From the Desk of the SG President, Emily Murtaugh

            

     When I was a freshman in college, I really didn’t know much of anything. Sure, I graduated at the top of my class, got a 32 on my ACT, and made it into the University Honors Program, but outside of intelligence, I really knew very little. At that time, I was a Biological Sciences/Pre-medicine major. I’d sit through biology lectures, one face of one hundred and fifty, banking on the hope that years down the road, when I had my doctorate, it’d all be worth it. I originally joined Scarlet Guard for the Official Tradition Keeper’s medal-not necessarily because I was excited about the traditions, but because I knew a medal at graduation looked good on applications.

            It has been two and a half years since I first joined Scarlet Guard, and I can’t believe how different things are now.

            Things really began changing in fall of my sophomore year. I had been selected to join the Scarlet Guard Board of Directors, and was helping out on the Homecoming committee for the second year in a row. The theme was “Once Upon a Homecoming”, and I took it upon myself to paint a banner of Memorial Stadium as a castle for the parade. The week before homecoming, the basement of my house became my studio, painting took priority over bio homework, and I loved every minute of it. The excitement I felt for this one painting project left me to contemplate the question...What do I really enjoy enough to do for the next 40 years?

            The answer wasn’t medical school, surgery, or biology. The following semester, I enrolled in a design class for non-Art majors that covered graphic design, photography, and visual literacy. I was excited by just looking over the syllabus. After many meetings with my professor and looking at my options, I finally made the switch. I was now a Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design/Communications major.

            By that time, Executive team nominations for Scarlet Guard were taking place. My closest friend on board nominated me for Public Relations chair, and I accepted. In the days before elections, I prepared answers to questions I thought I’d be asked and crafted a perfect and diplomatic answer to why I wanted to be PR chair. The day of, I didn’t use any of my practiced material. I remember walking in front of the Board: my role models, peers, and friends. I told them I wanted to be PR chair because “it’s what I do. I’m not running for President or Vice President or any other position because PR chair is the one I’d love”. It wasn’t an organized or well thought out answer. It was simply the truth. All of the opportunities and responsibilities of the PR chair really excited me, just like reading the syllabus for that first design class did.

            A few minutes later I was told I had been elected as the public relations chair.

            The following year, I’d been able to demonstrate my passion for design and communications through many different facets of Scarlet Guard. Over summer, I led the design and execution of Scarlet Guard’s first-ever clothing line. During the year, I managed all of Scarlet Guard’s social media accounts and produced multiple promotional designs and pictures for our events.

I loved what I was doing, and didn’t make it halfway through the semester without asking for more. I met with Jenny Green, our former adviser, and began helping at the Alumni Association communications offices once or twice a week to work with their graphic designers to produce posters, handouts, and cover photos for Scarlet Guard.

            Spring came, and it was time for Executive Team elections again. I ended up running for President alongside an absolutely stellar Scarlet Guard Board member, Kallie Speltz. The day of elections, I felt surprisingly calm. I wanted very much to continue to be elected and to continue to grow Scarlet Guard, but knew that no matter who was elected, Scarlet Guard would be in good hands. That’s my favorite part of Scarlet Guard; it’s full of so many ambitious, passionate, and hardworking students. 

            After the election process was finished, I remember calling my mom as soon as I got to my car. I started laughing and crying at the same time. I was very excited, but mostly humbled. To this day, I can’t believe that such an amazing group of student leaders put their faith in me. I now know something I was completely unfamiliar with when I came to the University of Nebraska; I know what that excitement is. It’s passion. It’s a love for something you do.  I see that passion and drive every day in the Scarlet Guard members I am fortunate enough to call my friends and role models.

     While I love the University and am passionate about Scarlet Guard, my one, unyielding goal for my time as President of Scarlet Guard is to help the Scarlet Guard Board of Directors and general Scarlet Guard members achieve their goals. I read once that being a good leader means leaving your organization in better hands than yours when you leave. With the incredible talent, drive, and passion that I see every day in the students I work with, I have no doubt that Scarlet Guard’s future is more promising and bright than ever.