ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
Be the Hero of Your Own Story Idaho Alpha LESLIE PIEROSE SCANTLING is a survivor. Regardless of the curveballs life throws her way, she repeatedly gathers the strength to meet challenges head-on and emerge stronger. Her strategy? Finding joy in giving back. Whether organizing an event for cancer survivors or serving on Idaho Alpha’s Alumnae Advisory Committee (AAC), Leslie’s lifelong belief in the importance of serving others gives her purpose and resilience, especially when times are tough. Servant leadership is a core value with deep roots in Leslie’s life. “There’s a saying: of those to whom much is given, much is expected,” she explains. “It’s the balance of making sure you’re giving back. That’s what I was raised to believe, and I raised my own children with this philosophy. I truly receive joy from giving.” Leslie credits her time in Idaho Alpha and serving as a chapter officer with strengthening the leadership and organizational skills she relies on every day. “College was the first time I felt like I experienced success,” she says. “I learned more in Pi Phi than in any classroom. I felt a greater level of responsibility than with writing papers and taking tests—if I didn’t prepare for an officer visit or missed a report, it affected an international organization that meant so much to me.” Leslie takes a similar approach in her role as Idaho Alpha’s AAC Chair. She cherishes the opportunity to be a resource for the chapter, to help members cultivate their individual strengths and to develop one-on-one relationships with collegians. “My work as an Advisor empowers me so much,” she says. “I’m giving back to something that gave so much to me through mentorship and connection.” As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Leslie found herself yearning for connection more than ever before. She was beginning to emerge from a whirlwind series of lifealtering events and personal losses that had taken place during the previous three years—including a battle with breast cancer, numerous surgeries, the death of her father, the end of her marriage and her children leaving home to attend college. “I was alone for the first time in my life, and much more alone than I’d ever imagined,” she recalls. “I had so many gaping holes in my life and needed a lifeline.”
28
