Each semester, there are articles traditionally written by 2
MC classes in our chapter publication, the current class and immediate past
class. Well, Delta Delta decided to not take a class last semester (Spring
2012), so my MC class (Fall 2011) was the only class to write an article. In my
part of the article, I wrote about how it feels to be active and how travel
season helped me grow in the sisterhood. I called myself a “newcomer,” someone
that knew the traditions, the history and the symbols, but I knew I still
didn’t understand everything. My first semester being active was just as much
of a learning experience as my MC semester. I felt like I knew more than I did
before. As the semester came to a close, I decided to run for a chapter office.
On April 21, 2012, I took my next step in the sisterhood; I
was elected as the Corresponding Secretary. I was still in my first semester
active when I was elected, I didn’t know how to feel that a chapter of 25
members were trusting me to hold this office and perform its duties to a very
high standard. This moment was a very scary moment, but this was also a very
exciting moment. I couldn’t wait to start working with everyone. As summer
passed by, I sent email after email over the Delta Delta list-serv about
pen-palling and general correspondence information. I was slowly proving to
myself that I can hold this office and I can have a lot of fun with it.
This semester started and it was decided that we would take
an MC class, this brought me back to the feeling of not knowing everything, I
began to question myself “How do I promote Correspondence to the MC’s without
looking like a crazy person?” “How do I be a person that the MC’s look up to?”
How do I do this….how do I do that…the list continues. But, my biggest question
was “What do I call myself?” Am I still a “newcomer”? This is my second
semester as an active Sister, but we didn’t have an MC class last spring, so I
guess I can call myself “Newcomer 2.0?” I guess.
Throughout this semester, MC’s started asking me
correspondence-related and general sisterhood-related questions. (Some of those
questions ended with “You’ll know when you’re older”). I knew the answers to most
of these questions, but sometimes I would have to say, “ask an older sister.”
These moments taught me that I still need time to grow as a sister; I still
need time to learn EVERYTHING.
Looking back, I think that I, along with my other Sisters,
served as great leaders for the MC’s. My two semesters as a “newcomer” have
taught me so much; I have learned how to be an officer, how to utilize the many
resources this Sisterhood has, and so much more. I think that the one thing
these two semesters taught me is that each semester will be a learning
experience. This is a learning experience that I can’t wait to happen.
Christopher Lukasik
Corresponding Secretary
Tau Beta Sigma-Delta Delta
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
