My Mom: The Warrior

 My Mom: The Warrior 

    Everyone has the people in their life that they call their best friends. When I am asked the question, “Who is your best friend?”, there is one person that comes to mind right away and that I am positive will be my person forever. She is my role model, my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my “go-to” person. She is my teacher, my guide, my light, my therapist, and my cheerleader. Most of all, she is my other half, and I am the luckiest person in the world to be able to also call this person my mother. 

    A hero, to me, is someone who has done something brave and that you can look up to as an example. While many may say Spiderman or Catwoman are heroes to them, my personal hero isn't someone of superpowers, but it is my “super mom”. She is a woman of courage, strength, and love, and over the years has instilled in me such incredible values. I can only hope to be a hero like her to my own children one day. 

    Sometimes, you come across a very impactful person in your life expedition, but I found that person at the very beginning of my life journey. My mom was there for my first breath, helped me to walk my first steps, brought me to my first day of school, and introduced me to the world. My mom is the most beautiful star that shines on earth and the brightest light of happiness in my life. When I am feeling down, she cheers me up, and when I am feeling hopeless, she is the one that gives me hope. She truly does it all. 

    At 12 years old, as the youngest of three, and the only girl in the family, I relished being the center of attention. This carefree demeanor forever changed when my best friend, also my mom, was diagnosed with breast cancer. My entire world collapsed, but I had to remain calm. I wanted to be strong for my mom. Seeing her in the hospital made me think of all the times she took care of me when I was sick in bed but witnessing her inner strength and positive attitude during chemotherapy and radiation sessions showed her heroic, fighting spirit. 

    Although she could not control this terrible thing that had happened to her, she could control how she dealt with it and how she could respond to the situation. Instead of letting the diagnosis make her feel sorry for herself or slow her down, she continued to have her same sense of humor and her willingness to help others, making this dark time in our lives much easier for everyone. My mom did not let herself feel depressed, worried, or cut off from others, but instead she chose to be strong and keep happy thoughts in her mind during the entire process. She used her frightening experience to teach others that they have a choice to be happy, sad, worried, or angry when something bad happens, but always to take the opportunity to be brave, confident, and hopeful. Her mindset is what helped shape who both she and I are to this day, as she overcame her battle with a positive attitude and helped me do the same with mine. As strong as my mother was, it turned out that I was just as resilient when faced with a frighteningly similar struggle of my own.

    My mom truly is a fighter. She has overcome so many obstacles in life, but most of all, she kicked breast cancer’s ass. She never gave up and she kept on fighting. She pushed and gave it her all, even when times were hard. She had hope and remained positive during the entire journey. Through all of the hardships, she was always standing strong. She taught me what it meant to be brave. She showed me to never give up and to always keep my head up. She showed me you can’t let things, even as big as what you dealt with, get in your way of happiness. With or without cancer, she continued to be the same person and never let the disease control how she lived her life. 

- Skylar Kaye, MC '19

New Member Monday Week 8!

 Meet our new members Shayla Cormier, Kenzie Muecke, Cassidy Crowell, Peyton Ausburn, and Pola Aronowski!

Name:

Shayla Cormier 

hometown:

Orange, Texas

Major:

Undergraduate Studies

What is your favorite song right now?

Love language by Ariana Grande

Fun fact:

I’ve swam with sharks:)

Name:

Kenzie Muecke 

hometown:

Friendswood TX

major

Education 

What is your favorite song right now?

Heads Will Roll

Fun fact

I have bronchitis rn!

Name:

Cassidy Crowell

hometown:

El Campo, Texas

Major:

Biology 

What is your favorite song right now?

Mr. Right Now

Fun fact:

I am obsessed with Torchy’s Tacos and I could eat their queso every single day😋

Name:

Peyton Ausburn

hometown:

San Antonio

Major:

Computer Science

What is your favorite song right now?

I listen to a lot of podcasts! Crime Junkie <3

Fun fact:

I’ve coded an app before!

