Rachel Link, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Philanthropy Director, traveled nearly 500 miles to Nashville, Tennessee, for an opportunity to grow as a leader while connecting with other Kappa members from across the country.
From September 24-27, Link attended the Kappa Leadership Academy at Camp Widjiwagan, just outside of Nashville. The retreat focused on leadership development, confidence, and building relationships with fellow Kappas.
“I knew that this trip would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to be able to gain life skills, become a better leader, and surround myself with like-minded people,” Link said.
Throughout the weekend, members discussed the importance of personal values and how those values influence the people around them. For her, those conversations connected closely with the work she does as a member of her chapter’s executive board.
“There are values that each person has that apply to their own lives, and it is important to surround yourselves with people that share these values with you, and understand why your values are important,” said Link. “One of the things that our exec board excels at is the sharing of ideas, and the significance of our shared values within our work as leaders. We find it very important to bring each member of our chapter’s ideas together, so we are able to succeed and have the best possible outcome.”
While leadership development was at the center of this experience, the retreat also allowed participants to connect outside of the formal activities. From learning how to line dance to sitting around a fire with fellow sisters, the opportunities for relationship building were endless.
“This retreat gave me insight on not only how to grow as a leader within my sorority and with the positions I will hold throughout my college experience but also gave me insight on different alumni of Kappa Kappa Gamma and their lives,” Link said.
This experience provided a new perspective on the history of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Monmouth is especially important to this history as the original chapter was founded right here on Monmouth’s campus in 1870. Being a member of the founding chapter allowed Rachel a new perspective on how impactful Monmouth was in the creation of this sisterhood.
“These opportunities are important as student leaders, as they give you opportunities to bring ideas and new perspectives back to your organization,” Link said. “This opportunity gave me a fresh outlook on Kappa, and inspired me to grow as a leader in so many different ways.”
For her, the retreat demonstrated that leadership opportunities within a sorority can extend beyond a college campus, creating connections that continue long after the experience is over.
“It is truly such a great opportunity to be able to go somewhere 500 miles away and still feel right at home with the people that share Kappa with me,” Link said.