By Leslie Brockman Chunta, Contributing Writer
(@texastechzeta alumna, Province President XI-E)
I remember my first “big girl” job interview in 2007. I wore my brown pantsuit and gold knit shirt with pearls (cause I was different than everyone wearing black, naturally) and had five copies of my resume on nice linen paper in a leather portfolio. I remember feeling less than confident about what was on that resume that day. I was the first of my parents’ kids to go to college, and my academic advisor totally missed the part about getting an internship, so I didn’t have one like everyone else in my program. But what I did have was involvement in five student organizations, including Zeta Tau Alpha.
pictured: Convention attendee Olivia (@uiowa-zta) poses for a photo with ZTA NPC Delegate and former National President Laura Ladewig Mauro
No matter if you are an EC or PC officer, or simply a member who consistently shows up and gives ZTA your best, you have something that every hiring manager wants: Dedication. Commitment. Application of yourself toward common goals and purposes. Understanding of servant leadership. These are the attributes I used to explain my experience in ZTA during that interview in 2007 and how I have explained it every day since.
pictured: a @cppzetas member leads a chapter meeting
Often, women are hesitant to put their sorority affiliation on professional resumes as it may be negatively received by those within the organization they are seeking to join. I have had the same doubts. Let’s also be realistic with each other in that it’s awkward enough to walk into any interview situation and talk about how uniquely awesome you are. Even if you’re ready to take a bold stand and shout your awesomeness from the mountain tops, here are just a few things you may not have realized you’ve taken away from your ZTA experience and how to talk about it:
Management
If you’re an EC/PC officer or even a chapter advisor, surprise! You’re a manager of people, emotions and expectations. You are communicating expectations to your team, ensuring that those expectations are met and, in the event that they are not, consulting the individual who did not perform to the required standards. Which brings me to my next point…
Conflict Handling and Resolution
Conflict is hard. We now even live in an age where we can avoid it with texts and emails. But, what a skill to communicate that you can successfully navigate through interpersonal conflicts between colleagues (or in our case, sisters) and reach a successful resolution.
Time Management Skills
There is never a time like college for balancing a million and five activities. (Oh wait, there is. It’s called motherhood, but I digress.) Anyhow, as a leader in your chapter, it is an unspoken expectation that you manage your time well to excel at being a student, being involved in student organizations, working a job, and being a friend and family member, all while keeping yourself mentally healthy. It’s a tall order. Chances are, you don’t have a Magic Time Fairy making all this happen for you. Reality is, you’re just a lady boss getting things done, and that is what makes the real world work.
Leadership
Sounds like a given, right? Not exactly. Not every leader needs to have a leadership title or position. Some of the most motivational sisters that I have known are those who display consistency, dedication, dependability and a servant’s heart. They aren’t looking for recognition. They show up to things because they care. This is leadership in its purest form: Displaying an example for others to follow.
You never know where the ZTA wind will take you in the professional world. I’ve become friends with colleague’s sisters who are ZTAs. I’ve worked with many ZTAs throughout my career. I’ve hired ZTAs. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished during your time in our sisterhood and you’ll be even more proud of where you’ll go in your career.
As sorority women, we are often viewed as what movies and TV shows portray as the “typical sorority girl.” How can we gracefully correct people who have this point of view? I am studying to go into a STEM field, and I’ve received some backhanded compliments like, “You’re in a sorority? But you’re so smart!” Help me out here, Themis!
—Sally Science
Dear Sally Science,
Insert sad emoji face here for people who make unfair judgments and assumptions, especially about women such as yourself who are embracing their academic passions to pursue careers in a STEM field, which only 24 percent of women in the U.S. workforce hold careers in.
We can’t control the perceptions of people in our college communities, but each of us plays an active role in working to change them. Perhaps your “campus buddy” who hasn’t met any “smart sorority women” has only encountered women who were focused on other things. But, zister, you have the fire for wisdom and greatness within you.
If your campus friends are shocked you don’t have Skittles for brains and don’t fit the “sorority stereotype,” realize that this small-minded thinking is not about you and your experience, but rather about theirs. Introduce them to other smart sorority women in your circle of sisterhood. I mean, we’re in good company. Kate Spade was a Kappa Kappa Gamma at Arizona State University, Katie Couric was a Delta Delta Delta at University of Virginia, and there are hundreds of other celebrated women who have membership in fraternities and sororities. And while they’re killin’ the game in different fields, they all have one thing in common: They found a group of people who shared the ideals they stood for and they joined them.
Regardless of others’ preconceived notions about sorority women, you and I both know how amazing ZTA sisters are, so spread the knowledge! Keep breaking through those stereotypes, not just for you and women in fraternities and sororities, but for all women pursuing their passions in a STEM field. We’re all behind you and rooting for you.
