Peace out Senior Year

This as we all know, has not been the senior year that class of 2020 thought it would be. As college seniors the countless hours of homework, thousands of dollars spent to attend a school, and the activities we participate in were starting to come to a close. But, in March that all abruptly ended as we transitioned to online classes and began social distancing due to COVID-19. Senior banquettes were canceled, sorority alumni events were canceled, and eventually graduation was postponed. We finished all of our classes online and had commencement ceremonies over Zoom and Webex. But looking back the time I did spend at school was the best year yet. Senior year may have been cut short but I still managed to pack this year full of excitement, learning, and growth.

What I did:

Senior year was my year to apply to graduate school and finish my last requirements before graduation. While applying for graduate school to be a Speech Language Therapist, I decided I wanted to stay at a University and changed what I was pursuing as a masters. Now I will be going into Higher Education Administration because of the passion I have developed for the atmosphere and students at universities. But, besides that, my year was full of different activities. Including my final year in my sorority Alpha Sigma Tau which I was able to get a second little Carlie. I finished my time in Circle K International as the Service Facilitator/ Coordinator which was a joy. In Greek Life, I also had the opportunity to be a Gamma Chi and help new panhellenic women find their homes. As for LAS I was able to add to my family and get two mentees Kat and Kara who are the most amazing individuals. Additionally, I chaired my last Competition Day and was able to see how much progress we had made on the event in the last three years. As a student assistant I worked three more commencements and constantly followed Dr. Davies to make sure he was where he needed to be. At the university level I was also able to be on a committee for Awards, Scholarships, and Honors. Being on this committee gave me a glimpse into my future career path. Finally, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Los Angeles California for the EduMAX and Adobe MAX conferences which was definitely the highlight of my year. This year was absolutely wonderful and I am so glad that I was able to have the time to do everything I did this year.

What I learned:

The biggest most important thing I learned from this year is to not take things for granted. Now this is mainly because I did not get to finish out the semester in person but also as a senior year thing about everything that will be ending and how important they may be to you. This year I really tried to appreciate everything about CMU and my involvements because I knew they were coming to an end and I am so thankful I did.

What is next:

Thank you to everyone who has helped me through the last four years at Central. I am so excited to start my Masters program now and dive into the field of Higher Education! At CMU I will be a Graduate Assistant in the Volunteer Center for Mentoring Programs. In this position I will be working with programs like Lunch Buddies and Adopt a Grandparent. Until then I will be enjoying the summer and dreaming of a vaccine for COVID-19

Fire Up Chips!

 

New Member Educator for Alpha Sigma Tau

Serving as Alpha Sigma Tau’s New Member Educator for 2018

During the 2018 year, I had the privilege of serving as my sororities New Member Educator. In this position, I was able to help welcome new women into AΣT and teach them about the sorority. As New Member Educator I was tasked with helping the new members through our six week process that leads to initiation. Within the six weeks, they learn about the history of AΣT and what we hold most dear. Also, they get their bigs which is always exciting. Finally, at the end they become initiated and officially active members of the Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority.

To the Fall 2018 class: First of all, thank you to the whole Fall 2018 class. I am so thankful to have had such an great group of women to welcome into the chapter. Teaching you about AΣT and guiding you all through the new member process was so fun and reminded me what I love about the chapter. I loved being able to watch you all fall in love with our chapter and find your place in this wonderful group of women we have. You are all doing such great things within the chapter and I could not be more proud of you. I can’t wait to see where you all take the chapter and the positive changes you are able to make. You are all truly amazing individuals and the chapter is so lucky to have all of you. Thanks for making my time in Alpha Sigma Tau the best ever.

Advice for the next New Member Educator: Be there for the new members! It is your job to make them feel welcomed and love within AΣT. Make sure you are there to answer their questions and address any concerns they may have. Along with that, help them create a relationship with other member in the chapter. Help them reach out to others and find their place in Alpha Sigma Tau.

Final Thoughts: Being the new member educator was one of the hardest yet more rewarding positions I have held. There are things I wish I would have done differently or should have changed but overall it was an amazing time. I loved being able to see the chapter of actives from that position and watch them welcome our new members while also being there for the new members.

