By Lydia Hilbing (Zeta Sigma, Missouri State University)
Today, I’m reflecting on my career and the gratitude I have for this chapter consultant position. I vividly remember the day I accepted the job. I was driving home from my weekly Target run when an Indianapolis number popped up on my phone. I answered right away, pulled into a Culver’s parking lot and tried (unsuccessfully) to contain my excitement as I talked to who would soon become my supervisor. One second, I was serving as VP recruitment, planning and executing something that meant so much to me, and the next, I was accepting a position that would let me give back to something that had already given me so much. I knew I was in for a ride, but I had no idea just how much I would grow, learn and be challenged in the best ways during my first few months as a traveling chapter consultant. That’s where my gratitude starts.
From hopping into my rental car; saying goodbye to loved ones I’d just reunited with after four years out of state; and packing my life into two almost-50-pound suitcases (49.3 to be exact), one carry-on and a personal item, I had no idea what I was getting into. Thirteen flights, eight universities and seven states later, I realize I have found something so much bigger than myself.
It’s the connections I’ve made that stick with me the most. Advisors picking me up from the airport and telling me about their careers, offering help for my future. Collegians sending texts that remind me of the impact I’ve had on their chapter and college experience. My job may focus on helping chapters run smoothly, but it’s also about being a small part of someone’s story, helping shape a sisterhood that changes lives, just like Alpha Chi did for me.
Of course, there are long days. Some days feel like a LOT of things to fix. But I always go back to what we learned in October training: celebrate the small wins. We may not leave every chapter with everything perfectly resolved, but we plant seeds that will grow long after we leave.
For that, I’m endlessly grateful. For my team; for the late-night phone calls when I can’t figure out how to submit a bid list; for the laughter in between flights; and for the lessons this role has taught me about leadership, confidence, time management and responsibility.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the journey matters just as much as the destination. Every step, whether it feels like progress or delay, shapes us into who we’re meant to become.