A Week of Delta Gamma

Hi there! My name is Mia Anthony and I am a junior at Michigan State studying neuroscience on the premedical track. Beyond my education, I am a member of Delta Gamma here at MSU and serve as our Director of COB. Last weekend I got the opportunity to represent Beta Xi at The Lewis Institute at Ohio Wesleyan University.

The Lewis Institute is a unique leadership conference designed specifically for Delta Gammas across both the United States and Canada. Throughout the five days I spent on campus we worked through various activities involving all attendees and others in small groups. Everything we did was designed to strengthen us not only as leaders, but as members of our chapter. We discussed our personal strengths and values, defining how we can take advantage of them in order to be better leaders. The goal is that through the various forms of learning, attendees can bring back endless knowledge to share with their chapter and hopefully improve it in big or small ways!

I am returning to Beta Xi full of ideas intended to spark meaningful change within our chapter, and as a different version of myself. I’m coming home with so much - new ideas, conflict resolution strategies, an action plan for Beta Xi, and at LEAST thirty new best friends. Lewis reminded me that even though leadership can come with difficulties and opposition, the future of Delta Gamma is worth working through it. As cliche as it may sound, Lewis reignited my love for my membership within Delta Gamma. Hearing our alumni speak so passionately not only about their time as collegians but of the support and love they still feel reminded me why I joined in the first place, and reminded me that my commitment to Delta Gamma is lifelong. As we faced the challenges of holding ourselves and our chapters accountable, I won’t lie and say that it was easy peasy - it was not. Through the help of our wonderful facilitators/ alumni, who have years of DG experience and insight, I strategized on how to convert uncomfortable accountability to worthwhile change and growth. As recruitment comes closer, I have already begun incorporating what I’ve learned to make Beta Xi a better place.

Part of the experience was visiting our Executive Offices near campus, which was what we called an ‘aha moment’ for me. Seeing the hundreds of chapters represented, reading letters our founders wrote to each other, the Beta Xi patch of the centennial quilt, and more deepened my understanding of our rich history and how much Delta Gamma means to so many. There were even pieces of the original Lewis School where Mary, Anna, and Eva attended and created this beautiful legacy.

This very general explanation of Lewis just scratches the surface of what I experienced, and I wish that every Delta Gamma could partake. The joy of laughing with my roommates till one in the morning knowing we had to be up at 7am, the vulnerability we all showcased in order to improve ourselves, and the stories of differences between our chapters and our unique DG experiences were just a few of the things I think all members could benefit from.

I am so incredibly grateful for the Lewis Institute, Delta Gamma, incredible alumni, our facilitators, and the sisters I shared this experience with. It is difficult to put into words what I’ve learned through my time at Lewis, especially in one short blog post - the experience was so incredibly full of love and learning that it was difficult to even know where to begin.

ITB (forever),

Mia Anthony <3