September/
October 2001
Issue

Looking back, I thought simply being invited to join our honor society was sufficient; however, with the encouragement of my children I decided to be inducted. With further encouragement, I found myself serving as chapter secretary.

Shortly after beginning my Phi Theta Kappa journey, I became aware that many chapters and regions are left searching for people to fill officer positions. The leadership challenge that Phi Theta Kappa faces today is not an isolated circumstance. Unfortunately, the number of leaders is decreasing while the number of challenges requiring sound leadership is increasing throughout our world.

If you study the history of teaching you will find that students as young as seven and eight years old were being taught volunteerism and leadership skills by participating in activities outside the traditional classroom. This technique used to teach children has been replaced with technology, leaving our children in the classroom and the leadership qualities once gained outside.

It was at the Oklahoma/Arkansas Regional Leadership Conference, my first major experience with Phi Theta Kappa, that I began to get excited about my leadership role. I began to see the commitment and level of dedication that Phi Theta Kappa has made toward teaching its members the skills that are no longer taught in the lower level classrooms, but are necessary to ensure success in our leaders of tomorrow.

Phi Theta Kappa provides opportunities for members to practice and enhance their skills by getting involved in Society programs that strengthen the moral and intellectual fibers of our schools, communities, and lives.  

Officers and participating members are challenged with various projects, each of which could not be done without their leadership. Unfortunately, the majority of our most valuable resource remains untapped. The number of members who don’t participate outweighs the number of active members each year.

As your North Central Vice President, I encourage you to mentor a non-active member in your chapter thus to motivate him or her to become active. Consider the possibilities for your chapter if the number of active members was to double each year.

Every member has assets to be contributed to the success of his or her chapter. The success and growth of each chapter comes from the success and growth of each member.

During the last year, my participation in leadership roles on different levels has taught me that being a good leader requires a dream of what should be, an organized plan to reach that goal, a sense of humor, dedication to model the way, and enthusiasm to motivate the people around me into action. With this knowledge, I have eliminated my fears by turning personal challenges into opportunities for personal growth and success.

Melissa Taylor is Phi Theta Kappa’s 2001-02 North Central Vice President and a member at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

Melissa is studying to become a speech pathologist.

Questions and concerns? Contact Melissa.

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