National Rituals Week: Service and Philanthropy

        Zeta’s key value of service and philanthropy is something our members embody every day in everything they do. Having sisters that strive to help others, give back to the community, and serve with empathy is important to our chapter and the fraternity as a whole. Zeta Tau Alpha’s national philanthropy is breast cancer education and awareness. One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, so this cause is personal. Breast cancer touches many lives. Through local and national partnerships, campus and community initiatives, and the distribution of millions of pink ribbons since 1992, we are extremely dedicated to our philanthropy. By spreading the message of breast cancer education and awareness, Zeta is determined to diminish this disease. The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation partners with the American Cancer Society, the National Football League, and Bright Pink.
        On Wednesday, April 15th, we will be hosting our third annual Big Man On Campus. BMOC is a collegiate male pageant where contestants from different campus organizations compete to raise funds for Breast Cancer Education and Awareness, as well as the philanthropies of other sororities. This cause is especially important to our chapter as many members have family and friends directly affected, and we are all about women lifting other women. Our chapter members plan, prepare and attend this fundraiser with our key value always in mind. The participants in the pageant show will be University of Texas students representing various student organizations. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation. The past two years were a huge success, as we have raised over $75,000 for our philanthropy! Our chapter is excited to continue this anticipated event and we hope to make it even bigger and better in the years to come. Our goal is to raise significant funds for our philanthropy while increasing awareness of this disease. By educating others and bringing recognition to Breast Cancer, we can help make a difference.
 .      Aside from Big Man on Campus, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Zeta Tau Alpha members coordinate and participate in special events throughout October to increase awareness about early detection and to raise funds for breast cancer education. We pass out pink ribbons on campus during our pink out week that leads up to our big fall event, Queso For a Cure. Our chapter looks for other ways to serve and give back to our local communities. Girls volunteer weekly at Woolridge Elementary School as mentors and tutors for kids, participate in blood drives, volunteer at local hospitals, and do so much more.
We aspire to serve our community in a variety of ways and always “think in terms of all mankind and our service in the world.”


Love, MC18 Mallory Richards

National Rituals Week: Responsibility

From the moment I walked through the doors of the Zeta Tau Alpha house during recruitment week, I was immediately in awe of the girls I was lucky enough to have conversations with. After hearing the stories of different members within the Kappa chapter during Philanthropy and Sisterhood rounds, I not only knew that this is where I wanted my future home to be, but I also found so much value in following the footsteps of the girls ahead of me so I then decided I have no choice but to do the same. A few of my many inspirations were derived from hearing girls speak about juggling their busy schedules of class, outside organizations, leadership positions in Zeta, a social life, and of course simply figuring out how to create a life of their own. Now, after experiencing a semester and a half of college, I have gained an even greater respect for the roles these girls hold, and I often find myself questioning how they do it. The answer is simple. Between balancing a busy life and knowing when to make time for themselves, so many members within this chapter of Zeta exemplify “responsibility” to a tee!

            If there is one word to describe by first semester of college it would be: overwhelmed. I was shocked by the immense difficulty of numerous tasks I was expected to complete on a daily basis on top of trying to keep up with the high expectations Zeta sets for each of its members. Although it felt like a struggle at first, Zeta’s confidence in knowing my potential is what taught me responsibility in just a few months’ time span. 

            Zeta encourages its members to join outside organizations, support external philanthropies, join different councils and committees within the chapter, participate in sisterhood events, maintain a social life, and of course keep up high GPAs. I know this may seem too hard to handle, but these expectations taught me how to balance and maintain a responsible lifestyle. Although I most definitely face struggles just like everyone else, Zeta Tau Alpha’s constant encouragement motivates me to keep going and pushes me to do more. As a second semester freshman, I now seek responsibility in every aspect of my life. I have found a balance between a social life, when to facetime to my family, how to efficiently study, finding what I am most passionate about, participating in program council, and so much more. 

            Learning to live on my own was tough, but I am beyond fortunate enough to have found a home surrounded by encouraging, inspirational, beautiful, and smart young women who continually teach me to strive to do better, all the while keeping up responsibility. Thank you, Zeta Tau Alpha!

