5 Insights to What it Means to be a Panhellenic Leader

Student

Nov 27

As the Fall semester is in its prime, now is the time to be think about your own chapter and College Panhellenic Council elections, if you haven’t already. So, who is this chick that is going to tell you what it means? I am Samantha Espinoza, and I was the December 2018 - December 2019 College Panhellenic Council President at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. I have had multiple leadership positions both within my chapter and with the College Panhellenic Council. Being a Panhellenic leader will be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in an undergraduate career. Here are 5 insights to what it means to be a Panhellenic leader:

#1 It’s Not About the Title

If the only thing you want out of the leadership position is the title, I recommend rethinking about applying for the leadership position. Being in any position within a sorority is a privilege and a challenge. It will bring you new obstacles you could ever imagine. It will also be one of the greatest times while holding office. It is not about the title but about the actions you take and leading by example.

#2 You Will Build a Bond With Your Council and Executive Board

This group of women on your council or executive board is looking to improve the community around you. You will see sides of people and open up with people you could not have predicted. The amount of times you will be around these women will be overwhelming at times. You may all be Panhellenic sisters, but it does not mean you will always like each other at times. Rough patches will always happen but remember that these ladies have your back and you have theirs.

#3 People Sometimes Don’t Do Their Position Duties

One of the toughest things about working with friends is how to approach a situation when one is not doing their position duties. How you approach this situation is critical. If someone is not doing their position duties, try having a one-on-one with them to see what is going on in their life and see if there is anything you can do to help or just be a listening ear. If a one-on-one does not work, it may be time to talk to your adviser or the person over the leadership position.

#4 You Will Learn About Your Leadership Style

Being the College Panhellenic Council President on my campus was a learning curve, to say the least. It was a struggle at first in how to deal with the amount of responsibility my position entailed. Over my term, I learned the best leadership style for me in the environment I was in. There were ups and downs in the leadership style at the beginning, however, it always good to know that leadership styles are flexible, and adaptation is key to a successful term.

#5 You Will Never be Fully Prepared

I thought I knew everything I could to be prepared for my new position I worked at the University and have been involved in the College Panhellenic Council side for two years prior. Well… I was wrong. Granted, I knew a lot; however, I did not know everything. I had to take on new roles and rely heavily on my resources when our council was left without an adviser for roughly four months. Learning something new every day about myself, the sorority experience, and the National Panhellenic Conference was the greatest benefit of my leadership position. You can try to know everything before going into a position, but trust me when I say you will not know everything. You will need to take it day by day!

There you have it the 5 insights to what it means to be a Panhellenic leader! I hope these insights help you on your future to improving you campus community. Best of luck, loves!

Samantha Espinoza