You’ve probably seen Haley Maynard around campus this semester, and wondered if she’s a transfer student, a new professor, or even a freshman. To clear things up, Haley is a Leadership Consultant for Alpha Delta Pi. Her job is to travel nationally to help various chapters recruit and improve themselves, and she’s come to F&M to help colonize on one of ADPi’s newest campuses. I expected to chat with her over coffee for fifteen minutes, but Haley’s enthusiasm and positivity are infectious; our “chat” evolved into an hour and a half conversation about what it means to be a strong and successful woman in our generation, and how to become one.
Naturally, we started talking about Lancaster. One of her favorite things to do here is wake up early on a Saturday morning and walk to Central Market. She has a passion for cooking, and loves to experiment with stir-fry and anything Mexican, filling her house with the scent of warm spices. She admits that she rarely follows a recipe and likes to “throw things in a pot and see what happens.” She realizes that this experimentation probably stems from a love of learning- she misses school and likes developing new skills. Similarly, she’s an eager reader of historical fiction, particularly anything pertaining to Abe Lincoln. Clearly, she has many interests.
Haley is the epitome of a well-rounded woman. While at West Virginia Wesleyan College, she was the President of her campus’ Alpha Delta Pi chapter, and a member of countless honor societies. She was a counselor at the writing center, leader of freshman seminars, and attendee as well as participant of many research fairs. She was also active in the dance program and had an internship at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.
She graduated a semester early from West Virginia Wesleyan, and spent her time substitute teaching in her county school district until she was to go to Russia for a language program at Moscow State University. Twelve days before her departure date, though, her trip was cancelled due to a terrorist attack and she was forced to change her plans. She then chose to defer grad school at the University of Kentucky (where she’ll pursue a degree in history and library sciences until August) and went back to subbing and teaching dance. This turn of events, though, led her to the job that brings her to Franklin and Marshall this semester.
Haley now works full-time for her sorority. She has moved to a new city by herself and taken a new chapter under her wing. Needless to say, she is passionate about Alpha Delta Pi. When asked what she likes most about being greek, Haley doesn’t hesitate: “I like being part of something that’s so much bigger than me- or my campus, or my friends. You can go to another school and already have one thing in common with an ADPi who might be entirely different from you. It’s particularly reassuring to know that in a world where women move a lot for careers, that you’ll have a safety net.” This sense of community is something that’s familiar to most of us, whether it’s in the form of a team, band, club, or any other group. There’s something to be said for a sense of belonging.
Haley also points out that in a sorority, “you’re learning life skills that you can’t even pinpoint- being in the greek community will help you not only in the work environment, but life in general.” We talked about what it’s like to have responsibility in a sorority, and what that translates to in the outside world. “If you’re handed something, you better be able to get it done – sorority makes you accountable for your actions, teaches you to get things done.” In short, when you’re given a task, it’s not only the deadline that motivates you, but also the desire to pull through for your sisters.
Despite these valuable lessons, though, Haley expresses frustration at the impulse for girls to justify their greek affiliation to others. “We feel the need to validate our greek background or get defensive by saying it teaches us this or that, but actions speak louder than words. People are always going to think what they think- we shouldn’t be afraid to just be ourselves.”
Before talking to Haley, I had forgotten that I don’t need to offer disclaimers after saying that I’m in a sorority. As Haley says, “I always tell women, you can do anything. Yes, you can be on the volleyball team, but you can take art classes and be in ADPi too”. We shouldn’t have to identify ourselves with one thing on campus. As students at a liberal art’s college, we are allowed to, if not expected to, participate in many different groups, organizations, and events. If we limit ourselves to one thing, we are cheating ourselves out of growth and experience. We should feel free to pursue activities we are passionate about, but also experiment with others to find what else we like (and even don’t like.) If you’re looking for a role model, just look at Haley.