A Drive to do Good
This article was written in conjunction to the Fall 2019 Magazine. Click here to view other chapters articles.
Writer: Grace C. / Photographer: Olivia E. / Graphic: Savannah T.
Once a woman has joined a Panhellenic chapter, it can seem daunting to get involved in other organizations. The idea of spreading yourself too thin or not taking full advantage of your chapter can cause a Panhellenic woman to shy away from the opportunities knocking at her front door. For others, like Taylor, involvement in organizations that drive individual passions is just as important as involvement in their Panhellenic chapter.
Taylor B., a senior in Florida State’s chapter of Gamma Phi Beta, serves as the Vice President of Tallahassee’s student chapter of Engineers Without Borders, a non-profit humanitarian organization established to support community-driven development programs worldwide through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects while creating transformative experiences and responsible leaders. The program’s mission is to develop infrastructures, such as electricity, potable water, school buildings, and road infrastructure, to underdeveloped communities across the globe.
“Finding your place within an organization that you are passionate about is similar to finding your place within a chapter,” says Taylor, explaining how her involvement in Engineers Without Borders has changed her college career for the better. Taylor had always been interested in mathematics and scientific disciplines, but she did not know where she could apply her abilities until coming to Florida State. She found Engineers Without Borders her freshman year through the College of Engineering. During Taylor’s time with the club, she took on various leadership roles, serving as both community outreach chair and president in past years.
As president, Taylor acted as the liaison between the student chapter, their advisors, their National Association, and the College of Engineering; similar to how those in Panhellenic leadership positions would. She focused on growing the organization and broadening its influence on Florida State’s campus.
The desire to cultivate positive change came to life in what Taylor refers to as “The Schoolhouse Project”. This program, which originally began as a Senior Civil Engineering Design Project, soon transformed into an Engineers Without Border’s mission, ultimately defining her time at Florida State and her experience as a Panhellenic woman.
When Taylor became president of Engineers Without Borders, her primary goal was to finish “The Schoolhouse Project”; she knew that its’ completion would change the lives of those within the underdeveloped communities and reshape the lives of countless FSU students. This past winter, her and a team of members and advisors went to Guatemala, where they designed and aided in the construction of a new community center. Despite her inability to speak the native language, she developed friendships with numerous community members and insisted that she “was able to connect with so many people” and ultimately change so many lives.
While recounting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Taylor explained that “my perspective of Florida State and Greek life had completely changed.” She now recognizes that college students have an amazing opportunity to support their community and communities around the world, and she accredits this experience in broadening her perception of collegiate and professional life. “We are not just coming to college to get a degree and make money, we are coming to college to learn how to make an impact on the world around us”.
Taylor’s involvement in Engineers Without Borders has impacted her as a student, young professional, leader, and Panhellenic woman through its ability to relate the experiences of people around the world to her experience at Florida State. Taylor believes that the experiences she gained within and outside of this university have allowed her to become more understanding of her sisters, herself, and everyone around her. “I feel like I am an overall kinder woman and a more well-rounded sister, because our focus as Panhellenic women and members of various humanitarian organizations is to better people’s lives, whether that benefits the people in developing countries or the strong young women that surround us,” Taylor explains.
When it comes to the balancing act of school, Greek life, and outside involvement, Taylor says that it’s about time management and support. “I rely on my sisters so much. They know that I am constantly busy and they keep me grounded and proactive.” She recalls a specific instance during recruitment in which her sisters helped her prepare and practice for her first presentation as president, a testament to the investment sisters are willing to make towards the success of each other.
One of Taylor’s favorite things about her diverse involvement is the opportunity to constantly meet new people. She asserts that “Engineers Without Borders is comprised of people in different disciplines. Seeing what each individual brings to the table has allowed me to broaden my knowledge of my field”, similar to how Panhellenic women, varied in interest but unified in values, come together to make up a chapter.
As she looks towards the future, Taylor insists that “anyone can change the world”. It is all about one’s willingness, determination, and integrity. “I am no longer just trying to graduate and get a job, I am trying to graduate and change the world. I have this profound idea of what I want to do with my life and I owe it all to the opportunities that Florida State has provided me”. After graduating, Taylor wants to make the world a more sustainable place through the use and substitution of composite materials. “Sometimes we get so focused on the technical aspects of life that we forget why we are doing the things we are passionate about in the first place. Everyone in this community has made me realize how great our influence is and how much we can do for our local, national, and international communities”.
Philia’s interaction with Taylor has further emphasized the ideal that, below the surface, each woman exemplifies strength, natural beauty, and an individual drive to do good in the world. We believe in the power of women that challenge and support each other, allowing each individual to discover their true potential. In Taylor’s words, “It felt so natural to join both Engineers Without Borders and Gamma Phi… I have stuck with both of them throughout my college experience, and will never regret that.”