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Sororities in the Digital Age

This past weekend, I was able to be a part of bringing generation’s of women back together again. The Beta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta celebrated their 100 years of being on Oregon State University’s campus on November 10, 2017.

Over the course of the weekend, I heard countless stories of all the fun these women used to have with each other and with other fraternity men. Hearing how times have changes, quite literally is astounding to say the least. No men on the second floor, no kissing on the front porch, and no dancing in the living room, were just some of the old rules I heard. Another women told me that they used to send the house mom to a hotel so they could sneak alcohol, and boys upstairs and have a little party all to themselves.

After hearing stories from women from every decade since the 40′s it is clear to see how much sorority life has changed over the years. One women even said to me, “It is sad to see how many rules and regulations there are today, all because of social media.” Now that got me thinking...

She was right... so much has changed in just the last 10 years, I can not even imagine what it was like to be a part of starting the Civil Rights movement right here in Corvallis. Or to know what it felt like seeing your sisters crying over the assassination of JFK. Times were extremely different back then, and this weekend we were able to experience just a glimpse of what life was like back then.

If pictures were taken, they were professionally, and you had to wait weeks to get them developed and then even see them.

I honestly think that having camera’s in the palm of our hands, and the ability to share those pictures to the rest of the world instantly, changed the entirety of the college experience. There is such a want, to be connected to people around the world, and to friends and family back home, that people feel the need to capture everything. The good, the bad, the funny, the weird, everything gets captured now a days.

FOMO, or the fear of missing out, has taken control of people’s lives. They don’t want to risk missing out on not only the party or event, but mainly the photos that will be taken. They want other people to know that they were there.

Because of this constant social media presence, it is a lot easier to know when bad things happen or when people are breaking the rules. This makes things harder when we just want to have fun, but it may not be totally legal.

So, listening to all these alumni’s and how much fun they had back in the good ol’ days, an be really sad. Knowing that we will never be able to experience those same things because of the cameras we hold in our palms. But, I would not change a thing about my college experience and the memories I have made so far.

#Kappa Alpha Theta #centennial #fomo #social media

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Having the Hard Conversations

No one likes to have those sit down, face to face conversations that give you the lump in your throat and make you feel like you can’t breathe.

No one likes to admit when they are feeling sad or depressed or lonely or scared.

No one likes to say, “no, i’m actually not,” when someone nonchalantly asks how you are.

Living in a sorority house with 50 plus other women, I have recently found that it is very hard to not put a smile on every day. Lately, I have been walking around and been a little down in the dumps. Yes of course some of my friends have noticed, but for the ones who have not or the ones I don’t want to talk about it with; putting on a fake smile is harder than it sounds.

I am constantly receiving unsolicited advice from people I am not totally close with, about my personal life problems that they do not fully understand. Finding a space of my own can sometimes be really hard, especially when this is supposed to be my home away from home.

I, unlike most of the girls in my chapter, live out of state and going home requires a plane ticket and a ride to the airport. Unfortunately for me, this means that all of my relationships from back home, are strictly kept up by technology.

One relationship in particular has really been taking a tole from that lately and I have decided to take a step back and look at it from a different perspective. After reading this article I have realized that this is in fact the right move for me in this moment, even if it is the hardest pill I have ever had to swallow.

This video gives a real life journey of what really sucks about long distance relationships and how often people don’t think of the big negative side effects they can have on you mentally and physically.

I love all the women in my chapter inside and out, but sometimes I just need my space and need to have those hard conversation by myself. So while it is extremely nice to have a huge support system at my disposal, it is also nice to have alone time every once in a while.

#WR 303 #relationships #sorority #long distance

What Being a “Leading Women” Means to me.

Every organization has a motto and mission statement that they strive to meet day in and day out. As a new member, it is important to learn this mission statement and really learn what it means to be a new member and what it is going to take to uphold that status.

“Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Kappa Alpha Theta exists to nurture each member throughout her college and alumna experience and to offer a lifelong opportunity for social, intellectual, and moral growth as she meets the higher and broader demands of mature life.”

That is the mission statement for my organization. To simplify - We strive to offer social, intellectual, and moral growth while a member of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Our motto is “Leading Women” and one of the main reasons why I joined my chapter.

I have always seen myself as someone who is a natural born leader. Being a part of an organization that promotes leadership and wants every one to strive to their greatest potential is truly amazing. We are constantly surrounded by people that are only going to lift us higher and want us to go far in life.

Being a part of a sorority is so much more than the movies may tell you and the stereotypes you believe. The 140 women who stand by my side everyday and push me to be my best self will get me so much farther than any party could ever set me back.

#kappa alpha theta #leading women #WR 303 #sorority

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Something to Celebrate

This year my chapter is celebrating its 100 year anniversary since being established on my campus. While this may sound like something small, it is actually a huge accomplishment.

Every year, since 1917 our members have worked hard to keep our grades up, participate in philanthropies, and overall keep up our reputation around campus.

After many struggles throughout the years to keep the Greek Life system alive on campus, we have survived and triumphed through to finally get here. Celebrating 100 years of sisterhood, friendship, and loyalty to our amazing fraternity.

Generations of Theta’s will be coming together to look back, or forward, on their time spent as an active member, and the memories that continued as an alumnae.

This will be a time for our newly initiated members to look around the room and see some of the most inspirational women and know that they can too one day become the mayor of Oregon, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

This will also be a time for our older generation alumnae to recount the stories of way back when, and remember “the good old days” and share their favorite memories from the best four years of their lives.

Making it to 100 years on any campus is an unbelievable achievement that we as a greek community should celebrate for everyone who is involved.

If you are, or know anyone who is a Beta Epsilon alumnae of the Kappa Alpha Theta chapter at Oregon State, they can register for the event here !

#kappa alpha theta #beta epsilon #centennial #oregon state #WR 303