During my Freshman year I decided to join Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., a Latina based, multicultural membership sorority. By becoming a sister of this organization, I committed myself to a group of women and to the principles that we represent for life. Through this sisterhood I have gained a family, unforgettable memories and been able to develop my leadership skills and identity as a woman of color in this society.
When joining this organization, older sisters told me that I will get out of something what I put in and I took that advice to heart. I have dedicated hundred's of hours of service to this sisterhood but never regretted it because of everything I've learned and received in return. Beyond an extended family, I feel that the time and work I have given has served a purpose larger than myself - I have given back to my community, promoted higher education, done my part in creating a sense of community, passed on leadership skills to younger members, fundraised for philanthropies, developed scholarship programs and in return, I was given the biggest gift of all: a safe space to develop my identity as a woman of color within a society not built for me to succeed.
When joining this organization, older sisters told me that I will get out of something what I put in and I took that advice to heart. I have dedicated hundred's of hours of service to this sisterhood but never regretted it because of everything I've learned and received in return. Beyond an extended family, I feel that the time and work I have given has served a purpose larger than myself - I have given back to my community, promoted higher education, done my part in creating a sense of community, passed on leadership skills to younger members, fundraised for philanthropies, developed scholarship programs and in return, I was given the biggest gift of all: a safe space to develop my identity as a woman of color within a society not built for me to succeed.
Tasks Accomplished:
- Program planning and executing; task organization and delegation.
- Working as a team
- Separating business and personal
- Understanding, implementing and enforcing Roberts Rules
- Funding paperwork
- Knowledge: self-defined understanding of leadership and ability to identify where one is as a leader in the context of their own definition.
- Attitude: confidence as a foundation for the involvement in leadership and the ability to persevere in the face of obstacles and failures.
- Attitude: Embody care, empathy, and sense of responsibility for the well-being of all people
- Skills - Intrapersonal: Ability to manage one's emotions and reactions to stress.
- Skills - Organizational: Can identify potential in others
- Skills - Organizational: Be a productive and engaged follower
- Skills - Organizational: Able to build community and bring people together
- Behavior: Demonstrate ethical and professional behaviors as a leader
- Behavior: Hold oneself accountable for both successes and failures
As an individual, the lessons I have learned from the members and experiences in this organization have taught me how to be a responsible, engaged and empathetic sister, daughter, student, and leader. Particularly, for graduate school, I am more prepared to work with different groups of people, maintain a level head, manage my priorities and time, speak in public and stay organized.