I sat down with Emily Abram, one of the most valued members in the greek community. Last week Fraternities and Sororities gathered at the FSL awards where Sigma Kappa sorority won seven awards and Emily herself won two.
She helped Sigma Kappa gain a better reputation in the Greek community as well as win the “most improved chapter” award. This was a huge honor for her; she pledged Sigma Kappa in fall 2008 as a sophomore and quickly fell in love with her sisters who she now considers her family. She held the position of Executive Vice President from spring 2010 to fall 2010.
Q: Please tell me about your overall experience being Vice President of an all female organization.
A: Overall I had the most amazing experience as Executive Vice President of Sigma Kappa. The EVP oversees a dozen cabinet positions and makes sure SK understands the rules and guidelines the sisters are asked to follow, and confronts issues facing the chapter if any arise.
Although at times it was hard to be the bad guy and tell people when they were doing something wrong, it was all worth it in the end. I have never seen such amazing strides like the ones Sigma Kappa has made over the last year.
Q: What made you decide to run for this position?
A: After watching two EVPs during my time as a sister I knew that it would be a position for me. I knew that there were things I didn’t like about the sorority during my time there and wanted a way to change what I was seeing.
I decided to run for Vice President because I knew I could make a difference for the organization. One thing that always bugged me was what that people got away with a lot of behavior which was unbecoming of our chapter and I wanted it to change. The EVP’s job is not glamorous but it is extremely important.
Q: Please explain how you felt when you won two FSL awards giving your chapter a total of 7 awards for the year.
A: After the year was over and it was time to hand the reigns over to the next executive board, it felt amazing to know we were leaving on a high note. I was so surprised to receive two awards in addition to five more for our chapter.
It was a good feeling knowing that not only did my chapter recognize my accomplishments and commitment but that the FSL community did as well. The chapter has been working non-stop to become a better chapter and the 7 awards we received that night was the icing on the cake saying, “Congratulations, you did it!”
Q: How did you cope with the stress of holding such a position for so many girls?
A: At times it was overwhelming trying to juggle schoolwork with and meetings with the sorority numerous times a week. It was a lot of responsibility but when I watched the changes I hoped to see occur start to happen, it was all worth it. Every time Sigma Kappa made another step in the right direction, it just reminded me of how much I loved my sorority and that I would do anything for my sisters.
Q: What advice could you give to other students wanting to hold positions in their organizations?
A: I would tell anyone who asked to run for a position in their organization to do it! I would tell students to become advice member early and participate in their organization as much as possible. It is a huge time commitment but the benefits outweigh all of that.
For those students who may be unsure about holding a big position, start small working with a committee or cabinet position and see if it is something they would like to do more of. Holding a position is a good way to demonstrate leadership and I would definitely recommend running for a position.
Q: If you could, would you do it all over again?
A: It makes me extremely sad to know that my year as EVP is over. If I could turn back time, I would absolutely do it all over again. I got close to people I never thought I’d spend so much time with and learned so much about my sisters in the process. I wouldn’t change anything about my experience for the world, only that I wish it went on longer. I have never dedicated myself to something more than my sorority and I wish my year as EVP could have lasted a lifetime.
My interview with Emily was incredibly moving; she has such a strong character and presence. I could see why she won not only one but two awards for her efforts. Not only did Emily show incredible dedication to her sorority, she has also managed to squeeze 4 years of undergraduate school and 2 years of graduate school into 4 years; she is truly a vision and someone that all college students can look up to.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at JMU chapter.