We Live the Creed

This line of our creed is one of my favorites. Though it is fairly self-explanatory, it has an immense meaning. This line is a something that I try to hold myself to everyday because I know that to be a good Zeta lady and the kind of woman I want to be, I must always do what is right, tell the truth, and do what is good for the chapter as a whole without thinking twice about it.

Telling the truth isn’t always the easiest thing but it is always the right thing. I have been put in many situations throughout my lifetime to where I had to tell someone something that wasn’t easy to say but after telling them I felt so much better. Being in Zeta I know that no matter what I say or do my sisters will always be there for me because we share that special bond of sisterhood that can’t be broken. I have also learned from being on Programs Council this semester that as a leader of our chapter I will have to make some tough decisions but if I keep the well being of our chapter at heart and do what I know is best for the future of ZTA then those tough choices will be worth it in the end.

The right choice might not always be clear. Being good and true takes work, even for the best of people. I love being a part of this organization because together, we all strive for greatness and to be true to ourselves and those around us. We hold each other to a higher standard and help each other be the best versions of ourselves.

Marlyssa, Apparel Chairman

We Live the Creed

Being a member of Zeta Tau Alpha bears the responsibility of being an example to our fellow sisters, as well as the community at large. For me personally, being a Zeta means that you should always strive to better not only yourself, but those around you, regardless of whether or not they are Greek. Through the hectic weeks we need to remind ourselves that we, as Zetas, hold ourselves to a higher standard; to me that standard includes setting an example for those around us, taking charge when needed, and showing compassion.

Our open motto is also a great example of this particular line: "Seek the Noblest", which to me means that we should always do our best to build friendships with those whom we know will always be there for us no matter the circumstances, as well as hold each other accountable for our actions in and outside of our organization. Our organization is not just made up of individuals; when we are all together, we are representing something far greater than ourselves and this means that we must live our lives the way that our founding members intended us to: always doing what is best, not only what is easiest.

Caitlin Bellet, PC Fall ‘15

We Live the Creed

Our Zeta journeys begin at such an important time in all of our lives. These college years are the ones where we are supposed to “grow up” and figure out who we want to be in the world and having such a beautiful creed to live by has helped me so much. Knowing that your best friend since day 1 might be a world-renowned entrepreneur, your Big will get married to the man of her dreams, and the girl in your pledge class is going to study all across Europe is such an inspiring environment to be in.

This line of the creed reminds me that no matter the success, it is important to remember where you came from and how you started out. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the plans of the future while sitting at chapter meetings or late nights at Whataburger, but knowing that no matter what happens in the next 10 years the girl sitting across from you with a handful of fries is one of your best friends and an unconditional source of support. College can make you or break you and Zeta Tau Alpha is making me into someone the woman I always aspired to be.

Sophia Jackson, PC Fall '15

We Live the Creed

To me, this line from our creed means that even in the darkest of times there is always some light that can be found in the world. As we all experience our own ups and downs these words help my sisters and I to see the joy and beauty in the world around us. This line reminds us to find happiness in the small and simple things of life while we celebrate our joys together, even the small ones. From getting A’s on tests to celebrating new jobs and engagements, we all look for the beauty that life offers in our day to day lives.  

During my time in Zeta I have made everlasting friendships that will last far beyond my college years and that have truly molded who I am now. These wonderful women that I call my sisters have made my experience in Zeta more beautiful that I could ever actually express in words and I am so thankful to them for that. There is no greater beauty than the love I have for my sisters.

Alice Grey Welsh, Panhellenic Delegate

Running for Sara

Growing up I was always immersed into sports and the outdoors. My two older sisters started the trend, the middle one taking it to new heights by becoming a collegiate diver for the University of Louisville and participating in triathlons and ultra-marathons (which she placed in without much training). However, even though both my older sisters picked up a love for running starting really young, it had never been my thing. I hated running so much that in soccer I made sure I was the goalie just so I wouldn’t have to run. It wasn’t until college that I really found my love for running.

What truly got me started in running was feeling lost at the gym. I’m the girl who needs to have someone to work out with because I need to be told what to do (one of the reasons I love workout videos and personal trainers). When running I could avoid the gym altogether. I refuse to do treadmills unless forced (bad experience as a kid, my tip for you: don’t see how fast the treadmill goes and then hop on at that high speed, you will regret it) and running in circles bores me so running is only enjoyable for me if it’s outside.

I don’t really remember falling in love but, knowing me, I probably just told myself how much fun I was having while running (even though I probably hated it) and I started to believe it. Once I fell in love though I realized how perfect of a workout it was for me. I’m a very non-confrontational person when it involves sports. Example: when I play flag football I feel bad for grabbing the other person’s flag (I wish I could give them the ball and let everyone score but I don’t think my teammates would appreciate that). I just want everyone to have fun and not be frustrated and when I run I am having fun. Over time it has also turned into “me time” and a chance to get away from daily stressors.

When I started college I “run a marathon before I graduate” to my bucket list. My first three years flew by while I developed my love/hate relationship for running (loved it more than I hated it) without any marathon opportunities. Well then summer 2015 rolled around and I realized how close I was to graduating without crossing that one goal off my bucket list. I started researching marathons religiously and I stumbled upon the Disney marathon. Immediately I knew it was the one and my parents signed me up as a birthday gift.

If you’re a senior, you know how hectic your schedule can get. With 18 hours and an internship on my plate, I pushed my training to the back burner. I had set a half marathon as a checkpoint for me. On Halloween I ran the Monster Dash Half. Training hadn’t really been a thing and I ended up getting injured for my stupidity. Nothing serious but I was in a boot for the month of November. December came around which meant finals were happening, break happened, and no training was done over this period other than my regular runs for pleasure. I talked to my parents about it and after discussing it, we all believed it would be best if I didn’t run the Disney marathon.

January 1st came and we lost a friend, a sister. Out of all the people I had told about my marathon, Sara seemed the most excited for me. She kept telling me I was going to have so much fun and that she was really impressed that I was going to do it. After she died, I knew I had to run this race. I couldn’t let all the support I had received from her go to waste! Then before I knew it I was on a plane for Orlando (still without any training).

I’m a child at heart so I loved this marathon. This marathon lets all the runners run through all the parks in Disney with characters along the way to take pictures with and if you’re really fast (which I am not) you can even hop on a ride and then get back to the race. The castle was lit up as well and it was so magical and cheesy and wonderful. I had a blast running the race up until about mile 20 when my lack of training kicked in. I started hobbling and wanted to quit but I remembered Sara’s words of encouragement (they just popped into my head, it was kind of weird) and that’s what kept me going.

Running across the finish line, I felt so accomplished. I had turned something that I initially hated into an accomplishment without any training. (But by the way, train if you’re going to run a marathon. Trust me.)

After taking one item off my bucket list, I’ve added another. I hope to run a half marathon distance or more in all 50 states. I’ve checked two states off already and in April I’ll fly back home to Kansas and do another half marathon (it’s Wizard of Oz themed, how ironic). This means that my journey of running includes at least 47 more long distance runs. Although this is a big goal to accomplish, I am excited to see where it takes me and I’ll always be running for Sara.

Rachel Knapp, PC Spring '13