#pparent

All this resulted in my interest in becoming Pledge Master. I wanted to be able to provide the pledges with an “automatic friend,” someone they can feel comfortable, seen, or heard, or at the very least be someone they can distract themselves with! I love talking to people and making new friends. I seriously do not judge people. It's interesting to hear about how other human beings are living their lives and what experiences they have undergone. In addition, I enjoy being “there” for my friends. I always want my friends to know that I will have their backs no matter what (sounds so cliche but it’s true). I will always be a listening ear, I will always give them my perspective on things if asked, I will always help them in any way I can, and if anything, I will always be there for moral support. What I value in a friendship definitely includes respect, humor, open-mindedness, and communication. I value trustworthy people who reciprocate my respect and overall energy. Establishing mutual respect for one another provides a strong foundation for a strong friendship to be built. With no respect, there's no strong foundation. Everyone is entitled to live their lives the way they want and as long as it's not hurting anyone else, who are we to judge or stop them? Humor and open-mindedness are also other attributes I value in a friendship. I gravitate more toward those who can laugh hard times and stressors away, which is no easy task, although this is not something cutthroat. In a friendship, I value those who can understand that everyone has a different perspective on life and that everyone is different. Lastly, communication is also very valuable to me in a friendship. People who understand that mind-reading is impossible. I am a very straightforward person, I do not beat around the bush about most things. If someone is able to communicate their feelings and thoughts, there will be no misunderstandings as we will be able to talk about problems and solve them! There are accommodations for everything and people who are willing to put in effort to accommodate are people who I value as friends.

Hello, my name is Mandy Lau and I was the Pledge Master for Alpha Phi Omega - Iota Phi chapter, in the fall of 2023. During this term I had to step up and lead a group of lost pledges toward active brotherhood. My Children include Ada Lei, Andrew Chik, Angelica Anderson, Arra Vargas, Ashley Lee, Brandon Vu, Caitlin Chan, Cecilia Chu, Christian James Carino, Colby Huang, Damon Kwan, Emily Hu, Emily Woo, Eric Dong, James Lau, Jasmine Louie, Jenny Yee, Justin Koh, Kano Castleberry, Katelynn Phy, Kaylee Ong, Madison Nakano, Natalyn Tran, RaeAnn Garcia, Sean Vincent Batoon, Shelby Higa, Stanley Chan, Suah Lee, Tyson Park, Welton Czhang, and Zachary Leung. My Co, Ying Bettina Fong and I, held pledge meetings every week to teach these children about the three cardinal principles of Alpha Phi Omega: Leadership, Friendship, and service. The first week, they learned the purpose of Alpha Phi Omega: The purpose of Alpha Phi Omega shall be to assemble college students in a national service fraternity in the fellowship of principles derived from the Scout Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts of America; to develop leadership, to promote friendship and to provide service to humanity; and to further the freedom that is our national, educational, and intellectual heritage. The next week they learned the toast song: Here's to Alpha Phi Omega, Loyal Brothers we, True to self and to each other, firm in loyalty. Daily working, daily striving, ever more to be True to Alpha Phi Omega, our fraternity. Brothers clasp the hands of Brothers, strong the circle we, Ever mindful, ever serving all humanity. Now we raise our grateful voices, in our song to thee True to Alpha Phi Omega, may we always be. I was their mom… You should ask them how I stepped up to be a leader. :)

Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.

right in the childhood