Calling All New Sorority Alumnae!

As a recently-inducted alumna of my sorority, there are times when you are going to want to jump in and be a part of the chapter again – especially if you are nearby and had a lot of input in it before!  Here are some general tips on how to transition into your new role as an alumna of your sorority.

Be the Chapter’s #1 Fan!

You are the supportive backbone and offer moderate advice when asked.  Now that you are an alumna, you only have national dues to pay each year, which means a lot more $$ for donations for recruitment, decorations, food & supplies for sisterhood retreats, the Convention pot, and much more for your home chapter!  Think about the philanthropic ideas everyone wanted to accomplish and what monetary needs the chapter had when you were there and take advantage of the opportunity by helping your fellow sisters!  If you don’t have the funds, come up with a few ideas yourself and mention to the current chapter Fundraising Coordinator, Philanthropy Chair, or come out for a scheduled fundraiser for encouragement. 

Time:

One of the top priorities you now have is giving your time to the chapter.  This also means having to understand where your boundaries lie.  Whether or not it was your choice to become an alumna of your sorority, you no longer have that power of “what to do” in the chapter.  This is a very touchy subject to most recently-inducted alumnae.  Take my side for example..  This is my first semester being an alumna and having so much input holding the position of Chapter President before I transferred schools definitely makes me take a step back and evaluate myself.  Just because I was the president for a year does not mean it is my place to give a freely expressed opinion.  I left my home chapter knowing everyone still had things to learn, accomplish, and improve on, but I have FAITH in my sisters.  I know no one is out to “destroy” any tradition or lead the chapter into shambles.  If someone needs help with a situation, I might give my input on “what I would do” with the facts given to me, but also add in “what is best for the chapter or sister, etc.?” because I have not been at close distance to know what’s appropriate or not. 

Take the Initiative:

Just because you are no longer on the chapter roster doesn’t mean your sisters don’t think about you!  You remember how busy each semester calendar is, along with everyone’s school, work and daily life.  If you haven’t heard from a certain sister in a while, she hasn’t cast you out- she is probably just running around like a chicken with her head cut off!  J  Don’t stop contact with your sisters.  A simple text or tweet will let them know you also have not fallen off the radar and still think about them, too! 

Little Things To Show You Care:

Look for an upcoming holiday or find out the next social event your home chapter is putting on and make little goodie bags focused around that theme.  Add some candy or bake a little treat (rice krispies are the best, quick and easy to make; you can create a fun and funky color with food dye matched around the theme, too!) and put a cute and short sisterhood quote or personalize it by telling each sister why you love her and/or are thankful for her in your life! 

Alpha Sigma Tau - Epsilon Gamma Chapter - Fall 2009 Bid Day

 

Find CL Executive Director – Shelly Marie    , CL Intern Emily R., and ME! (Hint: search front row).

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles(TM).  She is a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and misses her busy life at Epsilon Gamma Chapter, but is excited to see her sisters at Alum Day at the end of the month! J

 

Kaitlyn Loves February!

1.  Name: Kaitlyn

2.  Be honest, did you watch the Superbowl? Of course I did!  I still wish   (and always will) that the Steelers were there this year, but it was still entertaining

3.  Romantic comedy or love story? I like the rom com, but a good love story is quite enjoyable as well!

4.  Favorite ‘love’ movie(s): The Holiday, Beauty and the Beast, Grease and 10 Things I Hate About You

5.  Love getting or giving Valentine’s cards? Both! I miss the days of elementary school where you would make the little “Valentine box” and everyone in your class would get cards from everyone else!

6.  My Valentine’s cards have to have the following cartoon characters? Twilight valentines haha Emmett please!

7.  Chocolate or flowers? Anything dark chocolate mmm… or chocolate mixed with peanut butter, but flowers are lovely too.  I am so indecisive!

8.  Favorite flower: Of course the yellow rose and also tiger lilies!

9.  A great Valentine date would be: A trip to ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’… wait, that’s just me? Oh…well then, something creative.  Not your typical dinner date.  The restaurants are so crowded anyway.  I like Kayla’s suggestions!

10.  My favorite love quote: Live, laugh, love

11.  Things that ‘make my world go round and I love’: AST, my BFF, my family, chocolate, my ipod and new Mac!, books, movies, coffee and the internet!

12.  Favorite Winter Olympic sport: snowboarding and figure skating

13.  Anything else you love about February: my best friend’s birthday, one of my pledge sister’s birthday and I’m going to Florida at the end of the month!

Kaitlyn Kline is an intern with College Lifestyles.  She is an Edinboro University of PA and Alpha Sigma Tau alum.  She would probably commit a small crime for some dark chocolate!

Stephanie Is All About February

1.  Name: Stephanie

2.  Be honest, did you watch the Superbowl? Yes, I watched it. And by “watch” I mean it was on in the background while I procrastinated about my doing homework by Facebook stalking.