Stay Noble,
Themis
⚖️ 🗡
“Dear Themis” is a recurring feature in which “Themis” answers your anonymous questions about ZTA, being in a fraternity/sorority or life in general. To submit a question, email [email protected] or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
By Leslie Brockman Chunta (Gamma Tau Chapter alumna)
Almost every morning during social isolation, I wake up realizing why Tom Hanks made “Wilson” in “Castaway.” Humans weren’t made to be alone. While some may thrive living this way, many do not. Nothing has made this concept more prominent than social distancing and the very nature that we have to retreat from engaging with people in real ways: enjoying face-to-face company, participating in favorite activities and giving back to the communities we live in.
While we have made attempts to move the first two on that list to “virtual” engagements, the third is often thought about less because it presents a larger challenge. Service generally requires interactions with people who we don’t know or haven’t met—interaction that, right now, jeopardizes our health and the safety of others. However, I truly believe that there are ways we as ZTAs can continue “the nobility of serving” without sacrificing health or safety and foster engagement with communities in a real way.
Here are five thought-starters on how you can begin the process of giving back to “those within and without our circle”:
1. Support local business.
Many collegiate and alumnae chapters hold “giveback” nights in their local communities. Even though collegians may not be in their college towns, almost everyone has a favorite local pizza place. Hold a virtual pizza night where sisters can select a local restaurant of their choice to support. Have members post a picture of their pizza with a specific hashtag and tag the restaurant for some extra publicity for both your chapter and the restaurant.
2. Send a smile.
The elderly are one of the most impacted communities from the novel coronavirus when you look at the fact that they are limited from their normal activity and from the visitors they once had. Find an assisted living facility or nursing home in your town and write letters of encouragement to the folks there. The upside? You get to be artistic and you’ll also brighten someone’s day.
3. Heart somebody.
The very act of social distancing is a selfless act. First responders, medical staff, grocery workers and other essential staff put their health and safety on the line every day to keep our communities functioning, and showing them some love and appreciation is a simple but powerful way to give back. Communities have unleashed their creativity in how to recognize these impactful people from filling their windows with hearts for passersby to find as they walk by every day to making signs to welcome home these heroes.
4. Partner up.
Giving back can be FUN. Organizations like the GetItGals host events like muzingo (musical bingo) where you can sell tickets and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice. Whether you are interested in hosting one or merely participating, you can have fun and do good together at the same time.
5. Learn a new skill.
If you’re looking to broaden your skill sets and happen to have a sewing machine, get into the mask-making game. The CDC has several easy-to-make mask tutorials on their site. Make them for vulnerable loved ones who may not be able to secure them, or use this list to find a facility that is in need of masks for their employees or patients.
In dark times, we often find some of the most wonderful things humans can do for each other. Serving each other, even in the smallest of ways, is how we better someone else’s life, and it reminds us that our actions have such a big impact on how we emerge from social isolation. If Tom Hanks can make a volleyball into a friend, then we can take charge to find meaningful ways to give back to others while we social distance.
I just graduated from college and got my dream job. The problem is, that involved moving to a big city far away from anyone that I know. How does a sister make friends in a city where everyone wears headphones all the time and looks angry?
Halp,
Friendless in Seattle
Dear Friendless,
This predicament reminds me of a certain little song you might know that starts: “Just a small town girl… livin’ in a lonely world…” Sounds like you may have taken the midnight train going anywhere to make your professional dreams come true. You already accomplished incredible feat #1: Score a sweet gig. Now let’s walk through the basic steps of how to make friends in the adult jungle of life.
Close your eyes and take yourself back to kindergarten. Friends could be made in mere seconds. A like-minded kid who also really enjoyed juice boxes and snacks entered your personal space? BAM! You scored a friend. Think back to your childhood friends. How did you all meet? You probably made friends on the soccer field or in an art class because you weren’t afraid to talk to the kid beside you, and you discovered you shared the most basic common interests. Donuts! Netflix! Stretchy pants! Shed the skin of always caring what people think and get out there again. Join a class to learn something new and talk to people you otherwise may not. You never know what kind of interesting people you’ll encounter.
This also may come as a surprise to you, but there is this other population of over 230,000 women out there who have the same experiences as you but you may have never met. Here’s a hint: It rhymes with betas. Zetas! There are 240 alumnae groups with women of all ages that do super cool things like attend Painting with a Twist parties, host mani/pedi nights and enjoy potluck dinners. And surprise: you already have at least one common interest with all of them—you all wear the crown. That’s one convo topic in your repertoire.
There’s a reason Peter Pan never wanted to grow up. Cause its not always fun. And it’s not always easy. Plus you have to go to bed early sometimes and paying bills is a drag. But you’ll look back on this time in your life and realize all the incredible ways you were pushed beyond the limits you normally would have set. You’ll be incredibly proud of yourself.
Stay Noble,
Themis
⚖️ 🗡
“Dear Themis” is a recurring feature in which “Themis” answers your anonymous questions about ZTA, being in a fraternity/sorority or life in general. To submit a question, email [email protected] or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
