We Live the Creed

For me, the line of our creed speaks about walking a mile in each other’s shoes. To understand means to listen to each other and genuinely try to see other people's perspectives instead of staying in your comfort zone and being open to what others feel and have to say. Being able to experience the world around you and be open to what it has to offer gives you the opportunity to be wise in the decisions you make. It also means being understanding with your sisters. If we are ignorant to the differences between people we cannot expect to gain positive experience in the world. We all come from such different backgrounds and with the right attitude we can achieve great things. Everyone has something fun and new to offer and as we explore the details of the ideals and founding of our chapter in our Zeta journey we have to be open to thinking of the world through different lenses.

Ethel Coleman van Name, Ritual

We Live the Creed

"To prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving, thereby earning the right to be served," is probably the line of the creed that has always most resonated with me. I am definitely known for being active in the community and always want the opportunity to give back. It is so rewarding and amazing to watch what you do benefit someone else.

This is also a line from the creed that I see my chapter uphold on a daily basis. Of course being in Greek Life is fun, but if anyone thinks that all we do is have date parties and formal, they have something to learn. Our philanthropy, Breast Cancer Education and Awareness, is part of the core of who we are nationally and something our sisters are incredibly passionate about. Every semester we do as much as we can for the opportunity to educate other young women and raise money for the cause.

Through it all, my favorite part of our philanthropy would definitely have to be when we get to be active in philanthropy events like ACS walks where we get to be survivor ambassadors and interact with those directly effected by breast cancer. The women I have had the honor of meeting are so strong and have overcome so much more than I could ever imagine. As women, this is something that touches us all in some way and at the end of the day we are truly working to better the world for each other. 1 in 8 women will be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime meaning that out of the 109 women in the Gamma Phi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha at UNT, statistically about 14 of my sisters will get breast cancer. A sad but serious fact but something that makes the philanthropic work we do even more important.

Even apart from our nationally philanthropy, my sisters take every advantage of the volunteer opportunities in our communities. Each semester, we complete over 1,200 hours of volunteer work aside from the time we spend raising money and awareness for breast cancer. This week is spring break and as many college students around the US are partying on beaches, a group of my sisters are volunteering as a part of the Alternative Spring Break program. They are dedicating their one week away from classes to help rebuild homes in New Orleans and I think that is miraculous. 

I don’t truly believe that anyone can earn the right to be served but I do believe that if we do as much as we can, we can hope for our future sisters and the women around us to help us in our own times of need. There are few people in my life that I have seen work as hard as my sisters and I am so proud to be a part of such a dedicated organization and support group.

Kayla Piper, Academic Achievement

Going Zeta

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I accepted my bid from ZTA. Growing up I had always loved making new friends, trying new things and seeing new places. I had only moved to North Texas a year before starting school at UNT and I hadn’t met a lot of people here yet. At my transfer orientation I made a friend that was just as lost, confused, and friendly as I was, so we stuck by each other’s sides and made it through our first experience at this new school together. We had both thought about participating in fall recruitment; she was dead set and I was still iffy and unsure if it was something that I would fit in with, but I made her promise to let me know how it goes and she did. She went Zeta and as she started introducing me to her new sisters I realized that every single girl I met was incredibly friendly and not at all what I thought of as stereotypical sorority girls. As I continued to meet members of Zeta I was convinced I had to look into it more. I had my heart set on becoming a part of that sisterhood; I had only seen a glimpse but that was all the convincing I needed.

            The first day I met my new member class was on our spring bid day. There were only three of us at the time and I don’t know anything about them. I was equal parts excited and scared to start this new journey but as soon as I walked into the house I knew I had made the right decision. Bid day was all smiles and sisterhood, which only solidified the reasons I had wanted to join in the first place. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly and it was better than I ever could have imagined. Over the next couple of weeks our three-person new member class grew to five and these other four girls have become some of my closest friends. We have laughed, cried, and gone through so much together already. We balance each other out, and support each other all the same. New membership has been a whirlwind of being lost, confused, and slightly overwhelmed but I am still having the time of my life. There isn’t one single event or moment from my semester that I can say has been more fun or exciting than the other because it is the entire process that I hold close to my heart. From big/little reveal, to sisterhood events, to initiation, and new member meetings, this experience has been life changing.

We each have our own special bond with our big sisters and our families, but the bond I found with my little new member class of 5 is something so unique and special to me and I never would have had that if I hadn’t signed my bid to join ZTA. I know these girls have my back no matter what and I will always be there for them. We were all drawn to ZTA for similar reasons and this sisterhood gave us a sense of belonging and the beginnings of some really beautiful friendships in the making. I love that I can go to the house or show up to an event by myself and still never feel alone. This experience so far, and this sisterhood, is so incredible and I hope I can share my love for my sisters and love for ZTA with future new members. Thanks to all that I’ve learned from the beautiful heart and minds of each of my new sisters in ZTA, I will soon get to be those open arms that welcome home the next group of new members to the best sisterhood there is.

Megan Bush, PC Spring ‘16

International Badge Day

Leading a life of service, leadership, honor, and commitment are values found within all sorority women- whether they are collegiate chapter members or prestigious alumnae. International Badge Day is a special day out of the year when women from all Panhellenic affiliations come together to celebrate the meaning of our letters by proudly wearing our badges. It is a day to acknowledge all of those who have come before us to establish our history and to recognize those who are still diligently serving their chapters. It is truly a day to celebrate our achievements. Each sorority may have their own distinct fraternal bond and may celebrate accordingly, but together as Panhellenic women, we celebrate the diverse interests of women.

I am so honored to wear the badge of Zeta Tau Alpha. Wearing my badge gives me such a strong sense of pride and looking at it takes me on a whirlwind of flashbacks. I remember the feelings of becoming a newly initiated member, all of the fun times I have had with my big and pledge sisters throughout my college years, and getting the great opportunity to serve on our Executive Council.

Now, as a graduating senior, I look at my badge as a door to the alum world and I know that through my badge, our values and memories will always stay with me. I especially take pride in all that our alumnae continue to do to keep the richness of our history alive. Our local Denton Alumnae chapter and all the alumnae chapters nationally continue to strive for greatness and the betterment of our fraternity. I will undeniably miss all the great times and opportunities that my collegiate years have brought me as a member of the Gamma Phi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha but I will always look forward to International Badge Day to celebrate Zeta, Panhellenic, and all that our time has done to forever strengthen the bond of sisterhood.

Lauren De La Garza, PC Spring ‘13

We Live the Creed

It is perfect that this week’s creed line matches up with National Ritual Celebration Week. Both are reminders to us of who we are and the founding principles of our chapter. As sorority women, we are bound together by each ritual throughout the year that creates the core of our values. The secrets we hold within each ritual have their own meanings, purposes, and takeaways that remind us of the ideals that drew us to this amazing chapter. 

Much like our rituals, this line of the creed reminds us to find satisfaction in our selves alone and in those principles that are the glue of Zeta Tau Alpha. As each day goes by we are met challenges but we must always return back to who we are and not let the world around us change us for the worse. We must stay strong in our conviction to be honest with our sisters and ourselves rather than trying to be something or someone we are not. Each and every sister in my chapter was chosen because they are who they are and because the members before us recognized something special in each woman. Instead of trying to change ourselves, we must look to the ideals of Zeta and strengthen who we are to make our sisterhood and ourselves stronger.

Emily Hannah, Treasurer