Spring Formal Recruitment!

Recruitment for Kappa Alpha Theta – Delta Iota chapter has officially started! There are about 190 girls going through recruitment, some of the highest numbers in recent years. I had a conversation with a girl who is a Freshman vocal performance major who is in choir and we hit it off. I really hope she joins Theta because she was a great conversationalist and really nice girl.

Here’s what I have to say about college and Greek life. Greek life has opened so many doors for me as far as friendships, service opportunities, social events, and networking opportunities. I don’t just have friends, I have sisters, women I can relate to on a deep level as far as values, interests, and ideals. While you are college, I strongly encourage you to go through recruitment. Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. I know men in the fraternities here on campus who wouldn’t have it any other way and women who would be lost souls on campus without their sisters. For me, it’s something to look forward to. I get the opportunity to have someone to talk to, someone to comfort, and someone to comfort me. I am a sorority member and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Revamp

It’s time to revamp this blog, breathe new life into it. I originally started writing it as both a way for family and friends to know what I was doing at school and so teens/young adults getting ready to or already in college could use it as a way to get tips from a girl on the inside. However recently I’ve been slacking as far as posting timely blogs and giving out tips. So I’m going to change starting right now.

It’s finally 2012! I’ve been home for winter break and I go back on January 11th to get ready for Theta’s recruitment. I’m so excited for the new year, a year that’s going to be full of possibilities and opportunities. My grades were posted online today (not publicly) and I have to say I was a little surprised by a couple of them so I emailed the professors to find out the breakdown of the grade. I’ve gotten a response already which was nice, even if the grades weren’t changed. So this my newest tip: Ask about a grade if you’re not happy about it. Even if it doesn’t get changed, you’ll know how you got it and why it is the way it is. It may not always be what you want, but it may give you peace of mind about it.

Home At Last

I’m finally home! Winter break started for me last Thursday and it’s nice to be back. I’m glad the holiday season is in full swing, full of green, red, and white. On Wednesday I’m baking cookies with my cousins…I’m not sure what to make yet! I’ll have to get it together. Then Christmas is Sunday. My family will be going to my aunt and uncle’s house Saturday night with the rest of my father’s side of the family and then my mom’s side comes on Sunday (Christmas Day). So much food, chatter, and laughter. I can’t wait!

Holiday Sisterhood

It’s finally the last day of classes! I finished the semester off by going to Advanced Poetry and having pizza with my class. It was a nice way to end the semester.

Also last Saturday I had a holiday sisterhood with Theta! It was fun, some of the new girls decorated ornaments, we gave out gifts, and gave out awards voted on by the chapter. It got me in the holiday spirit and was good prep since I had to leave it early to go sing in my first Adelphian holiday concert. It was one of three in just over twenty four hours, two as part of the Adelphian series and one half concert as part of a service at the campus chapel called Lessons and Carols. The first concert was good, but not as good (in my opinion) as the afternoon concert the next day. Maybe I’m biased because that’s the one my parents went to. Sorry this isn’t that long of a post, but I am going to try to get good sleep tonight and then work on my research paper tomorrow. Bye!

Weekend Fun!

Last night was the benefit concert at Metronome Coffee, put on by African Alliance and VOX (voices for Planned Parenthood) to raise money for an HIV/AIDS education program in Rwanda. We had a pretty great turn out and from ticket sales plus tote bag sales, we raised roughly $306.75! That’s about 20% of the money needed for the project. Before I went to that, Kappa Alpha Theta initiated seven of it’s new members which was fun and a special experience for those girls. Some may find it tedious, but I always liked to be involved so I find the entire process great.

Now today Theta (including me) is playing mini-golf with Sigma Chi, then I’m going to the combined A Capella concert at 7:30. There are multiple friends of mine that are singing, both in the all male group and all female group. What am I going to do after that? Don’t know, the sky’s the limit!

Busy!