3.  Romantic comedy or love story? Romantic comedy–love stories just give us poor perceptions of reality. Sorry, someone’s gotta be the Negative Nancy!

4.  Favorite ‘love’ movie(s): Runaway Bride, The Notebook, My Best Friend’s Wedding

5.  Love getting or giving Valentine’s cards? Both!

6.  My Valentine’s cards have to have the following cartoon character: Spiderman!

7.  Chocolate or flowers? Flowers. I can’t eat them … or at least it would be really awkward if I did.

8.  Favorite flower: French tulips (and, of course, the wine carnation)

9.  A great Valentine date would be: tall, attractive, wealthy, have a great sense of humor and adore me (that’s the kind of date you meant, right?)

10.  My favorite love quote: “This love is difficult, but it’s real.” Thanks for that, T-Swizzle.

11.  Things that ‘make my world go round and I love’: 5-hour phone conversations, cuddling, that “new love” feeling, srat sisters, Christmastime at Starbucks, Michigan sunsets

12.  Favorite Winter Olympic sport: Bobsled!

13.  Anything else you love about February: It only has 28 days, and it’s Black History Month. Plus my school gives us a week off for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

Stephanie Hardiman is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM). She is a senior journalism major at Washington and Lee University. She is a proud sister of Pi Beta Phi and will be drawing anatomically correct hearts on her valentines.

Playing “The Game” and Other Stresses of Life

Phew! Is it really the middle of September already? I can’t believe the last month has flown by so quickly. I feel like since the second I finished up my summer internship and made the move back to Pittsburgh I have been completely running on overdrive. With my 18 hour class schedule, two jobs, AND fall sorority recruitment in full swing I have hardly had the chance to breathe, let alone sit down at a computer long enough to write out a post. My apologies to you pretty girls, I don’t mean to neglect! I’m sure you can all relate to my hectic schedule as well. This time of year always seems to stress me out, and on top of everything, I always have a tough time readjusting to being away from my family for a long period of time after spending three months at home. The worst part? With everything going on I have totally neglected the workout schedule I was so diligent about in my summer months. I know that my lack of exercise is just adding to my stress, because working up a good sweat and getting those endorphins going is always the one thing that helps me to unwind. What about you? What’s the one thing you do to de-stress during these busy months?

Well, enough about my busy life. As promised this new blog series is all about the fabulous yet often awkward part of my life. I suggested in my intro blog that my new posts are going to be a little Carrie Bradshaw, a little Bridgette Jones, and a whole lot of me. So, along those lines, I figure now is as good as time as any for a little post on… relationships.

Since returning to school I feel as if relationships and men in general have been the one topic my friends and I just can’t get away from. The fact that Sex and the City season 3 has been playing on my housemate’s and my OnDemand all month probably isn’t helping the situation either. However, the topic of conversation always comes back to the same starting point. What is it that college guys are looking for in a girl? And why oh why is there this constant desire to “play the game”?

You all know “the game” that I’m talking about, and just in case you don’t, check out Marisa’s post – Penetrating the Game: The Book that’s Influencing your Neighborhood College Guy. The game is frustrating and complicated, leaving smart, beautiful, kind, and funny girls everywhere completely distracted and confused over when it’s ok to text, why it’s Sunday night and you haven’t heard from him all weekend, and just who is that girl with him in his new facebook picture!?

If this sounds familiar to you don’t worry. It’s happening to all of us. When discussing this with my roommates we decided that the most frustrating part about playing “the game” is that we often feel like if all of the mind games weren’t going on we probably wouldn’t even be very interested. So why is it that when we are already overwhelmed by our daily routines we are fretting over guys that we probably aren’t even that compatible with in the first place?

Unfortunately, that question is strictly rhetorical, because if I had an answer to it I would be able to save us all a lot of time and wondering “what ifs.” Ultimately, I just want you to know that if this situation sounds familiar to you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. You’re fabulous, and that’s just all there is to it. Do your best not to get weighed down by “the game” and if you find yourself getting sucked in try to step back and really analyze the situation. With all of the mess a guy is putting you through, what do you really see in him? Does he have qualities you could really see working well with your own personality or is it just the challenge of trying to get him, and the minor rejection of not being able to that is keeping you interested?

That’s it for now beautiful girls, but I want to hear what YOU think. Why do you think we end up playing these games, and often getting hurt when we aren’t even entirely sure we really like the guy? How have you or your friends coped with “the game”? Any advice, questions, comments for other Fabulous and Awkward CL Girls out there? Leave me some love, or contact our interns for ideas/questions at intern@collegelifestyles.org

Emilyh is a junior at Duquesne University, College Lifestyles™ intern, and sister of Alpha Sigma Tau. She is a clumsy perfectionist who can’t help but laugh at the “awkward turtle” moments in her everyday life. She is extremely experienced with the in’s and out’s of playing “the game.”

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