Name:

pola aronowski 

hometown:

houston, texas

Major:

petroleum engineering 

What is your favorite song right now?

whitehouse road by tyler childers 

Fun fact:

i have a second degree black belt in taekwondo

Name:

Sara Barker

hometown:

Frisco, Texas

major:

Biology

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Medical School

Fun fact!

I want to be an obstetrician and gynecologist

Name:

Kendall Crow

hometown:

Houston

major:

RTF

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

hopefully in LA working in a writers room!

Fun fact!

I just adopted a baby bunny a couple months ago

Name:

Kendahl Clements

hometown:

Magnolia, TX

major:

B.S. Psychology

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself in medical school (probably studying)!!

Fun fact!

I fell all the way down the stairs at Grand Central Station in New York and at our very own DKR :)

Name:

Lexie Abbott

hometown:

Houston, Texas

major:

Advertising 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Traveling the world working at different advertising firms. 

Fun fact!

I’ve had my ear cut off and sewn back on

Name:

Raylee Darden

hometown:

Wichita Falls

major:

Government 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In law school

Fun fact!

I have met Lin Manuel Miranda! (The guy who wrote Hamilton)

Name:

Hayley Scott

hometown:

Dallas

major:

Mechanical Engineering 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I’d love to move to NYC and either work there or go to grad school there

Fun fact!

I can solve a Rubik’s cube 

Name:

Morgan Wray

hometown:

Waco, Tx

major:

International Relations & Global Studies and German double major

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully living in Washington, D.C. while working in the State Department and attending grad school!

Fun fact!

I was the youngest Beto for Texas Campaign Captain in the entire state in 2018! 

Name:

Lauren Prendeville

hometown:

Round Rock

major: 

Biochemistry

What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?

Bella Hadid 

Fun fact!

i hate cheese and will take it off my pizza

Name:

Abby Keilen

hometown:

Round Rock

major:

Government

What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?

Harry Styles

Fun fact!

I’ve been skydiving 5 times and plan on getting my skydiving license.

Name:

Carolyn Caldwell

hometown:

Blanco, TX

major:

Pre-Law Psych

What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?

Harry styles duh

Fun fact!

I’m on the UT mock trial team 

Name:

Tiani Nelson

hometown:

Houston

major:

Journalism

What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?

Snoop Dog

Fun fact

I got my appendix taken out on a school trip in Greece

Name:

Tori Prince

hometown:

The Woodlands, Texas

major:

Advertising 

How would your friends describe you ?

caring, funny, and super loud 

Fun fact:

4 members of BROCKHAMPTON went to my high school and I’ve talked to Joba before!!

Name:

Maddie Harvey

hometown:

southlake, tx

major:

undecided 

How would your friends describe you ?

outgoing, funny, and genuine

Fun fact:

I have four older sisters and a french bulldog

Name:

Amanda Mackenzie

hometown:

Fort Worth

major:

Youth and Community Studies

How would your friends describe you ?

outgoing go with the flow type

Fun fact

i love yoga

Name:

Caroline Frerichs

hometown:

Frisco, Texas

major:

Special Education 

How would your friends describe you ?

Caring and bubbly 

Fun fact

My brother was a Zeta house boy a couple of years ago.

Name:

Sofia Vann

hometown:

Frisco, Texas

major:

Radio-Television-Film

How would your friends describe you ?

I think my friends would describe me as a bubbly, outgoing, and empathetic.

Fun fact

I was on some episodes of Barney when I was little.

Name: Chloe Barker

Hometown: Coppell, Texas

Major: Biology 

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? (explain a bit haha)

Cereal because there's so many kinds and it never gets old. 

Fun fact

I am a vegetarian!

Name: Hannah Coursey

Hometown: Plano

Major: Marketing, English

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tiny’s chocolate chip cookies

Fun fact!

My dream is to run away to the south of France with Timothee Chalamet.

Name: Kyndall Ellis

Hometown: Houston (Spring)

Major: Exercise Science (Pre-Dental)

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pizza bc nothing else compares

Fun fact!

