Dedication to a Sisterhood and Beyond

Author: Hannah C. Editor: Ariana W. and Grace C.

Elysa C., a senior sister of Delta Zeta, believes in the importance and empowerment of involvement on campus and beyond.

Early in her life, Elysa’s busy schedule began. She was a competitive dancer throughout her childhood and spent roughly 40 hours practicing and performing weekly. According to Elysa, her background in dance inspires her drive for involvement and influences her love for staying busy.

Although Elysa’s experience with dance initially exposed her to a busy schedule, her experience as a Recruitment Counselor, or Rho Gamma, here at Florida State grew her confidence and changed her perspective of her abilities.

“I was a Rho Gam for Panhellenic,” says Elysa. “I realized that I have skills, and I can apply them to other areas. The position developed my leadership skills and made me confident to run for an Executive Board position.”

Following her experience as a Rho Gamma, Elysa became involved in leadership within her own chapter. In the past, Elysa served as the Standards Chair and as the Risk Management Chair on Delta Zeta’s Executive Board.

When explaining her motivation to run for Risk Management Chair, Elysa connects risk management to her future career as an attorney. Through her internships with law firms, she learned that many aspects of her future career are related to risk management, such as gaining the trust of others and actively listening to them.

“I believed that being Risk Management Chair would prepare me to listen to people and do something about their cases,” says Elysa.

In addition to preparing her for her future career path, Elysa’s positions have given her a deeper connection to her sisters. As an Executive Board member of the chapter, she is required to live in Delta Zeta’s chapter facility, which has allowed her to “grow so much closer” to the women in her chapter and “find her best friends.”

“It’s definitely a lot of work, but I feel like I have gained so many skills and earned more respect from my sisters,” Elysa shares.

Although Elysa spends a lot of time at Delta Zeta, she also extends her involvement outside of the DZ sisterhood. Elysa has also led a Freshman Interest Group (FIG) on campus.

“I was never in a FIG as a freshman, but my roommates were involved in them,” Elysa shares. “I saw how close my roommates got with their FIG groups and how their involvement allowed them to connect with other people about their classes and create study groups.”

Because she saw how beneficial a FIG could be for new college students, Elysa decided to apply to be a leader for the pre-law FIG. Through sharing her experiences as a pre-law student, she hopes to help younger students who will “follow in her footsteps.”

When students ask for her advice and share their concerns, Elysa reassures them that their feelings are valid. “I was there once,” she says. “The most rewarding thing is letting them know that they have someone to relate to. It’s okay to worry. It’s okay to change your major. It’s okay to not be perfect.”

Despite Elysa’s commitments to the Panhellenic, FSU, and greater Tallahassee communities, she believes in the importance of prioritizing her mental health. Through exercising, Elysa is able to destress and reset her mind.

“Exercise is mindless for me,” she shares. “When I’m having a bad day, I drop everything and go work out to get in a new mindset.” Although Elysa maintains a busy schedule and values involvement, she also recognizes the importance of mental health and self care.

Despite her involvement in many areas, Elysa believes that her Executive Board position in Delta Zeta has been the most time-consuming yet rewarding experience of her collegiate career.

“I love my chapter, so I love doing things for my chapter,” she shares.

Throughout her collegiate experience, Elysa has effectively managed her time to stay involved in the activities she loves and influence the lives of her sisters, students, and others who know her. Through her dedication to scholarship, service, leadership, and sisterhood, she exemplifies what it means to be a Panhellenic woman.