LET ME TELL YOU, it is a lot easier than it sounds!
When I was asked, “Molly, what ignites your confidence?” I
looked at it from a perspective of when I was a freshman, if you would have
told me some of the things I would be doing in the future, the large audiences
I would have to speak to, I would have probably laughed in your face.
You see, it’s not that I don’t like doing those things, but
I LACKED CONFIDENCE in myself! What I did not know was that joining a sorority
would completely mold me into a more confident, involved, woman. It would also
help me uncover hidden leadership capabilities in myself- and for that, I am
forever grateful.
Not going to lie, I was kind of thrown in to my biggest
leadership role on campus. I was selected as the member of my chapter who would
serve as Vice President of Panhellenic one year, and then President of
Panhellenic the next. Who would have known that I would be spiraled into a
hundred different areas where I had to lead, but I never once felt like I COULD
NOT do it. With the support of my sisters, my Greek Community, my advisor, and
many more, I have grown into someone who people actually come to for support
and advice (and sometimes that still blows my mind!!).
Many sorority women will tell you that yes, they are
involved. But my questions to the audience reading would be: Has being in a
sorority given you an opportunity to lead? In what areas of leadership do you
excel? What do you need to work on?
Getting a little personal here, I want to tell you my
answers to those questions. Yes, I have graciously been able to lead a team of
Pi Chis, a Junior Panhellenic, and finally a Panhellenic Council. I believe
that my strengths are that I’m easily approachable (or at least I think I am!),
I respect others opinions and ideas, and I care about our future as a group. I
finally learned how to delegate, which, by the way, has got to be the NUMBER
ONE thing you need to learn how to do while you’re in a leadership position!!
Some areas that I still think I need to work on is keeping everyone on track
(sometimes we’re on a role and I just don’t want to interrupt!), and making
sure each person is individually feeling prepared and on task.
I’m sure many of you would agree with me when I say that
being Greek has given you more opportunities than you can count, so make sure
you’re taking advantage of each and every one! Never take being a leader for
granted, it will be over before you know it! LEARN from your mistakes, and use
them to motivate yourself for the next time!
So, when people ask me “but how do I get involved?!”, the
VERY FIRST thing I say is “Look into going Greek!”. I say that because going
Greek has allowed me to experience more things than I have time to sit down and
tell you about, but I can say, that without going Greek, I would not be the
person that I am today. And for that, I thank you, NPC, for igniting my
confidence as both a leader, and a Greek woman.