Love, Caroline Krafcheck MC19

National Rituals Week: Love

      The closing line of our creed for Zeta Tau Alpha is, “…remembering always that the foundation precept of Zeta Tau Alpha was love, THE GREATEST OF ALL THINGS!” That line echoes through the Zeta house as it leads us into chapter every Monday night. Although the word “love” is only audibly heard across our chapter one time a week, love radiates through all of us every moment of every day in Zeta Tau Alpha. As a new member coming into Zeta this past fall, thinking about connecting with a huge group of girls that I had never known existed before college seemed outlandish – unattainable – impossible. How could I grow to call a house my home? It all seemed more like a fantasy rather than a reality. And then, I experienced Bid Day.
I sprinted to the farthest house in West Campus in the August heat wearing heels. In writing, that seems like something out of a nightmare; however, in reality, it was something out of a dream you never want to awake from. The front yard greeted me with smiles from ear to ear, high pitched squeals, and a limitless number of hugs from the hundreds of girls I could now call sisters. I remember taking a moment to embrace all that was happening around me. During all the craze, a feeling of calmness fell over me; all my concerns about connecting to and with all the girls and house that represent Zeta were put to rest, for I had realized that I had already connected to everyone there the moment I fell in love with Zeta Tau Alpha.
       Texas Zeta encompasses so many different backgrounds, personalities, interests and aspirations. However, despite all our differences, we are all united through our love of Zeta. The founders of Zeta making “Love” the foundation precept sparked something within Zeta all those years ago that continues to shine through today. I feel loved each and every day by my sisters in Zeta. I could not wish for anything more out of this sorority, for it has given me the greatest of all things: Love.







Gracelyn Keener, MC19

National Rituals Week: Leadership

Three knocks. Those three knocks on the door right before the well anticipated door chants echo in my head. It was recruitment week, and I was beyond excited to find my sisters and new home at a UT sorority. After the welcome from the Recruitment Captain and the President, girls flooded out of the Zeta house brimming with excitement to meet us. As the week went on, I truly found my home in Zeta. I fell in love with each girl I talked with, finding so much of myself in the women leading each day of recruitment. These girls put their heart and soul into the process, and it was truly noticeable. These girls were the reason for my decision to pref Zeta.

Right off the bat, the Executive officers introduced us to the Kappa Chapter. I was so intimidated; myself being a little freshman in such a huge sorority. Every girl I met was involved; there were leadership positions for every girl who wanted to be a part of something. However, I told myself that I would not have the opportunities to pursue a leadership position until I was older and better known within the sorority. How wrong I was. After initiation, every girl in my MC was highly encouraged by older girls to seek leadership positions. Why? Because this chapter does more than create friendships and participate in different events. Zeta’s goal is to prepare women to be leaders in our community.

Each member of Zeta is engaged in outside organizations. Leadership is utilized in so many ways in  all aspects of our chapter: from designing banners to planning mixers. Within my member class, my friends applied for positions such as assistant VP, favors committee, and big little coordinator. I wanted to apply for recruitment team. The girls on the team last year were the reason I went Zeta. Not only that, but the girls that talked to me during recruitment week showed me what sisterhood truly is. They put their heart and soul into the process, and I could see the strength in their friendships and leadership as they worked so hard throughout the week. Being on recruitment team has given me the opportunity to pursue something I am extremely passionate about. 

There is a reason that Zeta’s motto is Seek the Noblest. It is because each and every girl has a place in the sorority to flourish and grow. Leadership is just one of many aspects of our chapter. Each girl has their own gifts, and each gift is a puzzle piece that fits perfectly into Zeta. It is amazing to see how many girls didn’t know they had the capability to lead who have excelled in their positions. Girls of all ages are leaders, from PC to Exec to committees. There is a place for everyone. Zeta creates the opportunity to do so much more with oneself during our four years here at UT. Zeta continues to grow our qualities and harness our talents to be the best possible versions of ourselves. Thank you, Zeta Tau Alpha, for not only giving me my best friends, but giving us the opportunity to be more than ourselves and become leaders in our community!

 

Love, Brijit Crosby MC ‘19