Top 10 Events of 2010

10. AFLV

9. UIFI

Long live "The Ocho!"

These two conferences completely changed my view of greek life. They teach students to focus on WHY our organizations exist and to [re] focus on our values. I was able to meet so many amazing people who are doing great things in their organizations. I love it.

8. Spring Formal

I could sit around and complain about how awful this day was, and I could have quit being social chair then and there. But I didn’t, and I don’t complain about it. That day taught me so much. I learned that I am really, really good at crisis management. That when everything seems to have gone wrong has, something worse can still happen. Yet these terrible happenings aren’t as bad as they seem. I learned to just keep going when times get tough, how to stay calm and kind when someone is very angry with you, and that Nikki and I can make the most disastrous event look flawless to those who don’t know what’s going on.

7. Changing my major…again.

I am just a psychology major. It took me awhile, and five other majors, to get here, but I finally okay with having one major.

6. Not getting warrior coordinator.

Not only did Arielle do a stellar job in this position, it allowed me to do something new at camp, something I thought I did not want to do. I got to be a big kid – a pathfinder. It was so fun working with older kids at camp. I loved “rocking the boat” and making amazing happen every week. The best part was I got to be partners with one of my best friends AND I got to have some of my campers from 2009 in my cabin.

We are the Ojibnation.

 5. Dad getting cancer

Not that this was particularly fun, but it has shaped the last third of our year. Not to be cliché, but I truly believe this has allowed my family to focus on what is important. I think that my dad being home has allowed my family to grow closer together and strengthen our relationships. I know it has shown me that God works in mysterious ways and how to focus on important things.

4. Trucking

One beautiful fall day, Carley and I got big gulps and sat in the back of her truck, hanging out in the SAE parking lot. And then, “trucking” was born. Trucking consists of sitting in the back of Carley’s truck and having really deep, meaningful conversations. This silly tradition was the cause of many values based conversations and the deepening of relationships

3. My trip to El Salvador

The mountains of El Salvador are laced with the poverty and pain of a beautiful people. They have such a rich, painful history. Being in their country really humbled me. These people have so little, yet they have so much. And that really made me see that while I have so much, I have so little. Experiencing their culture made me realize how lucky and blessed I am. These people really have their priorities straight! They live through the simplest joys in life and they have such a humble happiness. Being immersed in their culture allowed me to see what was truly important in life, and instilled a deep love of service in me.

2. Living in DG

I’ve wanted to live in since I joined DG as a freshman, but I never imagined it could be this great. I love interacting with 34 different women on a daily basis and getting to know them over Becky’s delicious meals or whatever TLC show is on in upper liv. Living in big dorm has been a ridiculous amount of fun – there’s always something crazy going on and it has helped bring our pledge class together.

1. Being apart of Panhellenic

These seven other women started out as mere strangers. We came together to better the greek community through our leadership. What I did not know was that these women would shape my year so profoundly, that I would look forward to our two hour long exec meetings, and that I would find some wonderful friends and role models on this council. I will defiantly miss all of them more than I can express next year.