Back In Bridge

Sunday, February 26th, 2017

Our last day at NGLA was a great conclusion to the fun weekend we've had. To start, I woke up probably 30 minutes before we needed to be downstairs with our stuff packed. Thankfully, I packed the night before. We grabbed breakfast, got in our vans, and headed back home. John had control of the AUX and so the backseat revolted because he refused to put on some Chance and Drake. The backseat put all of our devices together and synced up our songs so we would have an amplified volume of the song we wanted to listen to. Anyways, as I type this blog I am sitting in the Chemistry Lounge of the DMF Science Building reminiscing about all of the fun we had.

This is a list of inspiring/impactful words that I have composed during NGLA:
1) Be the change YOU wish to see in the World.
2) Surround yourself with people you want to be like; people that are on your Dream Team.
3) "There is a superhero in all of us, you just need the courage to put on your cape."
4) Each one of us has the power to change someone's life.
5) "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
6) Be happy where you are, with what you have.
7) Focus on the good, put your all into it.
8) "The cave you fear to enter, holds the treasure you seek."
9) Doing nothing is unacceptable; especially during times of injustice.
10) Stop complaining, just do it. Work hard to get to your goals.
11) Love yourself
12) Be yourself

All in all, NGLA was an amazing experience. I've learned a lot about my organization, the greek community and the eyes of others, and the opportunities that await around the corner. I will forever be thankful for this experience and I cannot wait to make impactful change in my community

I took a few extra days to reflect, but here I am

So I took a couple days to really reflect on my experience. At this point, I'm in post-NGLA depression, that feeling you get like after a concert and it happened so fast you want to relive it.
I do wish I had more time to talk with the 39 incredible DPHIE's that went to NGLA including International Headquarters Officials who I had such amazing and constructive conversations with. I went to NGLA wanting to talk to local chapters and push my anti-hazing agenda, especially for my own sisterhood whose guiding principles are Justice, sisterhood, and love. However, I came, with a bigger mission, I came back to BSU with a new plan, a plan of action. I have been in the process of searching for grad schools, and now, my top choice is a school with a chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon, and my dream would to be their advisor. To lead a group of undergraduate women towards a brighter and more fulfilled future. I now have a great amount of ideas and strategies to improve my chapter. I've also gained leadership skills that will help me in any position I take on in my sorority.

Thanks for the memories

Coming home after spending the weekend at NGLA was bittersweet. I learned a lot about myself, as well as ways to help improve our Greek Community. I am excited to share my experience with my chapter on Tuesday. The sessions had greak speakers who shared inspiring stories and ways to improve our organizations. Although some of the sessions were not what I expected, I was still grateful to be there. I enjoyed getting to know other members of the Greek Community and meeting members of my organization from other schools.
Thank you IFC and Panhel for putting on a great conference, I can't wait to encourage more members to apply next year and see how our community will continue to grow.
I was honored to have been chosen to attend this NGLA this year and am thanful I had the opportunity to experience it. Spending time with the delegation made me realize what a great Greek Community we have at BSU and I am proud to be a part of it.

The City of Dreams

The evening before our departure for NGLA, I was hanging out with two of my friends Haylee and Matt. As we were walking to the parking garage, we all brought up our upcoming plans for the weekend. I mentioned I was going to NGLA. Matt asked where it was. Haylee answered "It's in Hartford, also known as the City of Dreams!" Matt looked at us confused but not quite in disbelief. Haylee explained she was just kidding and we all shifted into a new conversation.

Little did Haylee, Matt or I know that Hartford is in fact the city of dreams, well at least this past weekend it was. The first presentation at NGLA was called Be The Dream Maker. Keynote speaker, Michelle Guobadia discussed that over the years, the Greek community has lost our way, steered off the path and forgotten our common goal. Men and women formed these organizations in secret, to come together to learn and be better overall. They didn't create these organizations to create drama, host parities or do poorly in our academic courses. Men and women had a dream. In order to continue their accomplishments, we must work together, to continue to be the dream maker and not the dream killer. 

The rest of the sessions were also impactful. They taught and reminded me to look into the perspective of other people and to appreciate what we have. They also reminded me that it's okay to make mistakes. However, in order to learn from them, we must own up, and be accountable. Stop pointing fingers at other people and just own it. Own it for yourself, your chapter and your community. 

I'm so thankful for this incredible experience. I'd like to thank Panhel, IFC in providing me the wonderful opportunity to go to NGLA. I recommend any member of their individual organiztion to apply! These blogposts I have written over the past few days honestly does not do the conference justice. I think these sessions are not only benefical to people who hold positions in their respected fraternity or sorority, but members who are curious, willing to learn, want to grow and want to make a difference in our community. I also would like to congradulate MB! Your hardwork does not go unnoticed and I'm so happy you earned the Philippi Award

Thanks again to everyone that made this opportunity possible. I had an amazing weekend that several of the sessions will resonate with me for years to come. I'm looking forward to relaying the information back to our chapter president and with the community! We must continue the dream of our founding members. We have all worked so hard and have come too far to be the dream killers. 

