Betty White. BETTY FRICKIN WHITE! The 88 year old female icon has been one of the top 10 comeback stories in entertainment this year. I don’t think anyone would argue that. She has burst back into entertainment relevance by taking part in the hit movie “The Proposal” and appearing in an advertisement for Snickers during the 2010 Super Bowl. After a resounding effort by Facebook fans to get Betty White to host Saturday Night Live (SNL), on May 8th she did in fact become the oldest person to ever host SNL. Since then, we have seen Betty White everywhere. She has been on talk shows, made special appearances on TV shows, and taken part in various awards shows.
So why am I in awe of Betty White? Two reasons come to mind. First, I still remember her as Rose on Golden Girls and she was hilarious. The other reason, I think upperclassmen can learn something from her. Let me explain.
Betty White’s career could arguably be defined by her role as Rose in Golden Girls that ran from 1985-1992. I mean, she won an Emmy in 1986 for the role. She was that good! After playing in a number of various roles after the Golden Girls ended, it really wasn’t until 2009 in her role in the movie “The Proposal” that she made a comeback. Some would say she just wasn’t as popular during that 17 year hiatus while others would argue she simply wasn’t noticed.
In similar fashion, I feel upperclassmen go through a similar transition. They join as a new member and they are at the height of their collegiate experience at that respective time. Similar to Rose’s character in the Golden Girls, one could argue that upperclassmen as new members are “terminally naïve” in that they believe the first explanation of something. Don’t you remember? As a new member, you took in anything and everything upperclassmen had to say and wanted to emulate their behaviors, mannerisms, etc. In your eyes, your first year in your fraternity/sorority was your “Emmy” moment.
Fast forward to junior and senior year and most members have become disengaged or have taken a so-called hiatus from helping the fraternity/sorority they supposedly loved. The reasons I hear often vary as to why this occurs. Maybe they aren’t as popular or maybe the work they have done has simply gone unnoticed. Whatever the reason may be, it happens and it happens too much in the fraternal landscape.
Upperclassman now is the time to learn from the great Betty White and make a comeback! What I love about Betty White is that she didn’t make a scene when she came back. She didn’t have a parade or ask for the attention, she went about her work with a sense of dignity and class that made people love her in the first place. As upperclassmen, you have the same opportunity to get back to being involved, getting engaged, and making a difference within your organization without making it a large spectacle.
How do you do that? The same way Betty White did – with dignity and class. Don’t overstep your bounds. Know when to offer advice and when to sit back and listen. Know when to challenge and when to support. Recognize that the chapter you joined will have changed to some extent by the time you are a senior. Also recognize that you may not receive accolades for the work you have done because you didn’t set a good example of how to recognize members who have done a great job. Finally, remember that how you finish is how you will be remembered. You may have done a number of great things as a new member but if you are “that senior,” that’s how you are going to be remembered.
In conclusion, upperclassmen can learn a lot from how Betty White has sparked her career at the age of 88. If she can do it, you can certainly do it at the age of 21 or 22. The key is to be humble, remember why you joined your organization in the first place, and continue to live the oath that you agreed to during your new member pinning/initiation ceremony. As an upperclassman, you have a tremendous ability to make a difference and help your chapter. So, finish strong and if you’ve been disengaged, get back in there and make a comeback!
In Honor of Betty White:
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