ROUND UP! 2018

ROUND UP!! The weekend that hundreds of students from UT, as well as from other college campuses around the country look forward to every year. Hearing “Round Up,” one might immediately picture crazy outfits, sharpie ‘tattoos’, and hundreds of college students. At least, this was my experience as a senior in high school just a year ago. I realize now that it is much more than that. From getting ready with my best friends, to standing in line for different performers throughout the weekend, my first Round Up experience definitely exceeded my expectations as I grew closer to my Zeta sisters and took an active role in supporting Zeta's philanthropy.

The week before Round Up consisted of advertising Zeta's BBQ benefiting Breast Cancer Awareness and B+, along with gathering wristbands and making plans for each day. It was an overwhelming week to say the least, but all my worries faded once Thursday night arrived. Different events such as crawfish boils and "food themed" philanthropy activities were scheduled, and UT students were anxious to start the weekend. On Friday, my sisters and I all decided to meet at Zeta in our crazy Round Up gear for the BBQ benefiting our philanthropy (yummy!). After this, it was time to let loose and stand in the first of many lines for exciting performances. The fun stopped around 2 am and picked right back up again around 1 pm the next day. The crowds felt equivalent to a music festival, and students were prepared to have a great time for a great cause. Although the music scene was great, I loved being able to get away and spend quality time with my sisters at our favorite restaurant, Pizza Press (where I ate a whole pizza by myself! Oops…). 

Dancing all day and night was exhausting, but completely worth it. As Sunday rolled around, students were prepared to return back to their normal schedules. My first Round Up experience as a Zeta was incredible, and if you haven’t experienced this weekend at UT thus far, you are missing out.

ZLAM 

-Megan Foster 

Spring Break Memories!

After a busy week of two midterms, a lab report, and a grueling essay, I was more than ready to spend the next week relaxing on the beach with my friends. Spring break is the week that college students across the country take off from their studies to spend time relaxing and recharging. Since last semester, a few other Zetas in my pledge class and I had already been planning where we wanted to spend our week off… Destin! After hearing stories from older girls about their freshman year trips to the beach, we knew Destin, Florida would be the perfect place to spend our first college spring break. Countless hours of planning and coordinating later, we finally found the perfect house, just minutes from the beach amidst other groups of our closest friends.

With plane tickets booked and carpool plans made, we were ready to go a week before break when we received a disappointing call from the homeowner. Due to water damage and renovations, the house was no longer available for our trip. After hearing the news, we were all heart-broken and couldn’t see any way we could find another place to stay with such short notice. However, after coming together and searching for hours on end, we were finally able to book another house. It felt like cramming for a test the night before. With our spring break plans back on, we spent the next week packing, finishing up last minute assignments, and getting excited for our vacation on the beach!

Despite the long 13 hour drive, our spring break trip to Destin was one of the best vacations I’ve ever been on. While the weather was a little chilly on our first day, the rest of the week was filled with sunshine and the warm ocean breeze. From tanning together on the beach, to playing volleyball in the sand, to riding in jeeps across town with the top down, each day held something new and exciting. Tons of other freshman sororities and fraternities from UT rented houses in the area, so we got to see all our friends from school too. However, some of my favorite memories from that week come from times spent with my sisters. Cooking, cleaning, sleeping, and just hanging out together in one house brought all of us extremely close that week. 

My favorite memory of all from spring break came our last night in Destin. A mid-afternoon storm had driven us back home, but right before sunset the rain stopped and the sun came out. Grabbing our beach towels and Zeta t-shirts, we ran for the beach. After taking many many many photos and successfully flooded everyone’s social media, we sat together and watched the sunset on our last night of our first college spring break! I’m not only grateful for the memories I’ve made but the tight bond I’ve created with my sisters that can only come from spending a week packed together in one house.

Aubrey Davenport

PC '17

Winter Break is Better with your Zistas: Telluride Edition

I met Caroline Cantrell and Reagan Walker at move-in day at the beginning of the year. After messaging with these random girls, who would soon become my sisters, I decided to take a leap of faith and room with them. As I watched my parents drive away, it became very real just how close I would become with my roommates. The next thing I know, we were all sitting on the couch of our apartment when Caroline yells out, “who wants to watch a documentary, but a cool one, I promise.” I looked around at my two other roommates and we all smiled and died laughing as we sat there watching an Amish documentary for the next 45 minutes. At that moment, I realized that I had made peace with my parents departure and I was ready to take on this next adventure at UT with my crazy and lovable best friends.

In making these best friends in the world, we decided to sign up to go on a ski trip to Telluride, Colorado; and oh boy, I had no idea what I was signing up for. When we arrived and got to our room, we all peered at each other with looks of denial as we stared at this two bedroom-one bath condo with no hot water... for six people! You would be amazed at how close you can get with your sisters after sharing a twin bed with them for five days. Every night of this trip was something new. From card games to joke telling, there was never a dull moment. On the first day, I watched one of my ski poles tumble to its death after dropping it off the ski lift, but Reagan reassured me that I looked amazing and professional, skiing with one pole and all. This was definitely a turning point in our friendship, as only a true friend would be so supportive (Ha!). Continuing the adventure, Caroline decided she needed to go to “ski school” and told us that day when she got home that she spent her entire day (11AM-4PM) on the “adult” magic carpet, and could not graduate from ski school. We not only grew closer physically (having the temperature being in the teens), but also deepened our friendship as Zeta sisters. 

Our ski trip was definitely not perfect, but it was perfect for us. Taking the time out of my winter break to sleep in a twin size bed with two of my best friends was one of the best decisions I've made. Six months ago, Caroline and Reagan were just strangers, and now we were sisters conquering the world together, one lost ski pole at a time. Thanks, Telluride!!

Faith Osterberg

PC '17

Big Little Reveal 2017

      After a week full of sweet gifts and tricky clues, PC17 would finally discover their big on Texas Zeta’s annual big-little reveal at the zeta house! The new pledge class was to meet at the house at 5:30 PM and participate in a ritual which involved each girl turning around and being surprised with the appearance of their new big. After the initial reveal, the bigs each took their little to a basket they made filled with goodies like t-shirts, hats, buttons, and all the zeta gear you could imagine! Then, the costume portion of the day would commence. From hippies to mermaids, and everything in between, every girl in the Zeta house had a gleaming smile on her face as she walked out on the front porch with her new big. 

      Looking around at all the creative characters and outfits, it made me realize that this day was not all about the pictures and the gifts but about so much more. Going through the week and placing gifts in the house it felt almost surreal that I was now switching places with my big and continuing on the tradition with my new little. Although I was a little nervous to take on this role, I was eager to make new memories with my little, Caroline, and get to know her even better as she started her journey in Austin at UT and with Zeta!   

      Freshmen year can be overwhelming but having someone by your side who has experienced it all is one of the biggest blessings Zeta ever gave me. My big was and continues to be one of my biggest role models; someone I can laugh with, someone I can cry with, someone I can come to for advice, and someone who always seems to understand how I’m feeling even if I struggle to put it into words. Being a mentor to my little has already been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve gotten the opportunity to have in Zeta. Guiding and watching Caroline commence her freshmen year has gotten me so excited to show and share some of my favorite memories from last year with her. I can’t wait to continue the tradition and be able to have the same kind of relationship with my little that I have with my big and show her that although college has its ups and downs, she will always have me to lean on!

Zeta love and Hook ‘em!

Melanie Rice PC '16