I could live off of boba, so if you like boba hmu

Name: Oriana Garcia

Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas 

Major: Radio-Television-Film & Public Relations 

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

tacos because you have so many options of meats, veggies, etc and also it's a pretty solid breakfast, lunch and dinner food. 

Fun fact!

I'm originally from Caracas, Venezuela and I can low key quote the whole scene where Bella finds out Edward is a vampire.

Name: Sophie White

Hometown: Plano

Major: Advertising

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? (explain a bit haha)

The Grove Bolognese

Fun fact!

I have three brothers

Name: Hannah Waters

Hometown: New Braunfels, TX

Major: Biology, Pre-Med

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

mashed potatoes because they’re my favorite food and i never get tired of them 

Fun fact!

All of my roommates went Zeta!!! 

Name: Porter Maese

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Major: Corporate Communications

What is one thing you would like to learn how to do/or do?

learn how to whistle

Name: Nooreen Sandhu

Hometown: Southlake,TX

Major: Economics and Government

What is one thing you would like to learn how to do/or do?

I speak 4 languages: English, spanish, Hindi, and punjabi and want to learn more!

Name: Caoimhe Fitzpatrick

Hometown: McKinney, Texas

Major: Economics

What is one thing you would like to learn how to do/or do?

I would love to do missionary work abroad someday but for now, I would like to learn how to dance and actually look coordinated.

Name: Olivia Wall

Hometown: Allen, Texas

Major: Dance and hopefully adding double major with Textiles and Apparel!

What is one thing you would like to learn how to do/or do?

I want to travel the world and learn more about fashion in doing so!!

Name: Sydney Rowe

Hometown: Coppell, TX

Major: Journalism

What is one thing you would like to learn how to do/or do?

I want to learn more about investing my money in the stock market!

Name: Madison Kaperonis

Hometown: Heath, Tx

Major: Undecided but planning on going into Sports Media

What is one thing you would like to learn how to do/or do?

Scuba diving!

Name: Alyssa Adams

Hometown: Austin, TX

Major: International Relations & Global Studies - on track for pre-law

What is your favorite spot in Austin? 

My favorite spots have to be Zilker and SOCO (and I love Homeslice Pizza)!

Name: Caroline Bradley

Hometown: Austin, TX

Major: Bio chem

What is your favorite spot in Austin? 

Zilker, Town Lake Trail, Lake Austin Torchy's, and Cabo Bob's

Name: Anoushka Ramesh

Hometown: Katy, TX

Major: Business Honors Program

What is your favorite spot in Austin? 

I'm currently at home, but I can't wait to explore the Austin food truck scene next semester!

Name: Cecilia Gutierrez

Hometown: Austin, TX

Major: Communications

What is your favorite spot in Austin? 

Lake Austin, St. Edwards Park, and Try Hard Coffee

Name: Lilly Brown

Hometown: Austin, TX

Major: Dance

What is your favorite spot in Austin? 

I love a good brunch at Tiny Boxwoods, nice mornings runs around town lake, and shopping at local boutiques like Beehive!

Week one new members!

Name: Allie Womack

Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA

Major: Communications and Leadership

What are you looking forward to this year? 

Exploring Austin, taking interesting classes, and getting to know the girls in my MC!

Name: Hannah Verstuyft

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Major: Public Health

What are you looking forward to this year?

Exploring Austin & getting to meet all my new zistas! 

Name: Valentine Ponce

Hometown: Dallas, TX 

Major: international Relations

What are you looking forward to this year? 

Meeting my sisters and football season!

Name: Sarah Farrell

Hometown: Austin

Major: Mechanical Engineering

What are you looking forward to this year?

Taking more major-related classes and getting to know all of the amazing girls in zeta!

Name: Avery Newell

Hometown: Southlake, TX

Major: International Business

What are you looking forward to this year? 

I am looking forward to meeting tons of new people and finding a solid group to adventure around Austin with.

Name: Sophia Curren

Hometown: McKinney, TX

Major: Psychology

What are you looking forward to this year?

Getting close with all of my new sisters and exploring Austin with them!