and the people who have given so much to me. I would also love to do something great for my parents, who have given so much to me.
