Seis

     Well when I first saw this blog prompt, I thought "Oh how easy this is going to be! We talked about this stuff during our last class!" And then I thought that once I answered the first question, it would basically get the ball rolling and make it easier to answer the following questions. So here goes!
     When we talked about the most important thing we had learned this quarter, my statement just happened to fall into the first question of the prompt, so I am prepared to repeat my answer. I stated that the most important thing I learned about myself was that I have more power to create change than I previously thought I had. The class helped me to learn this fact for two reasons. First, it was made clear that leaders are not born, they are developed. Therefore, even though I previously thought I was destined to be a follower, I now know that if I play to my strengths, I can develop myself into a successful leader. That is another thing that the class helped me to discover, my strengths. Using the StrengthsQuest assessment, I was able to obtain a written description of the qualities I have that are most prevalent, and by having this knowledge, I can use these strengths in the most advantageous ways and hone my skills to make myself into the best leader I can possibly be.
     To be perfectly honest, when I first became a recruitment guide, I thought our only responsibility was going to be to shepherd the girls around to the different houses and then to the place where they would submit their choices on the computer. I never really thought about what my recruitment guides did for me, and how they offered guidance and friendship, however the moment we entered the leadership class we were going to be taking to help us along our journey, I knew I was going to be doing much more than I had originally thought. I learned that my role as a recruitment guide was going to be more of providing that first link between girls who want to be a part of the SFL community and the actual SFL community. We were also going to be a source of information for these girls, and should try to become as close to them as possible, so that we were able to help them with any problems that might arise or concerns that they may have. In the end, it was apparent that our job was going to be much more than I originally thought, however it made me even more excited because we would be even more involved in the recruitment process, and I really enjoy seeing as many different sides of something as possible because then it is easier to get the full picture.
     Another important thing that this class taught me was that I was not alone in wanting to see some change happen. I know girls in my chapter are affected by stereotypes and after meeting all the other recruitment guides, it became apparent that it was not just my chapter. I also saw that stereotypes were not the only thing that girls wanted to see changed, and I heard plenty of good ideas for ways we can enact change to make our community an even better place than it is already. This class also made me realize that it is important for people to instill some passion in those members of the community who don't seem to care about anything except the social aspect. It is true that not everyone needs to be a leader in order for change to take place, however it is important that almost all members of the community be involved in making the change happen, because if there are some who don't care at all, then the change will not be as effective or might not even happen at all.
     Learning all of these things has definitely changed my whole perspective of the SFL community as a whole, and every individual member as well. Because I now see that there are people out there who have ideas about change and would like to see them through, it has instilled more passion in me to help make those changes happen, and to teach my ideas to younger members of the community so that the change can be carried on in future generations. This means that I value the things we have learned and the ideas I have seen ENORMOUSLY. If every recruitment guide puts to use the things that we have learned, then we have the ability to spread change like an epidemic throughout the community, and eventually the advent of change will become more accepted and more and more people will make their own ideas known.
     Personally, I know I do not have very much time left to plant my seed of change into the community because I am graduating and leaving in two quarters. However, this does not mean that I am not going to try! I am going to commit myself to being as involved in my chapter as I can be, so that I can make sure my ideas are known, and also so that I can know I had some input on things my chapter values as important. I am going to make sure I talk to all of the younger members of my chapter about ways they can get their ideas out into the community, and how they can become the best leaders possible and that not everyone has to resign themselves to being followers. Just being a learner in our class and transforming to a teacher of the same concepts when I am telling my sisters about what I have learned improves myself as a leader. By doing all of these things, it will make me a better sister and member of the community. I think the best way to start change is to get your idea out there, show why it is a good idea and why people should be accepting of the change, and then to work as hard as possible to create the domino effect that I have talked about before. This domino effect can start with one person, and ideally will spread to every member of the community through talking and seeing what others are taking part in. So, like I said before, if everyone can take some initiative and step up so that their ideas don't simply stay put inside their heads but are told to leaders, they themselves can become leaders, and have the ability to make the change they wish to see a reality, and eventually this will result in a better SFL community. I don't ever expect it to be perfect, but I know it can certainly become a better place, a place where change actually does happen and the members of the community care about what is going on.
     On a final note, I just want to say that I really enjoyed all the things this class has taught me about myself and my potential to better myself. Even though sometimes it was rough and sometimes we did not see the whole picture about why we were learning the things that we were learning, I think it was all tied together very well in the end. And actually, this blog is a great way for us to tie all the things we learned into real life situations and I think that is what we really needed most. I'm going to miss having class with all of you every week! But I'm glad we got this opportunity to all become so close :)

