Notes to the LDC: Amanda's Reflection on Being an LDC

Since today is my final day as a leadership development consultant for Phi Sigma Sigma, I wanted to reflect on all of the great things this job has offered me.

In addition to all of the benefits I mentioned in my first SGT blog post, I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing Phi Sigma Sigma women from around the country.

As you can see in this photograph, I received a lot of love from many sisters.

A majority of these notes are from the sisters of the Gamma Xi chapter at Widener University. They welcomed me into their beautiful home eight months ago. Throughout the school year I have worked closely with the chapter to create positive change and exciting new traditions. While it was a lot of work, the sisters and I had fun together as well. From hanging out in the manor to running the concession stands at PPL Park for a fundraiser, we have created many memories. I hope I taught them a lot because these women helped me develop leadership skills that I did not expect to gain. 

There are also notes in there from my consultant big, Shelly. Shelly is an amazing Phi Sig from Oregon who also was once a leadership consultant for the sorority. Even though she is from the other side of the country, she has been a huge support system for me. Whenever I  needed advice, Shelly offered her love and care through phone calls, text messages, and even surprise packages! Shelly mailed me a big package of my favorite candies and she even got me an adorable tank top from The Greek Supply "just because."

I also need to acknowledge my lovely sisters from the Iota Rho chapter at Saint Joseph's University. Some of the notes in this picture are from founders of the chapter and the chapter's advisor, Beth. This chapter has been such a joy to work with because the sisters are sweet and friendly and the leaders of the chapter are very driven and accomplished. Watching this newer chapter grow and experience its first formal recruitment was so rewarding and I look forward to seeing what the women do next.

Even though I was stationed in the Philadelphia area for a majority of my time as a consultant, I traveled to at least ten states and around 20 universities. In the pile I have an adorable thank you card from the Zeta Omicron chapter at Kutztown University and I have multiple kind notes and letters from another former consultant, Christina, after we colonized Phi Sigma Sigma's newest chapter at Farmingdale State College. All of my visits were unique, enlightening, and definitely unforgettable.

Because this job allowed me to explore different parts of the country with sisters, I added in some ticket stubs. I visited museums in Washington, D.C. with another consultant, Katie, and I even attended a campus-sponsored drag queen show with the Zeta Rho chapter at Fitchburg State University.

At the top of the photograph is a review of my work as a consultant after the fall semester. I added the review to this pile because it was full of encouraging feedback from chapter leaders and advisors. I am so proud to see that I have been making a positive and lasting impact on the chapters I work with and visit. I hope to keep in touch with everyone and hear about how they have grown.

There are many other special people that shaped my LDC experience as well. Some additional memories added in this next college include chaperoning the Grab-a-Date date party for the Delta Eta chapter at University of Delaware, helping the Iota Eta chapter at Florida Institute of Technology with formal recruitment, taking photo shoots with the other Phi Sigma Sigma consultants, working at Leadership Conference in Virginia, running extension presentations with HQ staff, playing laser tag with sisters from the Delta Upsilon chapter at Siena Heights University, and bumping into my grand little at a Phired Up workshop.

This has been a crazy eight months, but I do not regret a minute of it. LITP!

Meeting with Our Leadership Development Consultant

I have been through numerous meetings with LDC's but none such as fun as this! Today our LDC came today and needless to say I knew exactly who ours was! We got assigned an amazing girl for our LDC and she is our lovely blogger Amanda Ogen.
It hasn't been 24 hours yet and I know our sisters have already cliqued with her! We just spent well over an hour kicking ass during a kickboxing class. Amanda took it with ease, and I legit broke a sweat and was way too red in the face.
Thankfully this picture was taken before hand thanks to the lovely idea of my Little. Can't wait to see what what tomorrow brings. Glad to have you get to take in the Kutztown scene for a little.
Xoxo & LITP

12 Classic Sorority Girl Photos

You probably predicted some of the photos you were going to see on here. And you probably have photos just like them. That just means you are rocking some classic sorority girl poses.

1. The skinny arm.
If you don't know this pose, then you're not a girl. You can usually spot this on girls at the end of group shots and in solo shots of girls showing off some attitude. Intended to make the arm and therefore the body appear thinner, the skinny arm has become a phenomenon amongst sorority girls everywhere. But sometimes we genuinely just don't know what else to do with our arms. Is the peace sign still cool?

