The first topic of the day was the difference between ethical and nonethical values. Ethical values are concerned with beliefs about what is right, and nonethical values are related to things that we like, desire, or deem personally important. Nonethical values are not unethical values, they're just things that we "like" as compared to things we think are "right." Values can be determined ethical values if they are about doing the right thing, or if someone with this value would be considered a better person than a person without that value.
Then we separated into our families and had time to identify our own core values. I love values and thinking about and deciding upon what is really important to me, so this was the start to a fantastic day. Sharing my values and explaining them to the rest of my group was really helpful as well because I was forced to explain why I feel the way I do and why certain values are extremely important to me. I loved hearing from the others in my group, and it was cool that a few of us had the same value, but had completely different reasoning behind it.
We also did an activity with everyone about living and leading with integrity. We talked about integrity and how it's about living a life that reflects your values at all times. Integrity is difficult because you can't turn it on and off for certain situations; integrity is living the same way and acting in the same ways at all times, no matter the circumstances. Then, the lead facilitators read off different scenarios and you would join the group (strongly agree, strongly disagree, agree, or disagree) that matched what your actions would be. The scenarios ranged from going 70 in a 65 MPH zone, turning a friend in for cheating, speeding in a school zone, and using your school ID for discounts after you graduate. It was so intriguing to see what group people went to, and then their reasoning behind their decisions. The entire activity really made me think about what I want to do and what I actually do in certain situations. I love the idea of integrity and it's something that I am really trying to work on. I want to be someone who stands up for what they believe in, even if everyone is against me. I don't want to be turning the light switch on and off, I want to be fully committed to integrity.
Later in the afternoon, a bunch of the DGs at LeaderShape went down and sat dockside to the Richard G. Marsh lake for some sister time. One of the greatest things about LeaderShape has been getting to know my sisters from other universities across North America. They're all so great and it's fun to hear about the differences among our chapters, and it always made me smile when we do things the same. Allie, one of the other DGs in my group, has been such a blast to get to know. She's from the University of Idaho, which just seems so far away from my little life in the midwest. We ended up being partners sharing about our visions and values and goals and I loved seeing Delta Gamma shine through her and feeling proud to call her my sister.
To start wrapping up our week of LeaderShape, each family had a theme to review, and we drew integrity again. Lambda Alpha decided to show the Delta Zeta "You're Always Wearing Your Letters" video, which you should watch if you've yet to see it. We touched a little bit on integrity, but the video really speaks for itself. For a bunch of Greek students, it was perfect, and our family wrapped up by individually committing to doing something for our chapters or campuses when we return to school, and as a family, "committed to living lives of integrity."
Our last family meeting makes me sad just thinking about it. I seriously love these guys and I don't know what I'll do without them come tomorrow when we all part and go our separate ways. To wrap up as a family, we did partner sharing. We met with each person in our group individually, and had the chance to talk about something that we each could do that would make us more effective, and also share what we admired and appreciated most about each other. This was easily my favorite part of the entire week and what I will remember the most. I love feedback from people and hearing what I could do better, but really nothing trumps a true compliment from someone I really care about and appreciate. We started out on the suspension bridge, which Jordan hated, but then it was too dark so we moved into Scheumann and spread out to have family heart-to-hearts. There's just so much to say about each of my conversations that I could honestly talk about it for an hour, so ask me in person. For the blog's sake, I'll just do highlights:
- supporting Alyson and finding common ground
- raw honesty with Tyler and having the opportunity to exchange praises for each other
- Sophie being honest with me and opening my eyes to something I was unaware of about myself
- mutually inspirational and presidential conversation with Doug
- Mack noticing how important values/morals are to me through my actions
- easy conversation with Nick about living by example and putting your best foot forward
- having a funny and just really relaxed heart-to-heart with Jon as if we'd been friends for years
- Mati admiring my personality and seeing me for more than my first impression
- Ashley helping me to be gentler and not get swept up in frustration that causes me to make impulsive decisions
- insights from Allie about times when I get discouraged and withdraw
- Jordan reminding me that my sisters who know and love DG for hope, strength, and life are the ones who matter and the ones who stand behind me and support me
- that Jordan could see past my letters and past "do good" and sees me for my personal values and Delta Gamma ritual that I (try so hard to) live out every single day
When people see good things in me, it's the"C" in me to automatically analyze it and prove them wrong. When Jordan said that he could see how devoted I am to my values and what Delta Gamma stands for, I immediately started thinking of ways that I don't live up to that and times when I've fallen short, but he stopped me and reminded me that that wasn't true, and that as long as I'm "failing forwards," mistakes are okay. "It's not gonna be easy; if someone tells you that, they're lying."
When someone else believes in you as hard and as much as all of these people do, it makes you believe in you too. Leaving LeaderShape, I feel on top of the world and so confident, all thanks to Lambda Alpha for loving me and being so invested in my life and success, just as I am in theirs.
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