Catherine Giles is fearlessly enthusiastic. She’s an eager attendee at nearly every campus event, rocking a sparkling gown for Battle of the Classes and nailing a Pitch Perfect performance during Airband. Passionate about the environment, she advocates for the Earth as HC Chatham’s Sustainability Writer. She’s a big sister to the whole campus, nurturing emerging writers as our Features and Blog Editor and winning RA of the Year in 2015.
The extracurricular extrovert is also a serious academic achiever. As a senior, she’s the president of both Blue Key Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa, Vice President of Mortar Board and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After ODK’s 2015 induction, we asked Catherine to share her secrets for leading the best possible undergraduate life. Because if there’s anyone who embodies the spirit of Chatham, it’s her.
Her Campus Chatham: Omicron Delta Kappa just held their initiation on campus! How did it go?
Catherine Giles: I think it went very well! Although we only inducted 4 members, one of them is a junior, meaning that she will be here for her entire senior year to be a part of ODK! It’s so exciting!
For those unfamiliar with ODK, can you give us a bit of background on the honor society?
So ODK was started as a small chapter at Washington and Lee University of Lexington, VA in 1914. This Honor society has survived several world wars, and celebrated its 100th year in 2014. It initially did not permit women into its Circles, but they admitted 12 women in 1974. This honor society also recognizes that scholastics are not the only merit that a person can be judged on, and does encourage a focus in athletics, the arts, religion, campus government, and several other areas. The establishment and history of this honor society mirrors Mortar Board Honor Society, which admitted exclusively women until the passage of Title IX. So much learning!
Why did you decide to run for president of the organization? What responsibilities do you have in that role?
Our election was very informal, but I wanted to be president of this organization because I knew it would look great on a resume primarily, and I also wanted to be involved in an active honor society. Then as I became more involved with it, I realized how incredible and truly altruistic this organization is. I went to a leadership conference for ODK at Pitt and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! It was great.
As the president of ODK, you’re the leader of the leadership honor society. How would you describe your leadership style?
I try to be very hands-off in my leadership, but I am the restorative type of leader, meaning that I like to fix things and improve them. I want every voice to be heard, but I also keep things very focused and on task. I rarely send out emails because I recognize that we all get approximately 5,000 emails a day, and I try not to clog everyone’s inbox.
You’re also the president of Blue Key Honor Society. Can you tell us a bit about it and why you wanted to get involved?
Yes ma’am! There are (well were, before tonight’s induction ceremony) only two members in the 2014-2015 cohort, myself and Taylor Gombar. Our strategy was that she would run for Mortar Board President and I would run for Blue Key, and we would be each other’s VP. Blue Key is a service-based organization that puts particular emphasis on community service. Additionally, it has a faith/spirituality component that is missing from several other honor societies. It had humble beginnings as “Blue Key Honors Fraternity” in Florida of 1924. Since then, it has grown in prestige and number nationally. I wanted to be a part of Blue Key because I found my life lacking community service, and I wanted to do more. Initiatives for next year include more community service opportunities sponsored by Blue Key and a larger awareness of the honor society itself. While we didn’t get to do much planning for community service this year, I learned a LOT about what it takes to run a club and organization through this particular opportunity. Through a series of rather unfortunate events, the Chatham advisor of Blue Key changed hands four times. The current advisor leaves in May, and I’m a little nervous about its future. However, one of the benefits of Blue Key is that it admits graduate students among its ranks. Therefore, as a graduate student next year, I can hopefully continue to improve and strengthen this small but mighty organization.
You interned with the League of Women Voters. What did that position teach you about empowering women to lead?
From this internship, I think my main takeaway was that sometimes, it’s all about who you know. Meeting people and getting your name into different circles of people can possibly help you land your dream job.
What was a typical day like for you at your internship?
It was mainly working on campus to raise awareness for voter registration and Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Fracking. It varied from day to day in that I didn’t go into an office.
What advice do you have for students preparing to do summer internships?
Beware of the fact that sometimes, summer internships do not count. My friend did an amazing internship over the summer, but because of problems with her advisor, that internship did not count because of paperwork issues, and she graduated a semester later. Additionally, some summer internships require extra money because they’re not covered for summer tuition. Basically, just be careful of the fine details!
You’re easily one of the most active women on campus. Can you tell us a bit about the other organizations you’re a part of?
Well, I’m a part of Residence Life and I have been there since my second semester first year, which is very uncommon. I feel like Res Life always gets a bad rap, but it’s very fun! I love getting to know my residents and watching as they blossom into beautiful Chatham women. I’ve been heavily involved in Drama Club in the past and have done shows every year with them. My favorite show we do is The Vagina Monologues, held every spring. Currently, I am a Phonathon caller, and I call alumnae to establish a bond and also ask for donations to the annual fund. I’m President of both Blue Key Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa, Vice President of Mortar Board, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. I’m a Chatham Scholar as well, which is a select group of students that focus on higher level and harder classes. I’ve also been involved with Her Campus (<3) since my first year.
