This week thousands of Alpha Gams will be heading to Tampa for the 2010 Convention. Sadly, I will not be among these women. It seems as though an abundance of time and money is never around when Convention time rolls around. Still, that doesn’t mean I won’t spend some time reflecting on this year’s theme, “Navigating with Purpose.”

I am a list-maker and a goal-setter. I make lists and goals for the day, the week, the year. Lists and goals help me function and achieve everything I want to. The year is half over and I am proud of the goals I already achieved —participated in Towson University’s graduation ceremony where I received my Masters in Information Technology, ran my first 5K and elected as president of the Chesapeake Alumnae Chapter for the second time in 10 years. Little, more easily achieved goals are written down or inscribed in my memory for the second half of the year. More long-term goals are still being sorted out and explored. One would say that I am clearly “navigating with purpose.” And that purpose would be to make me a well-rounded daughter, sister, coworker, friend and woman.

But navigating with a purpose isn’t always easy. Daily distractions can get us off course and sometimes finding the road back to the purpose is hard. Sometimes I wish I had a compass in my pocket to help me get back on the right road. But when I think about it, I do have a compass. It just is not as tangible as the instrument we all think of when we hear the word “compass.”

My compass in life is the values and morals I was raised on, the loyalty and dedication I put into anything I do and the ability and need to put others before myself. Some of my morals and values were engrained in me from a very young age. Others were redefined or discovered in college when I joined Alpha Gamma Delta. Our Purpose and the experiences I encountered as a collegiate helped mold and define the sister, friend, coworker and leader I am today. Whenever I feel as if I am off my course and need a little navigation, I can reflect back to those times. Reflecting on those memories will steer me back on course and that purpose I once wasn’t so sure of will be pointing me in the right direction.

I don’t know what the rest of 2010 will hold for me, but one thing is for sure. I will be navigating with purpose!