NSLS stands for National Society of Leadership and Success. It is also known as Sigma (Success) Alpha (Action) Pi (Purpose), and it is a leadership honors society. This society is designed to make you a better leader and give you the resources to do so with scholarships, discounts, an online job bank, and much more. I originally thought it was just something to put on my resume and get access to all those benefits, but this organization became much more for me.

In order to join NSLS, you must be invited for academic achievement. You are required to go to a short orientation, a leadership training day, three success networking team (SNT) meetings, and three speaker broadcasts before induction. It usually sucks to hear that events are required, but I have actually learned a lot of valuable information by joining this organization and going to these events. After induction, you have all the tools and training to succeed in life, and the organization becomes whatever you make it. You can choose to take a board position in your chapter, attend multiple social/networking events, volunteer with your fellow members, and make a difference in your community. You can also choose to just reap the organization's many benefits, but what's the fun in only doing that? Either way, you have nothing stopping you being as involved in the organization as you want to be. Just remember, whatever you put into the organization is what you get out of it.

Photo credit: Leslie Stoneman

This is a portion of the mission statement directly from the NSLS website: "Benjamin Franklin once said, 'Many people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75.' People don't go after their dreams because they don't believe they are possible. The vision of the Society was inspired by the passion of helping people wake up and believe in their own potential that they might not be seeing yet." This statement is so true; more people need to follow their dreams and go for what truly makes them happy in life. All the events in your first semester of NSLS help guide you towards achieving that very goal. I was able to discover what I was truly passionate about at the leadership training event and change my life around accordingly.

"My most general description of NSLS would be that it is an organization that builds leaders. It gives you the tools to develop your own unique leadership style and the opportunity to reach out and make a difference in our community. The society for me has been rewarding and challenging in the best way." This is what the society means to Cassandra Durell, our chapter's President.

"Being a part of this honor society, I have learned what it takes to be an effective and influential leader. I have been part of the society for only one semester, and I will always be a member because of all the training I have been through. This society is more than just a resume booster; this is a lifetime skill I will always carry with me." This is just a glimpse of what NSLS can do for you from Melissa Lawrence, our chapter's Public Relations Coordinator.

I am the IT coordinator in the University of Akron chapter of this organization, and this position helped in getting my internship that I was offered a couple weeks later. I have already learned so much, taken on a board position, received my internship offer, and made friends, and I haven't even been inducted, yet. I am so excited to see what else in in store for me in the National Society of Leadership and Success. I highly encourage you to get involved with this organization if you get an invitation. You have so much to gain from this experience.