Cinco

     Ahhhh, change, what a beautiful monster. Personally, I know that change is usually a good thing, and something that can't really be avoided, but no matter how hard I try, I am not always eager to accept it at first. Now when it comes to "who can make change happen?", well that's an easy one. ANYONE is capable of creating change! Haven't you ever heard that quote "One person can make a difference"? All I think it takes to be able to enact change is a little dedication and commitment. Obviously it's not going to be easy and you will probably encounter resistance, but if you stick to what you plan on changing and are passionate about what you are doing, the change will come and you will know that it started with you and probably spread to others through you.
     As a recruitment guide (which would be my 'group' according to the book) I think we have even more opportunity to create some change. Like I've talked about before, we are the first person that girls will come into contact with and we provide that vital link between them and the SFL community. Therefore, if we instill good ideas about the community and values in their heads from the very beginning, they will hopefully carry those ideas on to whatever chapter they choose to join. I think this would constitute benefitting others because we can reinforce minimal rumors and stereotypes being passed on through future generations, and also try to create some strong pride and desire to become an influential member in the SFL community. The best way to do this would be to talk to girls about keeping an open mind and giving all chapters a fair chance in the beginning and also portraying the good image of the community to them so that they will want to join and be an active member.
     I kinda already discussed question three, but to reinforce it, I think that we, as recruitment guides, should remember that not only are we representing the SFL community when we are wearing the PHA logo, but all the time. People remember that we are part of this large group, and also might notice that we don't wear our letters currently, which makes us recruitment guides. Therefore, if we try to portray at all times what wonderful, genuine, caring women we are, it will minimize the times we have to deal with people and the stereotypes they have heard. Also, by doing this, we can hopefully show people what kind of great people are a part of the SFL community, and therefore their opinion might change and they might even decide to become a citizen, even if they had been completely against it at one time. I have to believe that this is in fact possible because I used to be one of those people, and through meeting some of the outstanding members of the community, it completely changed my view and led me to join a chapter. If we all do our best to work at these simple things, I think we can spread change throughout the community, and I'm kind of picturing it like a domino effect (in a perfect world) that eventually reaches every citizen.

Cuatro

I really enjoyed the end of class because we learned about what everyone else's strengths are while also learning about ourselves. It was really interesting that there were some characteristics that no one else had, and that one of them was actually a characteristic that most of us thought we were. I felt that my themes fit me really well, and class only reiterated my feelings because when I heard the descriptions of some of the other themes, I realized how well mine actually fit me and were my top five strengths. I don't think that one particular theme or another is what makes someone a good leader or not. I think that what makes someone a good leader is learning how to best utilize their strengths to help gain success for a group, and that is how this activity related to what we are doing in class, for me at least. This is how it also relates to being a recruitment guide. By knowing what themes fit me, and my partner, best, we can ultimately become the best pair of leaders out there. We just have to work together and play to each other's strengths, while also remembering what themes fit ourselves best, because when we know both of these things, success is inevitable. For example, one of my signature themes is "restorative" which means that I love to solve problems, which in itself is obviously a good strength to have as a recruitment guide because problems are bound to come up. However, one of my partner's signature themes is empathy, which is also really important as a recruitment guide when it comes to solving problems because you need to be able to feel what a girl might be going through and be able to empathize with her. Therefore, by knowing what each of our strengths are, my partner and I can work together to help a girl through a problem because I can look at the logical side of actually solving the problem, while my partner can deal with the emotional and empathetic side. I am very glad we got the opportunity to do this assessment because not only will it help us work together with our partners, but it provided insight into ourselves that we will be able to take away for the rest of our lives.

Tres

     Monkeys? Sounds like an odd topic for our blogs haha but here goes. I could go on for hours about the numerous "monkeys on my back" that are part of the innumerable communities I am a part of, but I will just focus on a few here. Firstly, our RG family. It doesn't force me to take care of many responsibilities, but there are some. One I can think of is homework, but doing my homework doesn't directly help out everyone else, so it is more important to talk about the monkeys that have to do with the image we have to uphold. It is necessary for all of us to portray the best image possible of sorority women, without being biased towards one chapter or another, and also, we should be a support system for one another, and for the girls going through recruitment. Therefore, the monkeys we carry around have to do with being the genuine, caring people that we are, no matter what the situation is.
     I feel that the monkeys connected with my chapter and with PHA are very similar. They also coincide with the responsibilities I just discussed. As a part of a chapter and PHA, I would like to uphold as good of an image as possible, at all times. This is because as a sorority woman, I am not only always representing my chapter, but representing PHA, because even if someone doesn't know what sorority I am in, they could still know that I am in a sorority. The monkeys that are connected with this upholding of better standards for myself and for others include being genuine and caring, partaking in community service, and not acting in a way that would make my chapter or PHA look unsatisfactory to someone who isn't a part of either organization. And also, as a part of my chapter, I would include my grades as a monkey that I carry on my back, because I am constantly trying to strive for better grades so that we can improve as a whole chapter and provide more proof that people in sororities and fraternities have higher GPAs on average.
     Going along with getting good grades, I carry around a "homework monkey" when it comes to my classes. I like to do all my reading (even if it isn't entirely necessary) because it is a responsibility that I feel I have and something I like to do for my other classmates. When I do my reading and all of my homework, I can come to class prepared to discuss things and be in a position where I know what I am talking about with my classmates. In the house that I live in, I have a "chore monkey" because there are some things that all of us must do in order to keep our house clean and running efficiently. Therefore, it is important that all of us fulfill our responsibilities and carry around that monkey. And finally, in the other clubs and organizations that I am involved in on campus (mainly the Equestrian Team) I have a similar monkey in the fact that it is important for me to be caring, genuine, and friendly so that I can make new members feel welcome, while at the same time, keeping existing relationships strong. And there is a volunteer monkey that goes along with any sports club, so that is important too.
     I never really thought about responsibilities as "monkeys on your back" but it does make a lot of sense because it is similar to a to-do list. I know that if I have something I know I have to do, I carry it around with me and I think about it all the time until I get it done and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. But weights are different than monkeys, they aren't as heavy, and that is why I really like this metaphor and found it very relatable.

