Phi Mu: A Home Away from Home
My experience with the Collegiate Leadership Council has been nothing short of life-changing. Unlike my fellow members of the CLC, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Belfast Northern Ireland during the first half of my time on the council. During this time, I was completely by myself, having no support system of my family, my university friends, or my sisters, and being a part of the CLC helped me stay connected in the sisterhood. On some of the loneliest days while abroad, I would take those days to make graphics or help educate my chapter, Beta Upsilon, about the Foundation.
One of the most beneficial days of being a part of the CLC was on October 22nd, or 18 Hours and 52 Minutes of Giving, where the Foundation tries to raise the most money possible within that timeframe. This day was particularly important to me because it was the day after my 21st birthday. Since I was away from my friends and family at home, I asked everyone, for one thing for my birthday, to donate to the thing that gave me so much love and hope. In total, I had about $150 in donations in my name for my birthday. To me, Phi Mu has given me confidence, friendships, and leadership opportunities that I could never imagine, and the least I could do is ask my friends and family at home to give what they can to help others.
After coming back to the States, my number one goal was to help the Foundation both nationally and within my chapter. With the current spread of COVID-19, I helped my sisters apply for scholarships to help them continue their studies at Westminster College, and help those how may need to apply for emergency funding.
I would like to thank the sisters of Beta Upsilon for the continuous support in my endeavors with the Phi Mu Foundation and the Collegiate Leadership Council, my Panhellenic Council advisor, Francesca Manilla, for helping me with the responsibilities of being a national representative of the Westminster Greek Community, and the Phi Mu Foundation staff correspondent for the CLC, Jessi Horne. You are an inspiration to all young Phi Mus everywhere on where they can go with hard work and kindness in their hearts.
Through my CLC experience, one line on the creed rang true during the entire experience. “Being steadfast in every duty small or large”. Whether it was an Instagram Story post or campaigning for M3, everything was for the betterment of sisters everywhere.
Past Collegiate Leadership Council member Yiannoula Katsadas, Beta Upsilon, is a senior at Westminster College in Pennsylvania.
