3 Reasons Why I Volunteer for Theta as a Young Alumna

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” –Gandhi

Picture this: You have just moved to a new place after graduation and don’t know anyone. Missing the sisterhood and sense of belonging you felt with your Theta sisters during college, you are looking for a community that can provide opportunities for you to lead, grow, and support others.

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone! Many young alumnae find themselves in this situation after graduation. If being a collegiate member of Kappa Alpha Theta was a great experience for you and you want to return the support, or if you wish you had been able to devote more time to Theta when you were an undergrad, volunteering for the Fraternity or Theta Foundation can be a rewarding endeavor. Here are three reasons why I volunteer for Theta as a young alumna and why I think you should too!

1. Become a part of your new community. Whether you are serving as an advisor for a chapter or as an officer for your local alumnae chapter, Theta offers a variety of opportunities that can help you network and support you in your transition to a new location, profession, or through other life changes. Giving back to our sisterhood can help you feel more connected to your new area and provide you with friends from your alumnae chapter, advisory board, or even professionals involved at the local university. Meeting new people, socializing, and getting to know your new community can help assist you in whatever transition you may be facing.

2. Give back to an organization that invested in you. I joined Kappa Alpha Theta as a junior in college. As a collegian, I was searching for an organization that would provide me with a community of women and opportunities for growth and development. Theta provided me with all of this and more, and I will forever be grateful for my experience as a collegian. As a young alumna, you have the ability to invest in the experiences current collegians are having and help them understand their place in our sisterhood. You are also able to relate to them on a similar level of understanding since you have very recently experienced some of the situations and challenges they are facing. Helping collegians discover the important role of our Fraternity’s values and their personal values when making difficult decisions has been indescribable, and serving as a mentor, friend, and teacher to students by supporting them in their goals has been an invaluable experience.

3. Learn new skills. Volunteering is more than just giving of yourself to the Fraternity. It can also help you develop professional skills, such as leading meetings, strategic planning, budgeting, risk analysis and management, advising, public speaking, and many others. You can outline specific volunteer roles on your resume so that future employers can see your investment in your community and ability to assist others in their development. Gaining new skills, knowledge, and experience in your Kappa Alpha Theta volunteer role can be a path to employment, or a chance to try something new, which could lead to potential career advances or changes.

If my experiences have left you with a desire to give back to Theta as an alumna, it’s easy to get involved! You can find more information about volunteering on the Fraternity’s website.

This blog post is part of the Scholar Blogger series, showcasing four of Theta’s leading women who are sharing their experiences, insight, and advice on topics relevant to all students. Learn more about the Scholar Blogger series and this year’s bloggers here.