Active Appreciation Blurb of the Day:

Spring 2008, Dance 4 Kids Decorations

Mika is not my Pledge Parent, not my Pledge Trainer, not my Big Bro, and not even my Sponsor. She’s not anybody in my line, and is not even in the same family. Maybe she’s just that goofy girl who lives next door and curls up into a ball now and then to think for a few hours. She’s the girl whose face always lights up at the mention of any little thing related to service. She’s the girl who can’t handle how excited she is about new leaders contributing their own inspiration. She’s a lot of things.

Mika is someone for whom I couldn’t bear to nominate for Scout awards, because she probably characterizes all of them. I trust her to enough to share whatever ideas and problems I struggle with to improve the chapter, and I rely on her loyalty to support me through those challenges. She is always willing to help me with my projects when I need it, and I’m sure every candidate who’s run for Service VP since the glorious Krenek Term can say the same. She’s friendly for sure—she’ll greet anybody with a smile, hug, or a jolly hello. And when things get serious, so will she: she’ll courteously encourage those people willing to learn by indulging their ideas and giving them ways to improve. It’s the kindness in her that allows her to support those people, and at times follow their leadership obediently despite her being more knowledgeable. When she’s out there, she’ll be pretty cheerful more often than not, and I’d challenge anyone to deny how infectious her laughter can be. In terms of thrift, she’s one of the few people who looks for cheaper ways of carrying out her work —she definitely reminds me to challenge the chapter when we vote in budgets! In my time as an active, I’ve seen her bravely stand before all members to defend Alpha Phi Omega’s purpose to promote service, and defend what made us a renowned group. Clean? Well, I can only hope. But when it comes to those actives before her who impart their valuable wisdom and leave deep impressions, she displays the utmost reverence.

As a pledge, Mika was the first active to make me feel like more than just one in the crowd by asking me one day at Avalon, “You sure come out a lot, huh?” In my first active term, she was the one who made me feel at home when older actives were kind of intimidating. As the terms went on, she was the one who encouraged me to make the kind of difference I wanted to make without taking on offices. As a person trying to make the most of my experience here, she is one of my pillars of support. If I could dare to say one thing Mika is without rambling on further, Mika Nishiya is a friend of mine.

-Ashish Bhatt