Sisters Work Together to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

Written by: Alida Gorman & Caitlin Johnson - PC12

We both wanted to start the NOMmmaste Instagram account for many reasons. Of course we both love to cook, eat, take pretty pictures, and share them with the huge foodie community on Instagram, but this account is so much more to us than just getting likes. When we both lived in the Alpha Phi house and got close with all our sisters, we got to see everyone’s eating habits up close and personal - some good and some not so good. Girls would constantly strive to eat healthier and change their mindset, but didn’t know where to stop their old habits and start their new ones. We understand the frustrations of eating healthy and wanted to help our sisters and others grow a healthier relationship with food and show that eating healthy isn’t as intimidating as it sounds! If you just make it a priority, get in the kitchen, and try it out there are tons of foods and even really easy recipes that make you feel great! Don't get us wrong, we love all of the amazing not-so-healthy food out there, but we realize the dilemmas that come along with those temptations. Ultimately, we wanted to promote healthy eating habits and positive thoughts within our sister’s, families, and friend’s lives.

Spoon University is another foodie blog site that educates our student population on food. Spoon U is unique in the sense that it has a regular homepage with tons of articles from healthy eating to your ‘top 5’ articles about ice cream, but they also have a "campuses" tab where you can find a list of over 300 colleges where it operates! We are bringing this awesome website to Mizzou this fall in order to not only learn and love food, but to also have the opportunity to contribute by writing articles and spreading our own knowledge.

To learn more, check out @NOMmmaste on Instagram!

Katie Pulio Gains Leadership Experience at ELI

Written by: Katie Pulio - PC14

As I sit waiting for my delayed flight, I can’t help but reflect on how the past 5 days have changed me. Through my time at ELI, I have both developed leadership skills and established friendships that will last a lifetime. But I am getting way ahead of myself, so here is how it all happened:

I arrived at Butler University for the Emerging Leaders Institute anxious, excited, and completely alone. I was surrounded by 50+ women from all over the country who were strangers to me. I quickly learned that these women were not strangers at all. We all had such similar personalities, and so much in common because of Alpha Phi. We meshed instantly. Within minutes of walking in the door, I was fully submerged (in the best possible way). Everyone was so kind, accepting, and eager to better themselves and their chapters. Before I even had any of my bags unpacked, we were all collected, eating in the kitchen and getting to know each other.

We spent most of our days learning just about everything leadership entails. Between doing team building exercises, a high-ropes course, and having a discussion with an alumni panel, the facilitators certainly knew how to keep our interest with high-energy activities. We also learned a variety of things essential in good leadership; how to handle confrontational situations, our personal values, and our visions for our chapter were only a few of the topics. The curriculum had a strong focus on Alpha Phi’s values of scholarship, sisterhood, service, leadership, loyalty, and character development. It was interesting to see how these values not only applied to each of our different chapters, but also to each of our selves as individuals.

I knew this would be an incredible experience filled with an abundance of knowledge, but had no idea the type of impact these ladies would have on me. Their positive energy and outlooks on life are consuming and contagious. I have never met such caring and beautiful individuals in my life. Every single one of them inspires me to be the best version of myself I can be. I will be forever grateful for the genuine love & loyalty this international sisterhood has provided me with.

I am a better leader and person because of this experience.  So, thank you to all of these women for showing me who I am and what I want out of life, and to the Alpha Phi Foundation for giving us all this opportunity. I will take the things I’ve learned with me for the rest of my life.

Sister Amber Smith Interns in Brussels, Belgium

Written by Amber Smith - PC12

            This summer I moved to Brussels, Belgium to work for the world’s largest news agency, Thomson Reuters. Basically, what we do in the TV department is report, take video and edit video that we then sell to clients worldwide to use on their stations.  76 clients around the world, including CNN, used one of the stories I worked on. It all still seems a little bit surreal.
            Since Brussels is the capital of the EU, I get the opportunity to work European Union Summits, which are meetings with all of the EU presidents and prime ministers.  I have interviewed Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, British Prime Minister David Cameron and more. You could definitely say that this is not your average “fetch some coffee” type internship because I have been given so many amazing opportunities.

            The program that I am on is the Brussels Exchange program through MU Journalism Abroad. For the program, we have internships Monday through Thursday, an international reporting course and a Belgian culture class at a local university.

            My experience abroad has been about so much more than work and study, though. I have traveled all over Europe. My favorite memories include spending the Fourth of July on Lake Geneva, seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, eating way too many Belgian waffles, climbing the Swiss Alps, seeing the Anne Frank house, and taking a canal tour in Amsterdam.

            There are no words to describe this experience but it is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life. It’s been an amazing summer, but I am definitely missing my Alpha Phi sisters. Can’t wait to be reunited in a month!