What tips do you have to help incoming first years balance academics with extracurricular life?
Learn to say no. My sophomore year, I was involved in too many extracurriculars and it was overwhelming. Additionally, set small goals for yourself. I’ve started to play Pokémon or read my Kindle for at least one hour per day. This way, I can do something that I enjoy, while still allotting myself time for work. I also try to accomplish at least one task a day, and I keep a running to-do list.
You’ve spent about three years as an RA. What skills do you think are essential for every RA to have?
Communication. If you cannot effectively communicate, how can you get anything done? Sometimes, you are not understanding what the other person is saying, or vice versa. You need to learn to recognize that and be willing to look at a situation from a different perspective. Additionally, you need to have a great… emergency response face. For example, say that a resident knocks on your door to tell you that there is a squirrel running rampant through the halls. The last thing you want to do is freak out. So you tell them that you will deal with the problem and deal with the problem calmly, no matter how crazy or strange or weird it may be.
What has working as an RA taught you about sisterhood?
I think the best example I can come up with is that it’s all about support. If a situation arose where I had an emergency, I would surely hope that my fellow RAs would assist me in whatever way possible, and so I do the same for them. Sometimes you give a little more than you take, but I think that’s okay.
We’re proud to call you not just a Chatham sister, but a member of the Her Campus sisterhood. As the Features and Blog Editor, what strategies do you use to offer truly constructive criticism and support to writers?
Dawwwe shucks :) I think knowing that the article is someone else’s and remembering that it’s not your own is helpful. I know what way I would write about something, but that might not necessarily be the way that the other person would write it. Tweaking one word here, adding in a transition there, and just rearranging what is already in place is what makes a good article better, in my opinion.
You started with HC Chatham as the Sustainability Blogger, and you continue to tackle that topic today. Why is sustainability important to you?
Sustainability is important to me because without thinking sustainably, this world that we live in now will die. We will use up all of our resources before we can think up new solutions. We will struggle to exist. Additionally, we are killing our planet. Have you ever seen how beautiful this world is? How can we let all our flowers, animals, creatures die out? That’s what keeps me up at night and wakes me up in the morning.
You’re getting ready to graduate. What are your plans for next year?
I just deposited for the Master’s in Sustainability program at Chatham today!
What are you most looking forward to about graduate school?
I really want to work on hands-on approaches. I’m all about getting stuff done, so what better way than to physically do it and get my hands dirty?
After you get your master’s, what do you hope is ahead for you?
I have an apartment lined up after my graduation in two years, and I plan to enter the workforce to get some experience. Eventually, I want to get my doctorate.
How has Chatham changed your life?
I think I have a really unique perspective about Chatham because I’ve been here since I was like 8. I would come over with my dad and hang out for Girls and Women in Sports Day and just chill in the old gym, the current Art and Design Center. When I officially decided on Chatham, it was because nowhere else felt right. I have been a Chatham woman my whole life, and I will continue that into my graduate career.
What do you love most about your Chatham sisters?
I love that I can tell them literally anything. I love that they encourage me when I am at my worst, but still love me even when I’m totally moody. Chatham Sisters Unite!
Speed Round!
What’s your favorite drink to get at Café Rachel?
Black coffee (I’m under-caffeinated.)
What’s your favorite Chatham tradition?
I think Opening and Closing Convocation are my favorite traditions. It starts and ends the year the right way!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from a professor or staff member?
I think the best advice a prostaff has ever given me in ResLife was to stop comparing myself to others. I am me, not anyone else. If I compare myself to someone else, I’m just going to feel awful about who I am.
From a faculty, I learned about making myself a better scientist. It’s about immersing yourself in the literature, reading important articles, and analyzing what they mean. Sometimes it’s about putting yourself up on the chopping block and being willing to accept that you messed up or that there is a better way to do something.
Where have you studied abroad and what did you love about it?
Who says I liked it?
Just kidding, I would get Brazil tattooed somewhere on my body. I loved being in the jungle for two weeks. We lived in a minimal-technology place (we only had one spot for WiFi, three kilometers away in town), so now I know that I can survive without Facebook for more than a day. We also did some amazing animal conservation work, and that really helped me to know that I want to work with animals or incorporate conservation into my career goals.
You can choose one female leader – dead or alive – to give you advice for the rest of your life. Who do you pick?
Emma Watson, cause Hermione, but also because she is such an inspirational person. Despite monetary difficulties in her childhood, she has risen above and beyond expectations, went to college even though she made a lot of money through acting, and continues to be a political activist. She’s amazing, and I aspire to have her guts!