Leadership Safari 2017

My experience on the other side of Leadership Safari as a Guide

As an incoming freshman at Central Michigan, I participated in Leadership Safari. I enjoyed my experience as a participant and a few people urged me to apply for a staff position. Last fall, I applied for a position on the Leadership Safari Staff for 2017. Over the course of the next few months I went through an interview and four spring trainings in order to be chosen to be a guide. I was so excited when I first found out I would be a guide and from then on I could not wait for Safari. Fast forward a few months to August 15th, move in day for Safari staff. After move in came four days of training. We listened to different speakers, broke boards with our hands, did the challenge course, and went through everything we would be doing with our group during Safari week. We also spent these four days bonding with our Core teams. After the four days of training it was finally time to put our skills to use and welcome the incoming freshmen and transfer students to Central Michigan. Throughout the week of Safari, each guide had their own team of students to work with. My team was Team Aardvark and they were 10 very amazing humans. Together we did activities to open their minds, went to speakers, completed the challenge course and trust activities, and went to entertainment.

My lovely Enchanted Red Roses: First of all, I could not have asked for a better Core Team. Here’s a little about each person on Enchanted Rose Red and why they are fantastic human beings. Alli, you bring so much light into my life and I would not have gotten through Safari without you. From 1am runs to Ihop (which I hope to continue lol) to venting about life and our problems, you are wonderful. Ashley, you are one of the strongest people I know. All week you did amazing as a runner and I could not be more proud to have you as a friend, stay amazing. Becca, you are high key fabulous. You were always there to give advice even if you had a bad day. Just remember you are loved and amazing. Brendan, thank you for being a big brother to all of us. From walking with Alli and I home every night to making sure I went to bed at a decent time. Brendan, you are so cool and positive and having you in my life is amazing, especially seeing you on campus and having you instantly know I was stressed…and later you checked on me. THANKS! Cat, you are so supportive and compassionate. Having you as a Core Guide was honestly phenomenal and you did an outstanding job. Thank you for taking care of all of us and always being there to talk. Celeste, getting to know you at Leadershape and having you in my family cluster was the best. Then, having you in my core team was icing on the cake. You are such a strong human and I love how passionate you are. Thank you for being in my life. Dom, I wish we had more time with you and Maddie. BUT, the time you were with all of us was great. You were always so positive and bubbly and brought the group up when we had rough days. Thank you for being you. Garrett, your sass was one of my favorite things. You also were always there to give advice about Safari and how to make our teams more cohesive. Kathryn, thank you for being my sister from another sorority. I loved getting to know you and becoming close throughout the week. I can’t wait to see you throughout Greek Life and school in general. You are such an awesome human being and just remember that. Kee, you are so fabulous and I loved getting to know you during Safari. You always had wonderful advice for the group and kept your head up as well as our spirits up throughout the week. Kelsey, you are such a fun-loving individual. At every late night or early morning meeting you always brought a smile and warm words to wake us all up. Kylie, you are truly an amazing person, from running across the country to taking 10 incoming students under your wing and always staying calm. I am always amazed by you and I loved getting to know you during Safari. Lexi, thank you for being my friend for 52 years. I am so happy we spent the whole Safari together. I can’t imagine Safari without you and I am so happy this experience brought you into my life. Thanks for being my  friend and support, you are incredible. Maddie, thank you, thank you, thank you for saving my life lol. Besides that, you are a marvelous person and I am so glad you and I were able to bond. Randi, you are a remarkable human being. You have taught me so much about life and everything that comes along with it. Randi, I am so excited to see you flourish, because YOU ARE AMAZING. Thanks for lots of slushies and many more to come. Taylor, you are so bubbly and joyful. I loved how much you brought to the group and how you were always building everyone up. Stay wonderful and always know you have people here to support you. To all of you, I love you more than you can imagine and am so thankful you are all in my life. I always hear people talking about how being a guide brings you closer to people you may have never known and this is so true. Thank you for letting me be myself ♥

