My Experience at the Emerging Leaders Institute

By: Alexa Rocca

      One of the philanthropies that Kappa Alpha Theta is proud to support is the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation, also known as The Theta Foundation. The Theta foundation provides Kappa Alpha Theta sisters funding opportunities so they can gain the skills necessary to make a difference as leading woman and to reach their fullest potential. One of the opportunities The Theta Foundation supports and I had the privilege of attending is the Kappa Alpha Theta Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) which is held yearly in the summer at Depauw University, the college where Kappa Alpha Theta was founded in 1870. 

      ELI is a four day, fully funded, leadership conference that brings in Theta sisters from all over the United States and Canada. Upon arriving at the Indiana airport, I sat alone in the Toronto airport anxious and nervous to be going to a new place for a weekend where I knew no one. While sitting at my gate I looked up and saw a girl with our letters "KAΘ" on her sweater. I was incredibly shocked at the connection me and Denise (shoutout to the University of Alberta chapter) had instantly just made because we were both in Theta. The craziest part is that I was able to have these same connections with every girl I met, regardless of what school they came from when I arrived at Depauw in Greencastle, Indiana. I instantly had a close bond and a sense of comfort being surrounded by girls who shared my letters. 

      I could easily go on and on sharing each moment this weekend where I had been impacted but one activity was having the national CEO of Kappa Alpha Theta come in and speak to us about Thetas founding. She told the story of four brave women who had set out in 1870 to do something that had never been done before, found the first greek letter fraternity for women. She talked about the obstacles and the hardships they faced just because they were women.  She gave me a true meaning to the story behind Kappa Alpha Thetas motto "Leading woman".

      Walking away from this weekend not only do I have a personal connection with a bunch of sisters from all over the United States and Canada but I also have the skills necessary to continue not just my university career here at Western but also life in general. If I could take away and share one lesson from this weekend is that there is a power in being vulnerable and to use it to make positive change. 

      Lastly, I would just like to say thank you to The Theta Foundation and my chapter for giving me this opportunity.  

TLAM