Arden
sisters to help shape the chapter, its traditions and its culture. But it was a lot of work to have to figure everything out — so many things for the first time. Thankfully, we had the support of alumnae and the Executive Office all along the way! How did Alpha Phi shape your collegiate experience? College can be a real whirlwind of new experiences and challenges, and Alpha Phi played a pivotal role in helping me navigate this transformative period of my life. In the middle of the excitement and uncertainty, Alpha Phi provided me with stability, direction and friendship that helped ground and guide me. I quickly learned about the incredible power of a supportive community and a strong sisterhood that could be your home away from home. Alpha Phi also gave me a place to spread my wings, learn about myself and discover my strengths as a leader. These experiences not only shaped my collegiate years but also influenced the trajectory of my future. Alpha Phi taught me resilience, leadership, sisterhood and the importance of giving back, which is all part of who I am today and what I do. When I walked into my first job, I felt prepared for the professional environment in part because of what I had learned in Alpha Phi. When I was feeling lost about where to go in my career, I turned to Alpha Phi for guidance and ended up getting a job at the Executive Office. And when I was ready to step out and begin my own work as an entrepreneur, I knew I had the skills because I had honed them in Alpha Phi! What are the benefits of spending time abroad? I think every woman should make it a priority to travel (whatever that looks like for them). Traveling is a lot like running a marathon. It isn’t always easy but it’s always rewarding! Discovering all that you can do and how far you can go is something everyone deserves to experience. But just as importantly, traveling helps you learn more about the world. When you explore outside your boundaries, you come to understand (or are reminded that) what you know is only a tiny strand in a large tapestry. When you forge connections to people and places outside of your world, you become more open-minded and respectful of the world around you. That is something we need more than ever these days. But when it comes to benefits, don’t take my word for it! In a recent survey, 75% of women said travel makes them stronger, and 88% said it makes them more empathetic. You can't beat that! Where are some of your favorite places you’ve been? I’ve traveled to many incredible places, but a piece of my heart will always be in Japan. I had the immense privilege of living and working in Japan as an English teacher. Working there gave me the rare chance to experience the culture in a way that a short visit simply can’t offer. Domestically, one of my favorite places in the world to go is Galena, Illinois. It’s a small town at the corner of Illinois,
Arden Joy (Iota Eta-DePaul) Arden Joy is the executive director of Girls Who Travel, a community dedicated to making travel accessible to all women. This group is dedicated to redefining what it means to travel the world in an inclusive, sustainable and empowering way. She is also a published author of her debut novel, "Keep This Off the Record", a fresh take on Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” where classic damsels in distress are transformed into various strong women — queer women, women of color and women overcoming trauma. Arden is one of the founding members of DePaul’s Iota Eta Chapter in Chicago, what she described as an “incredibly empowering experience that [she has] carried with [her] all these years.”
Let’s get to know Arden!
What was your experience like as a founding member? DePaul University, nestled in the heart of Chicago, allows students to have all the benefits of a big city at their fingertips. And while that is wonderful, being spread out across the city sometimes means missing out on that close-knit community vibe you might find on a more traditional campus. Although I was not someone who knew a lot about Greek Life going into college, I was interested to find out more about becoming part of a sisterhood on campus. Walking into the Alpha Phi room on that first day of recruitment was one of those rare and wonderful moments in life when it was just obvious. Every person I talked to made me feel seen and welcome, and I knew I had found my home. When I learned that they were starting the chapter at DePaul, I could not have been more excited! I couldn’t believe that I was going to get the chance to be part of building the foundation of the Iota Eta chapter and leaving a legacy for all the women to come. Being a founding member was both as fun as I expected and harder than I thought! I loved getting to work with my
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