My amazing Aardvarks: You guys were the coolest Aardvarks this world has ever seen. I loved “boolin” around with you everyday even though I thought at first you were saying boomerang. You all made my first Safari as a guide unforgettable. Thanks for endless jokes, laughing all the time, being sassy, and dealing with me everyday. To all of you, never stop dreaming, firing up, and being true to yourself. I am so proud and blessed toknow all 10 of you phenomenal humans. Just know that I think… and know that you ten are the coolest, smartest, and most interesting people I have the pleasure of knowing. Finally, I am so excited to see you all flourish at Central, and find who you are in this new world called College. Much love from mom♥

 

My experience as a Leadership Safari Guide was phenomenal and I am so blessed I had the opportunity to help incoming students. Central Michigan is a wonderful place and I loved getting to share leadership and CMU with 2000 + other people.

 

 

Alpha Sigma Tau

{My home away from home}

With all of the stereotypes about sororities, here is why I joined one and how my experience is nothing like what you see in the movies. If you would have asked me as a senior in high school if I would be a part of Greek Life I would have laughed and said heck no. I, like so many other people, had these crazy ideas about sororities until I met my mentor, Emily. She is and was then, exactly like me but she was involved in Greek Life. Through her, my knowledge of sororities grew and I went through recruitment my Freshman Year.

September 30th, 2016 was the day I, and multiple other girls, jumped home. I found my home in the Central Michigan Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau. Here, I fell in love with the colors Emerald Green and gold, sisters, Anchors, and philanthropy. I have so much love for my sorority and the women in it, I have no idea how to put it into words but I will attempt.

AST has given me so much this first year, and I always try my best to give back. For my new member class, I was the Historian, along with Shelby and we made the scrapbook, anchor, and teacup for the chapter. It was fun being able to see everyone’s different photos and have digital evidence of my class blossoming into our chapter. Currently, I am the Director of Fundraising and planned our Grilled Cheese Fundraiser. The Grilled Cheese Fundraiser is something my chapter does every semester and the money we raise goes to our philanthropy, Pine Mountain Settlement School. This year I planned our first ever Philanthropy week which was absolutely amazing. If you want to know more about Grilled Cheese and our Philanthropy week, there is a specific blog all about it! Also, I participated in the 2017 Greek Week, other chapter’s philanthropy weeks, and endless AST events. On Central’s campus, Alpha Sigma Tau has over 1,000 hours of community service for this semester, the highest GPA, and members from all parts of campus. We are a tight-knit, passionate, and welcoming group of people. Alpha Sigma Tau and all of my sisters mean the world to me. They always have my back and I always have theirs. When something happens to one sister, it happens to all of us because we support and love one another. Being a Tau is part of who I am today, it has made me more confident, compassionate, and strong.

Through AST, I found so many important people in my life, and yes they will probably be my future bridesmaids. First to my Twin Carly… after your sister told us we look more like sisters than you two, we started saying we were twins. Without all of our constant texting, a sleepover, forcing you to go to Leadershape, and being “mom’s” together I don’t know what I would do. You have helped me find my voice and place in a sisterhood of 70+ girls. My best friends Michelle and Ellen. With Garrett, we make our little Greek Life family. You both are always there for me when I need you most. Thanks for being my family and keeping me sane. My crazy G Brenna… without you I don’t know where Em and I would be. You make sure both of us have fun even when we are stressed to the max. Thanks for the endless HAPPs dates and laugher. Finally, the most important, my Big Emily. Em was my mentor even before I joined AST. After joining the same sorority as her, we only became more close. The past few months have been hard but we always have each other and I don’t know where I would be without her. There are countless more people who have come into my life and made an impact but it would take me years to go through everyone.

My version of “What is a Tau?”

