Leadership: The Lessons We Learned this Semester

Leadership looks a little different in 2020, but leaders adapt. Photo found here.

During the fall 2021 semester, student organizations at Elon University have had to adapt to the new COVID guidelines that North Carolina has put into place. Because of this, many organizations have had to cancel their normal semester events and activities. Members who hold leadership positions among these organizations have had to deal with rescheduling events to make them COVID friendly, as well as lead a group of people during such an unprecedented time.

The Edge spoke to Rachel Cifarelli, the Iota Psi chapter president of Alpha Chi Omega at Elon, about the challenges and struggles she has faced while trying to lead a group of sorority members while also dealing with the pandemic on her own. A lot of things have had to change this semester and Rachel has had to deal with issues and challenges that normally no sorority or fraternity president would have to deal with in a normal setting.

Rachel says that figuring out how much to ask of other people during this time has been a challenge this semester in particular. “I work with 13 other members on the executive team [in Alpha Chi] and having to decide how much I can ask of them while they’re also full-time students has been hard,” she explains. Rachel knows how difficult this semester has been for everyone, but there are still that need to happen and get done even during this time. Rachel has had to ask herself several times, “How do I give people grace while also trying to get things done?”

Having to lead a group of people is already hard enough, and with the extra pressure of having to change things on a whim due to COVID, the position Rachel holds in Alpha Chi Omega is more daunting than ever. Rachel thinks this situation has challenged her in ways than never before, while also leaving her a stronger person and leader than before. 

“This year in general has helped me develop a tough skin and develop more confidence in myself and in my choices,” she says. “It’s so easy to second guess yourself and feel like you’re not doing the right things.” 

Rachel says that if this semester has taught her anything, it’s that everyone is just trying to do their best in the long run, and that it’s okay to give yourself a break.

Obviously, no one could have predicted Rachel would be the one leading her sorority during a global pandemic, and while this is not the semester that anyone would have wanted to have extra responsibilities, Rachel has done a great job managing it. 

“I think I’ve been able to adapt and work around these challenges,” she tells us. “I’ve learned to become more adaptable.”

This semester, although challenging, has opened Rachel’s eyes to how unpredictable life can really be. “I’ve realized that as hard as we try to plan things and as much as we want our plans to come to fruition, we’re not guaranteed that.”

Rachel ends by saying how being a leader is already so tough in itself, but she says if there’s one thing she’s learned this year, it’s that leading by example with positivity and optimism is so incredibly important. “Not only during these really tough times but just in general,” she adds. “Just putting a smile on your face for the sake of it is super, super important,” Rachel says, as staying optimistic even when things go south is the key to it all.