2. Mirror selfie.
You know when you think you look so cute and your outfit is on point that you need to share it right away? This shot comes in handy when you're too embarrassed to ask someone to take a picture of you but you want to make sure your look is acknowledged that day.

3. Hugging photo.
Aw! This photo always looks adorable. It just screams cuteness and works for groups of all sizes (of at least two).

4. Hand sign.
On the beach, in a foreign country, or at bid day, you will find a plethora of these. No matter where you are, you want the world to know that a [insert sorority name] was here.

5. Selfie.
This had to be on the list and you know it. Whether it is of just you or with multiple friends, you have a lot of these photos. Some were funny Snapchats that your friends screenshotted, and some were intentionally attractive. And then there are those of you that upgraded to the selfie stick. Because that was a necessary addition to the world.

6. Candid.
The jig is up: your candid is carefully planned. In fact, you probably discussed it with your friends before you handed over your iPhone. But that's okay, because "candid" shots are always the cutest. Your laughter is usually coming from absolutely nothing but your impressive acting skills and your desire for likes on Instagram. But if your candid is genuine, then you've hit photography gold.

7. All facing one way (sometimes holding hands).
You're over the prom pics but not quite. This photo is perfect for groups of friends with the same good side. But honestly, this pose takes some skill. You can see I have not mastered it yet:

8. Entire sorority (especially all matching).
When an entire group of busy sorority women are together, you cannot pass up that photo opportunity. The best times for these photos range from big philanthropy events to formal recruitment week. How can you not want a photo with all of your beautiful sisters in matching outfits?

9. Big and little pose.
Cue the tears. The best love you can have is the love for your little. And that is why we all have this next photo. The descending height photo shows off your lineage so you can brag about how perfect your offspring is.

10. Laying on the ground in a circle.
Whether you're fake laughing (see: candid) or just smiling, the circle picture is a common sorority shot. It shows off some sisterhood in a unique style.

11. Duckface.
The infamous kiss-in-the-air shot is another classic. This pose has multiple purposes. We use it to show adoration for a fellow member of the photo or the viewer, to look cute, fierce, or goofy, and occasionally to go along with a frat point. The intent impacts the level of puckered-ness.

12. Sorority squat.
And finally, the srattiest of them all. The sorority squat is the instinctual pose for sorority girls in the front or middle of group photos (note the skinny arm as well).

No matter the pose, the memory is captured forever. Next time a camera points at you, give it your all and own that moment, girl!

Reasons Why You and Your Roommate(s) Are On the Same Wavelength

By now you’ve figured out if your roommate is the person you’re supposed to be rooming with, here are some reasons why you and your roommate get eachother.

• You know exactly when the other person is going to the bathroom and all the grimy details.
• When you and your roommate can freely talk about pooping you know it’s real.
• Your food needs and patterns are in sync, you usually want the same kind of food as the other at the right time; Chinese? Don’t mind if I do.
• You craft for your sorority on the ratchet floor of your room and make it into quality venting time.
• Venting Sessions happen on the regular, and you’re almost always on the exact same page.
• You know their relationships inside and out, you know when they’re having boyf probs.
• You have the same hatred for the same exact people.
• You love all the same TV shows; hello PLL date nights!
• One of you is messy and the other is a complete neat freak [Yes my roommate currently that’s you and I’m the hot mess]
• You have no problem bugging them when you forget your ID to get into the room or when you need food.
• You have an insane amount of pictures with each other to start a portfolio it’s actually disgusting.
• You’re 95% of each other’s snapchat stories.
• You share clothes.
• Your music moods change constantly one day is Country day the next day is Missy Elliot throwback day and you’re completely okay with it.
• You do your laundry together like an old couple; hey Kar can I borrow a dryer sheet?
• You support each other when it comes to eating junk food and they never let you eat it alone; go for it eat those stale doritos!
• You’re not grossed out by each other’s clothes laying over the entire bathroom floor.
• You text each other when you’re not together about how much you miss the other and they usually go something like…..I MISSSSSSHHHH YOUUUUUUU [insert whining emoji here]
• You text each other even when you’re in the same room but don’t find it weird.
• When you leave notes for each other and slip them under each other’s doors for when they wake up that are so extremely stupid but wonderful at the same time.
• There's always one of you who ends up being the instigator and trying to get the other one to go out even when they don't want to.
• You cannot wait to go back after time away from each other because you’ll be able to be partners in crime all over again.