Dos

     The first experience that comes to my mind when I saw the Empowerment section in Chapter 5 is when I volunteered with my Mom's work (she works for Lucas County Children Services) at their annual holiday party. They host the party for foster parents and their adopted children to come and see Santa and get a free gift from him, while also receiving a large basket of holiday type food. There are also lots of activities for the kids to partake in, and this is where the empowerment comes in. I usually work at either the craft table or the cookie decorating table, and both of these activities give the children a chance to experience empowerment, because they are able to decorate however their little hearts desire, and I am still there to help if they need anything. Therefore, I am taking to heart what they would like and not helping them if they don't actually want help.
     This same holiday party also has a lot to do with engaging in multicultural citizenship because families of all different sizes and colors and races and ethnicities attend the party. It has helped me to see that not only certain races are willing to adopt children and take them into their home, no matter what their current financial state is. Also, because so many different people attend the party, I am able to interact with all of them and learn as much as I can from them about the differences between people in our world. If we get to talking, I can even learn about how their culture and customs differ from mine, or are very similar to mine. This is what makes multicultural citizenship important when helping out a community, because if volunteer work was restricted to only certain groups of citizens, it would not be nearly as beneficial as it is when everyone is aided, regardless of the color of their skin.
     The last way I engage in citizenship in this community is through the use of empathy. It is very important to have the ability to sit down and listen to the people who are in need of your help. Whether they want to talk about something important or trivial, by listening to them, I could make a huge difference in their lives. I also must be able to take a step out of my comfort zone and put myself in their shoes, because by "seeing the world through a different and distinct vantage point" the opportunities I have to help out that family or that person are endless. All three of these things are very important to acknowledge when engaging in community service because they enable the volunteer to help as much as humanly possible and will give both the volunteer and the person receiving the service a better experience.

Uno

     I chose to become a recruitment guide because of my first experience with recruitment. I was one of those "on-the-fence" girls, only chose to go through recruitment because my roommate talked me into it, and my parents had never really had any desire to be a part of the Greek community when they were in college, therefore I had never had any strong positive encouragement from them. I also never really was sure that joining a sorority was the right thing for me to do, because I wasn't sure if I would find a place where I would truly fit in and feel comfortable. Therefore, because I have been through the process and experienced these feelings, I wanted to become a Rho Gam. I want to help convince those "on-the-fence" girls that this is the right thing for them to do, because it is an irreplaceable opportunity, and also help them to realize the fact that they WILL find a place where they truly fit in and feel comfortable.
     I think the purpose of a recruitment guide is to provide a friendly, trustworthy, and relatable figure for every single one of the girls that decides to go through recruitment. Almost all of us have been through the process of formal recruitment and know how stressful it can be at times. Also, I don't know many other events in life that are even remotely comparable to recruitment, therefore it is most likely a new experience for almost every girl. Because of these facts, I believe all of the girls are going to be looking for someone who knows exactly what is going on, can be a leader to them, but also someone they can easily talk to about any concerns they might have, and someone who will remind them that although the process may seem grueling and never-ending at times, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, full of amazing and endless opportunities. For all these reasons, recruitment guides have a major purpose in the recruitment process, and without them, there is no way recruitment would be as successful as it is.
     Going along with the purpose of a recruitment guide, I feel that my responsibilities as a recruitment guide include a number of things. I should be very friendly because it is a very important time in the girls' lives, and also a time where they could possibly need that friendship even more so than normal. With friendship comes trust, and being a trustworthy person is a large responsibility we must take on, because our relationship with the girls can't be as good as possible if there is no trust. They have to be able to trust to the fact that we can be completely unbiased and answer any and all questions that they may have without letting our own opinions impact our answers. And finally, I think it is very important for us to be relatable and to know what is going on, because if we know what is going on and have confidence in the system, then the girls are going to feel more comfortable and hopefully not be as stressed and worried as they would be if they did not have a Rho Gam.
     Recruitment guides are important to the Panhellenic and SFL communities because they provide the vital link between the system and the girls who want to enter the community. They promote the Greek community and all of the great things about it, while acting as positive role models and examples of what Greek women really are like. Recruitment guides spread the word about recruitment and how great it is, giving any and all information that any girl could possibly want to know, which is very important. They also stand as a constant reminder of that goal that all of the girls eventually want to reach, becoming a member of a Greek organization. And finally, recruitment guides are important because at those times when girls going through recruitment are thinking about dropping out or giving up, and they need some reinforcement, or a friend, the most, their recruitment guide is going to be there to help them out and get them through this very important time and chance for them to change their lives forever.