Service, Sisterhood, and Leadership in Practice
May 14, 2026
Ready to Roar In Action: Student Stories
At LSU, career readiness happens everywhere. In this series, students reflect on how their campus involvement connects to the Ready to Roar career proficiencies and helps prepare them for life after graduation.
Joining the Eta Kappa chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. during my freshman year gave me a unique opportunity to experience Greek life through multiple lenses. I was able to see the organization not only as someone who is brand new to campus and learning the culture, but also as someone gradually growing into leadership within it.
That early exposure shaped my understanding of what it means to fully commit to something. It also taught me that sisterhood is not formed instantly, but built over time through shared service, consistency, and showing up for others.
Building Community Through Service
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded on service, scholarship, and sisterhood, and my experience in the Eta Kappa chapter at LSU has made those values very real to me.
Some of my most meaningful moments have come through service in the Baton Rouge community. Reading to students at McKinley Elementary reminded me how powerful it is to invest time in young people and how much representation matters.
Working with Greek Life and Habitat for Humanity showed me what it means to physically contribute to building stability for families.
Volunteering at the Family Youth Service Center taught me the importance of simply being present, listening, and offering support where it is needed most.
These experiences taught me that service is rooted in presence, compassion, and consistency rather than obligation.
Learning to Lead With Others
Through my involvement in AKA, I have strengthened LSU Ready to Roar competencies in civic engagement and teamwork. Civic engagement has shaped how I understand my responsibility to communities beyond campus. I have learned that meaningful service begins with listening and engaging directly with real needs rather than assuming solutions.
Civic engagement has shaped how I understand my responsibility to communities beyond campus. I have learned that meaningful service begins with listening and engaging directly with real needs rather than assuming solutions.
Teamwork has been equally transformative. I have learned how to work with people who bring different experiences, perspectives, and approaches to problem solving. Those differences have taught me to collaborate more intentionally instead of defaulting to a single perspective.
I have grown in my ability to communicate clearly, adjust when needed, and contribute to group efforts in a way that supports both efficiency and shared success. Over time, I have learned that strong teamwork depends on the ability to move toward a common goal even when each person approaches it differently.
Beyond the Title
I have also had the experience of holding formal leadership positions, both within my organization and through other campus involvement. Those roles have allowed me to plan, organize, and guide initiatives in more structured ways.
However, I have learned that leadership is not limited to a title or position.
Some of the most meaningful contributions I have made have come from stepping up in quieter ways such as supporting planning behind the scenes, helping a team stay organized, offering input when needed, or simply being someone others can rely on.
I have come to understand that leadership can take the form of initiative, consistency, and influence just as much as it can a formal title.
What matters most is not the title itself, but the impact a person has on the people and spaces around them.
Expanding my Perspective Through Empower
My experience as an Empower Co-Lead expanded my understanding of Greek life and gave me a broader perspective of the Greek community at LSU. In this role I helped lead, plan, and develop curriculum for a retreat focused on student growth and engagement. It required thoughtful coordination and collaboration to create programming that was intentional, engaging, and meaningful for participants.
This experience allowed me to see how different organizations and student leaders contribute to a larger ecosystem of leadership on campus. It also challenged me to think critically about how experiences are designed and how intentional planning can shape personal development. I learned how to translate ideas into experiences that are both purposeful and impactful.
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Carrying These Lessons Forward
As I move into law school and my future career I plan to carry these lessons with me. My time in the Eta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Empower has taught me how to lead with intention and stay grounded in service. Most importantly, these experiences have shown me that impact often comes from showing up consistently and being willing to do meaningful work both publicly and behind the scenes.
About the LSU Career Center
Our team is committed to ensuring every student has ample opportunities to gain experience, grow their network, and communicate their aptitude for a chosen career long before graduation. We believe LSU students are unparalleled in their potential to step into leadership, solve problems, and elevate the workforce for the benefit of all.
Ready to Roar Career Proficiencies
At LSU, you’ll gain the knowledge and experience to succeed in any field. With a blend of professional experiences, academic pursuits, and involvement opportunities both on and off campus, you'll graduate Ready to Roar.