A Tau is a mixture of a boisterous little girl, a troubled adolescent, a charming young woman and a wise old lady. She is a streak of gold and a flash of green. She is a Leader Advancement Scholar, Centralis Recipient, an Athlete, and anything she wants to be. She is a shoulder to cry on, never-ending “your mom” jokes, and a friend. You can find her studying at coffee shops, cheering on the football team, and scootering through campus. She is involved, kind hearted, driven, and passionate. A Tau is all of this and more. A Tau is my sister ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Leader Reflection

Michelle Obama • A Wonderful First Lady

One of my personal role models, our former First Lady Michelle Obama stands out among leaders. Throughout her eight years as First Lady and her life overall, she displayed first-class leadership and has done so much not only for our country but for many other countries as well. As a young women, it’s been a privilege to grow up watching Mrs. Obama and hear her message that I too, could be a leader.

Several leadership qualities make Michelle Obama truly stand out. These include displaying respect, being dedicated, communicating effectively, and motivating or inspiring others. As First Lady, Michelle Obama engaged respectfully with the people of our nation and others no matter what their beliefs and values are. She accepted that people do not always agree with her while also staying true to her our values. Also, she is extremely dedicated to everything she does. During her time as First Lady, Michelle Obama dedicated herself to ending childhood obesity and founded Let’s Move! While facing criticism at times for urging schools to provide healthier lunches for students, she remained dedicated to the cause. Mrs. Obama is a clear, effective communicator and her speeches often went viral on the internet reaching millions of viewers. One resounding line from a speech during the 2016 Presidential campaign was, “When they go low, we go high”. Finally, she motivates and inspires others and this truly makes her a great leader. Michelle Obama especially reached out to inspire girls, encouraging them to get educated, stay focused, and know that they can aspire to great things. Together with her husband, she launched “Let Girls Learn”, an initiative that calls on countries around the world to educate and empower girls. “Every girl, no matter where she lives, deserves the opportunity to develop the promise inside of her” and “When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous” are just two of the many inspiring statements by Michelle Obama. These qualities are only some of what makes Michelle Obama a phenomenal leader but I believe they are some of her strongest leadership qualities. Furthermore, these leadership qualities and her true humility motivate others to follow her.

Michelle Obama is always full of grace and kindness which is something people seek in a leader. Because of her graciousness people flock to her and actually want to follow her not out of fear but out of inspiration and respect. As First Lady, Mrs. Obama always wanted to hear from the people and was often known for giving hugs. Her leadership has spread throughout the globe to touch so many people whether through equal rights, education, or healthy lifestyles. Michelle has displayed true leadership and has positively affected so many people around her, even her approval ratings remained around 70%.

What do I admire about Michelle Obama’s leadership? The answer quite honestly may be everything. She is full of self-respect and respect for others which I also strive for in my daily life. Also, Michelle always displays style and grace wherever she goes. Furthermore, I admire that she has not only one but TWO IVY League degrees because she believes in furthering her education. Michelle is also a fabulous mother of two girls close to my age who have grown up in the White House but are still both down to Earth and humble because of their parents. Finally, as many women my age, I love that she is also a style icon for the world, while often wearing clothing from common, affordable stores. However, unlike so many people today, she is classy and tasteful with her style and someone young girls can look up to not just clothing wise but leadership wise as well.

Michelle Obama’s leadership has effected me in many positive ways especially since I have basically grown up with her being an icon for Americans. First, I am much more passionate about the things I believe in after watching her for years. I will speak my voice about gay rights, women’s rights, and how human rights are everyone’s rights no matter what gender or race. I now strive to have the same grace and humility while also being a strong woman because of Michelle Obama. Also, because of her I am a leader who respects others and respects myself. Finally, I am a young woman who is going to college to further my education and while some days I feel as though I may not be smart enough, Michelle Obama’s drive and passion always keep me going because someday I want to be a Speech Pathologist who fights for equal education so everyone can “develop the promise inside” them.

{Quotes from Michelle Obama}

“I never cut class. I loved getting A’s, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world.”

“I think being smart is cooler than anything in the world.”

“Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”

“There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.”

“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.”

“Every day, the people I meet inspire me… every day, they make me proud… every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.”

“If proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.”

“My desire for this country is that we remain hopeful and that we find a place in our hearts to love each other.”

{Here are some lovely pictures of our Former First Lady}