One year ago, my mom and I went to see a play downtown at the theater. The entire time I could not sit still. My hose-covered legs kept bouncing up and down as my flats tapped the floor. Every few minutes, I would glance down at my phone. No missed call. What could be taking so long? The play ended and I could hardly tell what it was about. As the flood of people made their way toward the exit, my hand started to vibrate. I looked down and saw I was getting a call. The call. One hand held my phone up to my ear while one hand cupped my other ear drowning out the noise.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Leah. This is Epsilon Kappa’s chapter advisor. We would like to offer you the position of Alpha Xi Delta’s Programs Vice President. Do you accept?”
“Yes I do!”
While I was slightly disappointed at first because this position was not my first choice, I was still ecstatic that I was now on my sorority’s executive board.
It’s been a year since that phone call and now my time on exec is quickly coming to an end. As I look back on the time I served, many emotions fill my mind -- relief, pride, and appreciation, to name a few. However, throughout my term, those weren’t always the emotions running through my head; it was more like frustration, confusion and sleep deprivation.
You will never know what it is like serving on an executive board of a sorority until you’ve done it. You will never know the feeling of 100+ girls angry with you because you canceled a dance. Or the feeling of judgment because some girls are scared to get to know you just because you’re on exec. Or the feeling of planning an event for months, only to be thanked by one person for your efforts. Take my word for it -- it sucks. It’s not fun being the “bad guy.” The one who is a part of making decisions that are best for the chapter, especially when the chapter doesn’t see it that way. The one that has to reprimand sisters when bylaws are not followed. But someone has to do it.
I’ve learned so many lessons while holding this position that will not only help me in college but also have helped prepare me for life. You can never take things too personally. Someone doesn’t like the retreat you planned? So what? The 90 other girls did. Someone complained that the educational program you put on was boring? Oh well, some girls may have actually learned something helpful from it. Someone didn’t thank you for all the work you’ve done? Who cares, you’re not going to be praised for every little thing you do.
Although it sounds like only negative things come from being on a sorority’s executive board, I’ve saved the best for last. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in college. I’ve been able to connect with sisters who I probably would not have talked to if I hadn’t been placed in a position where I had to. I’ve met sisters from all over the country while attending Alpha Xi Delta conferences and developed relationships with them as well. Your chapter holds you to a higher standard when you’re on exec, which helped me hold myself to a higher standard. My resume boosted tremendously now that I can say I was one of the vice presidents of my sorority. I’ve gained leadership and friendship throughout this experience and for that I’m so grateful.
You will never know what it is like serving on an executive board of a sorority until you’ve done it. The feeling you get when you require more study hours, and then start to see your sisters grades improve. Or the feeling of someone who may not be close to you texting you for advice just because you’re someone they can look up to. Or the feeling of respect you get when you tell someone you’re on exec. Or the feeling of someone nominating you for something because they’ve seen your strengths as a leader.
These are the feelings I’ll remember when looking back on my time on exec. It truly has helped me develop into the best version of myself and realize my potential -- one of my sorority’s main goals.
It takes a certain type of person to hold a position on a sorority’s executive board. And I’m happy that one year ago, my sorority saw that person as me.