I’m sorry I haven’t been posting as frequently as in the past! Bad blogger!!! Lately I’ve been doing a lot of things related to Theta like going to fall formal at the Tacoma Art Museum, mingling with faculty at faculty appreciation, and going to the Repertory Dance Show to support the 200ish dancers (roughly 7-10 were Thetas)! The dances were amazing. I’m always impressed because that club/show is completely student run with only a faculty advisor. It shows how well we students can rise to the occasion. At Faculty Appreciation I got to talk more with my advisor, getting to know her in a less academic setting with a small group of other Thetas. Her daughter was also really cute, playing Life with some of the active members.

Now Theta is getting geared up for initiation week. Initiation is on Friday and we have events leading up to that. Plus, African Alliance Club (formerly Invisible Children Club) is having a benefit concert on Friday also. I can’t wait to go after initiation!

Function With G-Phi

The one thing to mention from this past week is yesterday we had a function with Gamma Phi Beta in their basement from 4-6 pm. We had a great time frosting cupcakes with both white and black decorating frosting and covering them with different color sprinkles. It was fun to chat with the girls, mingle, and strengthen interrelations with other Greek houses on the UPS campus. I even got to make a beautiful black and purple heart with my sister Caitlin. It was very nice and it makes me excited for our next function with Pi Beta Phi. We are going to the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins!

The other thing I should mention is this weekend is Halloween weekend. I personally am not a big fan of dressing up and going out, but I always enjoy seeing everyone in their costumes. So far I’ve heard of people going out as hipsters, a hick, Ke$ha, Brett Michaels etc. I also hope to see some costumes that are super creative too. The imagination can make for a spectacular weekend.

Midterms

I’m sorry, I’m a bad blogger! There isn’t much out of the ordinary that’s been happening to me lately so I guess that’s why I haven’t been blogging as much as normal. This week is midterms week, and it’s not super stressful because I only have one test and one paper due on Friday. It could seem difficult to the unsuspecting reader, but never fear because I know exactly what’s going to be on the test and I have a topic for my essay. I’m working on it! Then on Friday I get to come home for four days!!! I’m really excited about that because I love getting away from school for a little while, getting to see my cat, and getting to spend time with my parents. I’ve said it before, but since I’m an only child, it’s only the three of us. It never gets any easier to leave them so it’s nice to come home to them. I’m ready to sleep in a bed twice as big as the one I have at school, have home cooked meals, and not have to worry about all my commitments. I just have to get through two more days. I can do it, no problem.

Concert & Theta Retreat

Saturday was quite the day! I first had formal pictures taken with the Adelphian Concert Choir on the steps of our administrative building (Jones). That was fun, took a little while to get everyone into position though. Then from there we warmed up in the basement of the music building and performed a fifteen minute set of music as part of the High School Honor Choir concert. I enjoyed it because the audience seemed to like what we sang a lot. If that wasn’t enough to do that day, right after the concert was over some of my sorority sisters and I took the 6:30pm ferry from Point Defiance in Tacoma to Vashon Island for a Theta retreat. We got there around 7:15 (later than everyone else), but it wasn’t an issue because we already let people know we were going to be late. Once we arrived, I sat with a group discussing future lives for the group. In essence, we were playing MASH. Then once it was dark enough, about 10 of us went outside and played games in the dark. It was a lot of fun, totally safe. Then we hung out for a little longer, fell asleep, and took the ferry home the next morning. It was quite the 24 hour time period!

Bid Day!

