5 Things I Learned as an AFLV Intern

AFLV has been challenging my belief of what it means to be Greek since my junior year of college. From being an undergraduate attendee to serving as a graduate conference intern, I have always left #AFLVCentral looking at my responsibilities differently.

There are five things that stand out about my #AFLVCentral intern experience. At face value, they may not seem like the most glamorous activities, but follow me on this deep dive, and you will see why.

1. Communication is key.

#TeamAFLV has some semblance to the Secret Service. You have an earpiece, you’re communicating in secret, and you feel stealth. It’s cooler than any spy movie you’ve ever seen, but here’s some real talk on having an earpiece for five days straight.

• Your brain confuses what people are saying to you directly and what someone is saying over the walkie. Sometimes you just pause and stare into space like But in reality, you are really just listening to the voices in your ear.

• Then there’s “phantom ear”—the endless sensation of sound vibrations lingering after you take the earpiece out at the end of the night. Okay, I’m being a little dramatic. The earpiece and the communication that comes through it is essential to the best-in-class experience AFLV is creating. We need eyes on a variety of areas all at the same time, and wearing our earpieces is our way of doing that.

• The large amount of communication that takes places in your ear alone keeps #TeamAFLV all on one page. It helps mitigate confusion in the midst of 3,800 people. The most transferable skill you can bring to any setting is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Peep the walkie 🤩