Live to Love & Laugh Alot: "But I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more"

Well many of you who know me know that being Greek has truly been a life changing experience for me. Growing up my father was very involved with his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, and I have fond memories of attending conventions and visiting the old chapter house at Virginia Tech when we would go up for football games and Beta reunions. Personally I had decided going into college that being in a sorority just did not seem like anything I would ever be interested in doing, I had bought in to the "Animal House" stereotype and knew that was not the kind of thing for me. Despite my resistance dad dragged me to the Panhellenic info session during orientation, even after leaving that I was still sure it was not for me. Fast forward to January and one of the few girls I knew in a sorority at the time, Katie Weaks asked if I was interested in joining Chi Omega. I still was not sure about the whole sorority thing but I knew Katie well and knew what she stood for and believed in, I figured if she could do it than maybe I could give it a try. Thus I joined Chi Omega and I would like to say that the rest is history! Clearly joining Chi Omega was one of the best decisions I ever made, I learned what Greek organizations really were and what they stood for and it took no time for me to get involved in my chapter. I loved it so much that it is now my life, working for Chi Omega, working in the Greek Life office at USC as I was in grad school, and now as I begin my first full time job post-grad in just a few days as Assistant Director of Greek Life at College of Charleston I cannot imagine my life without the experiences and friendships that being Greek has brought into my life. I am also extremely grateful to have a wonderful husband who although is not Greek, supports my passion and involvement with my career and fraternal experiences.

Aside from growing up around Beta Theta Pi, it has continued to be a huge part of my life through college and into the present. When I was a junior the VT chapter of Beta was recolonized and I had the opportunity to connect with a number of the founding fathers who to this day are some of my closest friends. I was honored my senior year when the chapter made me their sweetheart and was so happy that so many of them were able to attend my wedding and serenade me on my big day (for those of you who do not know, Beta is the singing fraternity)! Last summer I was invited to facilitate at the Wooden Institute which Beta holds each summer for members of their collegiate chapters across the country. It was an amazing experience for me and I was thrilled when the opportunity to volunteer at their Southeast Keystone Regional Conference in February and to facilitate again this summer were offered to me. Beta has meant so much to me throughout my life that is truly an honor to be able to give back to their great fraternity with my time and I truly hope that as I start my first "real job" I will also be able to start giving to them financially as well so that more Beta members can benefit from their great leadership development opportunities. As a Greek Life professional it is great to be involved interfraternally and it is equally refreshing to see that there are organizations out there that are getting it right and are providing great development opportunities to their members. Below are some pictures from Session 1 of the Wooden Institute and the men from my Chapter 5 small group that I worked with last week. It was truly a wonderful experience and I hope to continue to stay involved with Beta in the future. It also remotivated me after my summer of boredom to start work this week!

Chapter 5 on the last day @ the Alpha House