Informal recruitment has finally come to a close and the Delta Iota chapter of Theta has eight lovely new members! We’re so excited, lots of girls went through and we are thrilled with our new mems. I am a guardian angel (GA) which means I got a new member as my little devil (LD). Cute huh? I was able to give her a flower pot and goblet, both of which I decorated, and a new shirt. She seemed really excited to be a part of the house. A little overwhelmed, but that’s to be expected when you are welcomed in with a party and about 65 girls, 90% you don’t know. For bid day we welcomed the girls and toasted them with apple cider. Then we went into the basement where we had plain, m&m, and apple cinnamon pancakes, chatted with other active and new members, did a craft project, and danced to music. It was a lot of fun and the craft project was a great idea. Our Recruitment Officer painted the quote “A sister is one who reaches for your hand and touches your heart” onto a canvas, then we painted our hands onto the canvas. It’s now sitting in our basement, waiting to go on the wall in our study room. It looks fantastic.

Parents Weekend

Friday and Saturday I had the parentals over to school for parents weekend! We had a great time window shopping, going to see Meeker Mansion, and eating…lots of eating. It was fun to see the house where my ancestors lived because it’s currently in the process of being preserved. Plus I met another Meeker who is the first cousin five times removed. My great great great great great grandfather Ezra (it’s his house) had quite the genealogy! I really love spending time with my family. They’re funny, good to talk to, and great to be around. It makes me excited for Fall Break. Then I get to see them again!

Adelphians Retreat

I got back from the overnight Adelphians choir retreat yesterday around 3:30pm and I have to say, it was fantastic! We did a lot for only being there less than 24 hours. We had two rehearsals, one hour each in addition to free time and bonding games. My favorite part was we got to go swimming in a lake for about two hours. The camp director and workers there made the lake very safe by roping off different portions depending on how deep the water was. You also had to wear a life jacket if you went on this structure called a blob (real fun to watch people do) or if you went on a paddle boat/kayak. It was refreshing not to have to worry about school/life, and have the ability to swim/lay out in the sun. My second favorite part was to go around the circle the first night saying our name, year, major, and spirit animal. One girl said hers was a dragon, while another guy told a story of how angler fish mate, but then flipped it around and said his spirit animal of the day was a bat. I loved it.

Success!

I made it! I’m officially an Adelphian, a member of the top choir at my school. I got so excited when I looked at the list and saw my name listed as an Alto I. Usually I sing Soprano II, but I felt comfortable during my audition singing Alto I as well so that’s probably why my director put me there. I was a little nervous my first day of rehearsal, but I felt better afterward when all the new members met with the officers and we got cookies with our names on them! Now I’m looking forward to the new member get together on Wednesday and the all choir retreat Friday and Saturday. Until then, I have to memorize a four verse song that all the new members have to do. It’s our only real “task”, but it makes me feel better that I’m not the only one who has to do it. I have two days to learn it…I think I can do it.

School Has Started

It’s finally here! I’ve started my Junior year at the University of Puget Sound. My single (!) room is tricked out, I’ve been to day one of all my classes, and I’m even starting to workout regularly. I have a feeling this is going to be a very good year, full of promise and excitement…Ok, maybe I’m overshooting that. I have a feeling this year is going to be fun. I’ve never been more ready to work and truly happy about the classes I’m taking. This semester I’m taking Celtic Traditions (a Celtic Literature class), Advanced Poetry Writing, Biography/Autobiography, and Intro to Writing Fiction. I know, to the naked eye it seems like a semester full of long papers, a ton and a half of reading, and late nights trying to figure out how to write the next Great American novel. Trust me, it’s way harder than that. I’m totally kidding, it’s going to be semi-challenging, but fun and rewarding at the same time. I want to leave my mark on the English department and if that means working till my fingers can’t move and writing till I feel my hand starting to fall off, I will. I want to.

Home!

I’m sorry I’ve not written in so long! I’m home, I’m home for the summer! I’ve been home since May 9th and will be home until the end of August. I’m really glad to be home with my own room, cat, parents, shower, etc. I’ll be working at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital for the whole summer which I am also excited about. It’s a great job to have and I’m lucky to be working there. Currently I’m sitting on the couch watching a movie with my mom while she simultaneously makes dinner. The blog posts will probably be a little less frequent this summer because I’ll be doing so many other things. But I must say, it’s great to be back.