Must reads for Summer '13

I'm a book nerd by nature thus I get pretty excited when I have time to read for fun. Therefore I've compiled a list of summer must reads for me!

1. Angels and Demons (finished 5/28) as well as The Da Vinci Code (finished 6/3) by Dan Brown 

re-read but I've been wanting to re-read them for a long while now

2. Finding Calcutta by Mary Poplin 

this was a gift from one of my professors for graduation 

and I'm delighted to dive in and learn

3. Lean In (finished 7/6) by Sheryl Sandberg

ever since one of my mentors told me about this book 

I've been dying to get my hands on it!

4. The Great Gatsby 

I know it's shameful I've never read this but better late than never!  

Plus it's also on the list below!

5. Make some progress on this reading list by reading Sisterhood Everlasting (finished 6/7) by Ann Brashares and Maine (finished 6/15) by J. Courtney Sullivan.

I've already read two of the books on here in my teens so I'll give 'em 

another go but perhaps I'll skip 50 Shades of Grey

There are more I would love to get to this summer but these get the check mark next to them first!  As I read my way through these I'll be sure to cross them off the list so feel free to check back every once in a little while!

What's on your summer reading list?

But we keep waiting

Grand Convention is officially one month away and us Consultant gals will be flying in the day before for some training with past and current International Officers!

This is my first Convention so I've been reading all the blogs and asking all questions and gaining all the information.  I am so excited for a number of things so I decided to share them with ya'll.  In no particular order here they are:

a) Meeting my consultant sisters.  

Can we say instant best friends?

b) Visiting the great state of Texas!  

Texas is in the good 'ol DV (district five) with my home chapter in Missouri but I've never had the opportunity to visit and I cannot wait to get my two step on!

c) The Adelphean Processional

A tradition held every year to open Grand Convention where every attendee is dressed head-to-toe in white and donned with a blue riband then all the chapters are formally presented.  Finally found my white attire the other day!

d) Training with former and current International Officers.  

This may be a more in general excitement but these women have so much to teach us and I'm excited to learn!

e) Business Meetings

Call me a nerd but I actually love attending these sort of meetings.  I love being part of history while it's being made and you bet cha history is going to be made this summer!

Want to learn more about Grand Convention?  Visit Alpha Delta Pi's blog by following the link below!

http://alphadeltapiblog.com/

What are you most looking forward to at Grand Convention?

Blog title courtesy of John Mayer himself and his little ditty Waiting on the World to Change.

Leaving but never Forgetting

On May 18th I graduated from my undergraduate Alma Mater: William Jewell College.  

Receiving my diploma from the President of William Jewell College, Dr. Sallee.
Photo credit: Kyle Rivas

I have been blessed to get to know the Sallees over the past four years.
Photo Credit Kyle Rivas

High School was not what I would have liked it to be so it was a humbling experience to attend a new school where I could not only be myself but also feel at home.  At Jewell, we are a community and it is a community that I am going to miss after graduation.  Never before have I been surrounded by such an amazing group of peers and mentors to guide and mold me into the person I have become over the past four years.  

During graduation with my fellow graduates!
Having a last name that starts with a "B" put me right up in front for the action!
Photo credit: Kyle Rivas

On my last day at Jewell I wore one of my favorite William Jewell College shirts, had breakfast with my favorite senior women, engaged in conversation about evolution and educational reform, had lunch with my favorite mentors, and took my last final at this beautiful school.  The reality had set in that the next Fall I would not be returning to my home upon a hill but rather onto other campuses across the country.  On this day, in particular, it was difficult to hold back the tears and I often did so unsuccessfully.   It was my last day before graduation and I was a big ball of emotions.  

While I'm going to miss it dearly I also know this school has prepared me thoroughly for what is on the path ahead of me.  Jewell has a funny way of doing that sometimes.  

There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind. ~ C.S. Lewis

I love this school.

Here are some great photos from the day!

Cardinal is her color; 

Jewell is her name. 

High upon a hill she stands, 

And we will fight to keep her fame. 

Loyalty, allegiance, Alma Mater true, 

We will love thee, serve thee forever, 

William Jewell.

Photos are courtesy of Kyle Rives or my sister, Roberta Harvey

Happy Founder's Day!

Today is the day.  The day.  The day six young women (teenagers, in fact) founded the first secret society for women at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia.   This is the day Alpha Delta Pi (then Aldephean Society) was started and the legacy of this organization began.

During the summer before I came to Jewell I remember looking up all of the sororities on the campus and the dates they were founded because by golly I was going to join the oldest sorority on that campus.  I had unknowingly picked Alpha Delta Pi as my future home but, of course, as the Fall semester began that all faded away, and I became better acquainted with all the Greek women.  Well at the end of the school year I ended up signing a bid from the one and only Alpha Delta Pi and I was also very happy to learn that ADPi was not only the oldest sorority at Jewell but the oldest in the country!  Talk about heritage and legacy!! I look back on this memory with fondness because I always knew deep down inside that I would be joining the First and Finest, Forever.