That's a wrap!

I can't believe that NGLA is over now... It just seems like yesterday I received the email to say I was lucky enough to be chosen for this amazing opportunity. Although I can say the weekend absolutely FLEW by, it was filled with so much fun and so much learning. I know coming back from NGLA I am a better leader and individual than when I first arrived.

Words cannot express how thankful I am to IFC and Panhellenic for allowing me the opportunity to attend this weekend. I also can't thank MB and Emma enough for being amazing role models for me and all the other delegates this weekend.

Coming away from NGLA, I know have made amazing new friendships and have memories I will always be able to look back on. Without a doubt, I would highly recommend that every member of the Greek community should apply to NGLA in the future. It doesn't matter if you have a position or not or if you've been in your organization long or not. NGLA can help everyone grow as an individual and become more confident in who they are as an individual and as a leader.

I can't wait to share all the information I learned with my chapter and see how we can grow!

DiNardo sweet DiNardo

We left Hartford at 9am and we had Starbucks for breakfast. Tip: don't order a venti if you are determinined to not make any pit stops during the road trip. As much as I loved my time at NGLA and the bonding I did with my fellow Greeks, I was happy to come back to my single room and my single bed in good 'ol DiNardo (true the amenities aren't as nice, but my introverted side is happy).

What I've gained from this weekend in Hartford is a sense of appreciation. There have been several instances throughout this conference where I was reminded how thankful I am for what I have in Greek life. I am thankful that at BSU we do not experience the common problems that other campuses face. Over the past few days I've heard delegates give examples such as poor relations with administrations, departments, and surrounding communities, tension between organizations, hazing, and apathy. I feel so grateful to have an amazing community at BSU. One where we are supported and respected  by our university president, fire and police departments, staff professionals. I am appreciative, more than I can express, that we have a Greek community that respects each other and enjoys spending time with each other; it truly is an asset that makes us stronger. I am thankful that we  have chapters that have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to hazing and that we have members that respect one another. Most of all I am thankful that we have such passionate members in BSU Greek life. This weekend so many people I met said they had to really push people to want to attend NGLA or that this wasn't their first time attending the annual conference. As jealous as I was that I knew this would be my only time at NGLA, I reminded myself that I should be thankful that I was given this opportunity, and thankful that we have so many passionate leaders that make getting a spot at this conference competitive. I am also thankful that there are new delegates each year so that we have fresh faces to lead our community.
I highly recommend every member of our community applies to attend NGLA because it was an amazing experience filled with learning, networking, bonding, and fun. I will always appreciate this opportunity I've been given and would not replace it for anything.

A memory to last a lifetime

On the final day as we leave Connecticut and head back to Massachusetts it was a reflection period for sure of information to take in that will be of great value for myself and the rest of the Bridgewater State Greek Community. Each of the speakers I had for the conference were truly inspiring.

I would like to Thank IFC and Panhel for giving me the opportunity to attend this amazing conference, and meet other brothers of Phi Kappa Theta around the Northeast.

When there is something you are afraid of you must pursue that fear, because it truly is what you need to accomplish in life. Your dreams are never to big to handle. You only need 30 seconds of courage to make a decision to face your fear and follow through. 

Here are 10 more things that I took away from this trip in which I won't disregard in my lifetime

1) You can never be perfect but you can strive to be perfect.
2) Everywhere you go regardless, every group you are a part of you will see people engaged at different levels.
3) Easier to be popular, but truthfully harder to be a genuine individual.
4) Take a path in which your heart wants or you will never be happy.
5) What is it that you chase in life?
6) Love yourself. You are a gift nothing would be the same if you didn't exist.
7) Each one of us has the power to change someones life around us for the better.
8) Focus on the good, be positive, get a core group you can build it with and let that spread as well to improve morale in your community.
9) Creativity is about choosing curiosity over fear, over and over again.
10)  Be Humble/Be Empowering/Be Relational/Be optimistic with everyone around you.

These are my main points and overall I have a lot more information but this is something I wanted to leave on my blog as a reminder for everyone to remember.

I will never forget the experience I had on this conference. My leadership skills, personal values, and passion have been strongly reinforced from having the opportunity to be here. 

If you're reading this I would like you to think of these questions, but for now here are my responses

What do you chase in your life? I chase the ultimate dream of one day reaching a wide audience of individuals through music and changing lives one after the next.
Who do you have in your life that makes you a better individual and pushes you to your fullest potential?
Conor L McDonough