Dinner With Our Alumni: Sher217

Hello all! Hope you all are doing wonderful with the monday blues I am here with another Dinner With Our Alumni interview! This time with someone very special! For those that don't know, this is a short interview series where I will host interviews with our leaders who graduated from the GLDD program. The aim is to spread more awareness about the program and hopefully everyone can give it a read!

Let me introduce to you, @Sher217! Sher is a gal from a small town, nestled in the countryside! She's a mom to two amazing, young women AND a bunch of FOUR leg-fur babies! (Like who even is this superwoman?) Sher loves to listen to music, almost considers it a gift! She is usually listening to something and dancing in her computer chair while online (because, why not?) And hold on, it gets better here...Sher has the words "Let It Be" tattooed on her wrist from long before they found 7 Cups and she takes inspiration from that every day! Sher has been on 7 Cups since September 2020 and has left a longing effect on our community. They are a hidden gem!

What was on the menu? Eggrolls, fried chicken wings, and shrimp!

What made you join the GLDD program?

I had a primary understanding of dynamics within a group but I wanted to learn more about the interactions of the group, based on the influences of the members and leaders. A quote that inspires me is “A single grain of rice can tip the scale”. One person within a group can change so much for the entire group.

I see that one of the GLDD requirements was to host discussions. What did you like about that the most?

I really like discussions because the format offers a single question at a time and allows everyone to share their thoughts and opinions based on their individual experiences. By seeing the various responses, we can learn about the similarities and differences within a group.

How was your experience doing the program?

I enjoyed it! I really learned a lot from this program. What I learned can be applied to groups within Cups but can also be applied to my personal life as well.

Which is your favorite activity in the program?

This is the easiest question! My favorite activity was creating my Appreciation Corner! I’ve been blessed to have met amazing people here who are so supportive, encouraging and willing to share their experiences, and what they’ve learned, with others. The Appreciation Corner was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on those who greatly impacted my Cups journey.

What’s the one thing you learned that you will always remember?

I think learning about the factors that contribute in building a group is something that I will always remember. By changing just one factor, you can change the dynamics of the entire group. Being able to understand and apply this on Cups, and in my life, has made an impact on my interactions with others.

What advice would you give to a new GLDD trainee?

Take the time to read and really grasp the concepts of this course. Make yourself notes so that when you are in groups, chats, or discussions, you can look for ways to apply what you have learned during this course.

How can mentors offer better support for the program?

I think mentors can best support members of the program by being open to sharing their experiences. Being able to share personal experiences of how the concepts of the program can be applied can mean the difference between a member merely reading about a concept and really understanding it fully.

If you could change one thing about the program, what would it be?

I believe I was part of the first group to begin the course, so things may have changed since then, but I think it would be a great idea to hold a ‘kick-off session’ for each new group at the start of the program. Even a 30 minute “Meet and Greet” would give people an opportunity to identify who is going through the course with them and to encourage support among coursemates.

Thank you for reading till here! I would love to hear any suggestions/question ideas that I can add to this series. If you are a GLDD graduate and would love to contribute, please PM me so we can set up our dinner! Meanwhile, please give a big shout-out to @Sher217 for doing this!

If you want to apply for the GLDD, please click here.