I am forever grateful to be a member of this organization the opportunities I have been given as a result.  I know I may seem obsessed but this sorority has really made my college experience incredible and changed my life for the better.

Great Example

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Today, I witnessed one of the best leadership acts from the head of facilities at my school.  He was in conversation with a woman working for the college and she asked if the back door could be unlocked during business hours so they could use it.  After this request, the head of facilities finds a nearby chair and makes the call right then and there to resolve the issue.  This struck me because he is a very busy man who took the time to listen and care.  More importantly, he resolved it right away rather than saying, "Oh, I'll take care of that later" which is a common response of busy leaders.  

He gets it.  

He has mastered the skill of taking the time when you have it and not pushing it to the back burner just because it's not an emergency.  

I am blessed to be surrounded by such strong leaders.  

Big News!

I am overjoyed and above all honored to announce (via blog anyway) that I will be serving as a 2013-2014 Leadership Consultant for Alpha Delta Pi!!  I found out two Wednesdays ago and was able to announce it Friday, March 8^th on Facebook and Twitter.  The outpouring of love and support from sisters across the nation served as a reminder of why I have chosen to dedicate so much of my collegiate career and now time after college to this organization.

A dear, sweet coworker and boss gave me a congratulatory gift full of the essentials for traveling!  

A card my Gamma Nu Sisters gave to me at Chapter Meeting the Monday after the announcement!

Congratulatory notes from two fellow Leadership Consultants (Thank you Anna Kate and Brittany!) and Ms. Pinkston! 

“I believe in Alpha Delta Pi.  

I believe that my sorority is more than a ritual or a symbol, that it is a way of life.” 

– Creed of Alpha Delta Pi written by Carlee Stock Standard

What is a Leadership Consultant (LC)? An LC is a recent college alumna who serves as a representative of the sorority by working with collegiate chapters throughout the academic year in areas of need such as officer training, recruitment, and leadership development.  For more information please visit this webpage. 

So for the next year after Graduation I will be traveling the nation with two suitcases and a carry-on to help make the First. Finest. Forever. even better.  This is an absolute dream job come true, and I still cannot believe it is reality.  One day I was a normal member of Alpha Delta Pi and the next I was a Leadership Consultant (well that escalated quickly).  Seriously, I am still in shock that I will be filling the position I have been revering for since my sophomore year when I was strongly impacted by LCs who visited by Chapter. 

In addition, today marks the two-weekaversary of being a vegan.  This is one new lifestyle I am more than willing to give up when I’m an LC!

I am beyond excited to represent Gamma Nu Chapter, District V, and Alpha Delta Pi over the next year!  Follow me on my adventures to graduation and while traveling for the First and Finest.  Boom Boom!

Here's to Another Good Year

Here's to another year in this wonderful world! 

2012 was a year of immense learning and growing as a women and as a leader. It was also one of great heartache and great joy.  This is definitely not a year I am going to forget anytime soon and I look forward to what the next year will bring.

This is 2012 for Grace in pictures.

January:

 Welcomed some wonderful women into our sisterhood.
  

My Alphie became a hit sensation!
  

February:

Attended DLC in our own District V and got to know some
 great women from Alpha Gamma Chapter at Mizzou!

Also, this little baby kitten joined my life.

March:

Initiated my first group of women as President
(sorry no photo) and volunteered with our new Deltas at
Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City

April:

Gamma Nu Chapter hosted RMH week and Change a Child's Life.

Also, I got to sing on stage with Graham Colton!  Best April ever!

May:

Attended Black Diamond with my lovely sisters!

Then I got to see some pretty great women graduate.

June:

Celebrated a great 21st birthday.

And I started Human Physiology as my summer course which was my favorite class yet!

July:

July: Marked another off my bucket list.
Read about it here: Glow Run 5k

Most importantly, I attended Leadership Seminar on behalf of my chapter.

I met and was able to dine with a wonderful past 

International Grand Council President: Mrs. Goddard!
A very humbling experience.

August:

 Had to say goodbye to Miss Wall as she
headed off to her adventure in the cold North.

Served on the greatest Orientation Team ever.

September:

Planned and implemented the Gala Silent Auction for the
Harriman-Jewell Series with the help of these wonderful women.

In the same week I also served on Homecoming Court for William Jewell.

October:

Attended Mallard Ball with this man and celebrated our 2 and a half year!

Then Celebrated Halloween with ice cream and my dear friend AuBree.

November:

Gamma Nu Chapter hosted RMH week with a
Powderpuff Tournament and Pop Tab Poker.

FINALLY got to meet my dear Long Distance Diamond Sister (second from the left) and spent some time with my dear friend, Taylor, who moved to Wyoming.
Oh, and not mention my favorite Mr. Graham Colton!

Ended the month of November with Lighting of the Quad, my favorite tradition!

December:

 LOVE Christmas and this large Santa in Semple Hall!

Ended the year with a bang by a trip to Florida for Christmas!

The year of 2012 was a great year but I believe 2013 will be even greater!