This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bryant chapter.
Name: Valerie Szeto, most people just call me Val
Hometown: Stoughton, MA
Major/Minor: Global Supply Chain Management/Communications & Computer Information Systems <--try fitting all of that on a resume hahaha
Year: 2016
HC: Involvements on campus?
VS: I’ve been a Bulldog Leader for the new first-year students for two years now and I plan to make it my third this upcoming year! I am also a Spring 2013 initiate of Alpha Omicron Pi. This year I was also the Teams Coordinator for Bryant’s St.Jude Up Til Dawn and with the help of our incredible executive board and participants, we raised $32,144!
Other than my involvements, I also work in the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students office.
HC: What sparked your interest in Greek life?
VS: Since the moment I was accepted to transfer to Bryant after my first semester of freshman year at Suffolk University, I knew I had to get involved as soon as possible at Bryant. I moved into Bryant in January 2013 in the middle of the IDEA program and had no idea what I was doing. As strange as it seems, I was on a Target run with my new roommate who I knew nothing about and ran into a few Bryant students. One of them was in AOII and we small-talked for a bit. I was a little freaked out when she asked me for my number but I was in no place to deny a new friend since I didn’t have many at Bryant. We met for coffee and she sparked my interest for Greek life. 3 days later I signed up for Formal Recruitment which is the formal process for women to join sororities. A couple days passed and I accepted my bid into Alpha Omicron Pi and I haven’t looked back since. These women who I now call sisters push me to be my best self and are always looking after me. I was never into the idea of being a part of Greek life because of the negative stigma that comes along with being Greek, but I am very proud to say that Bryant Greek life beats that stereotype and I am proud to wear my letters. It has changed me for the better and I would not be the student leader I am today if it were not for Alpha Omicron Pi.
HC: Did you hold any positions within AOII? If so, how do you think the skills acquired from those positions will help you with Panhel?
VS: Having only been a member for a semester, I felt it was time to really get involved with AOII. I was elected to serve as the 2013-2014 Vice President of Administration and it was an incredible ride. I’ve learned so much about myself as well as my fraternity and what it stands for. Most of all, I was able to give back to the women who have given me more than I could imagine. The love and support I received as VPA and as a sister was remarkable and I would never trade this experience for anything.
This position definitely tested my patience at many times and I’ve certainly learned from it all, but it was all worth it!
HC: What are your plans as Panhel President?
VS: Greek life has come a long way since I was first initiated. My goal is to keep up what our past Panhellenic sisters have worked so hard for as well as develop new ways to better our community of women. I want to emphasize women empowerment throughout my term between developing new programs to bring the community together to co-sponsoring and conducting service projects for our community. I have a list of goals and projects that I plan to start working on as soon as I am officially inducted. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to see how much the Panhellenic community can achieve!