My International Officer Experience - Esteban Smith

On April 9^th 2011, I pledged to uphold the standards of Phi Theta Kappa to the best of my abilities. When I made this promise I had no idea how hard or how easy it would be to fulfill this promise in actuality. The only thing I knew for certain was that I would do the job I was now tasked with to the best of my ability and represent my fellow members and Division II in a manner that would make them proud.

One of the most challenging things for me initially was accepting that I was actually an Officer. Knowing that I held the “Highest position of leadership within this organization for Community College Students” seemed surreal to me and it was made no easier by the fact that over 3500 students saw this great change take place.

From the initial material we were required to read prior to orientation, I could tell that the expectations and standards that the organization required from its Officer team were high and that throughout the year we would have to call on skills and knowledge that may have been unknown or under-utilized at that particular time.   As I practiced my etiquette and ambassadorial skills, I eagerly awaited my opportunity to bond with my team and sharpen the traits that I admired in the past officers who inspired me. 

The fundamental fact that I serve on a team has been the most useful.  I have three other Vice Presidents and a President to converse with, brainstorm with and most importantly enact change with.   In the first few months, although they were little more than strangers, my team were the individuals I had the most contact with, family aside, and we quickly formed working relationships and friendships. Our shared goals of commitment to the organization and personal excellence made these friendships feel natural.  We encourage and support each other.  

Tameka, Danielle, Sarah and Jeremy and I were eager to begin our travel throughout the United States and serve as ambassadors for the Organization.

My favorite part of the job is and will probably remain meeting the various members. Living so far away from Headquarters and the majority of the Chapters in the Organization, made me unable to have the interaction with my peers that I had always desired. The difference is now in addition to the interaction I have the responsibility to Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters to represent them appropriately; to my Team, to show everyone our expertise and the members, to show that Community College students are as gifted and capable as any other group of students globally.

These new duties never manage to get in the way of my love for speaking with all of these students on Facebook, by email and at the various Regional and Honors in Action conferences I attended. If I had to summarize the experience to date in one word, I would use my favorite word: Awesome. In its most pure and unedited meaning, being an International Officer, for me, has been Marvelous, Sublime and worthy of or expressing awe.