UIFI✨

UIFI stands for Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute. This institute is for Greeks all across the country who want to lead their organization and community to bigger and better things.

I am so thankful for this amazing experience. Unbelievably proud and blessed that I was selected from the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation to attend the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute held Bloomingtons Indiana Univeristy campus. ❤🌴🐞🌟👑

Day one was full of meeting new people and doing tons of ice breakers to get comfortable and really get to know everyone. I got to experience living in Alpha Omicrom Pi's sorority house and it was an absolutely fun experience for me. Sharing a room with 5 other girls and the whole first floor sharing a bathroom was lowkey awesome after my freshman year sharing a room (and bathroom) with just one person in Indy. We did so many activities outside that consisted of how many fingers does it take to cover a hole while trying to get 2 ping pong balls out of a tube to ending the day with sharing a crucible that has shaped us into the person we are today. It's so comforting knowing that people trust each other to share these things about their life. I'm not a vulnerable person and this institute is doing everything in there power to break you down to pull you back up again even more stronger and powerful to become the leader you were born to be. At the end of day one, I'm so thankful for this experience all ready and I can't wait for day 2!! 

Day 2 started out really well! They're was so many conversations about values and what things mean to you all the way to how it can affect your sorority (or fraternity) chapter and your community. Being in Greek life, each chapter has core values that stand out to them and that's what they focus on. All the way from having courage to balance everything around you to having relationships. So many values go into being in a sorority or fraternity and UIFI is helping me find my place to see how I can communicate and lead my sorority with the information given to me. To end the day we had a 2 hour debate on if Greek life is good for the community or hinders it. I won't tell you what side ended up winning, but all I have to say is that you get out of what you put into this life.  Ending at 10:30 pm to go shower right after knocked me right to sleep... Did I mention I have to get up at 7 for kitchen duty with my group tomorrow? LOL

Day 3 started early for me... Kitchen duty started at 7:30 am for me and serving until 8:30. This day was all about community service and I got to go to the Rise/Middleway house which focuses on domestic violence. Experiencing the Middleway house was very eye opening. Being there, I got to witness that a smile or a hug really does go a long way. Even giving them a piggy back ride or spinning them around in a toy at the park. One thing that hit me was when we were about to leave. I heard a little girl say to one of my peers "will I ever get to see you again?" while wearing my friends sunglasses and she told her "yes you will" even though she may never. It's the positive words that help people of the less fortunate get by everyday and even the fortunate. The little girl told my peer "can I keep your sunglasses? I promise that they will hold a huge part in my heart and I will never forget you." It broke my heart listening to this conversation and hearing what each of these kids may have gone through, but I know that us students being over there for a couple hours gave them memories they will never forget. I gave them all a note that said "remember you can be and do anything you put your mind to" and I pray to God that those kids achieve. Especially after I saw one of the kids holding 10 books in his hands reading to us. Anything is possible if you just believe. I know it's cliché, but it's so right. After we got back from volunteering, we talked about values and what they meant to us. We talked about each other's rituals and how we should be living by them in our every day life. It was a long day but it was definitely worth it.

Day 4 was the last full day of the institute. This day consisted of coming up with plans of what and how we can bring back the knowledge we learned this week to our chapter. We had things ranging from personal commitments, what a major problem is in your chapter, to what as a whole our chapter should do better. It was way more laid back than any other day in the past. We worked on our plans on what we are going to bring back to the chapter with a partner, by ourself, and one-on-one with facilitators. After we did that all day, we finished up the evening with bowling and ice cream! It was such a fun night full of fun, laughing, and staying up until 2 am with my roomie.

Day 5 is graduation day and brunch and then we leave. Got up at 7 AM, graduated UIFI, ate brunch and said good bye to some of the best friends I'll ever have.

To UIFI, Thank you so much for this incredible experience. I can't wait to show "courage" through everything I bring back to my chapter and community. I am forever grateful for everything. For surrounding me with people who are wanting to be an outstanding leader and who are  struggling with the similar struggles. 

Cordially & with love,

Andrea Richardson

P.S. Stay tuned to hear about Summer Retreat with my sisters & Justin Bieber concert coming up!✨