By: Angela Choi- PC '16
I think that it’s pretty safe that say that we all enter college extremely nervous. We wonder who we will meet, the memories that we will make, and the people that we will experience those memories with. As we go through the motions of our daily lives on the Forty Acres, it can be really easy to get caught up in it all. Then, before we know it, a whole year has flown by… or maybe even three or four. But, luckily, we have our sisters to by our side that make each moment so memorable. Here are seven things that I have learned from my sisters.
“My sisters taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin and accept where I am in life—I remember when I was really nervous about coming into a sorority. I was so intimidated by the strong women that I was surrounded by. But, when I actually got to know the girls and make those lasting connections, I was able to truly understand how blessed I was to be in a group of girls as confident to be themselves as Alpha Phi is.”
Cam Hill—PC ‘16
“Being in Alpha Phi has taught me that family isn’t defined by last name. They always support you, respect you, help you grow, and are there for you through the good times and the bad. I’m from California, so coming to UT was a huge adjustment for me. I was leaving my family for the first time, and I didn’t know anybody when I moved to Texas. When I thought I wasn’t able to go home for Thanksgiving my freshman year, they welcomed me into their homes with open arms. When I was sick, and my mom couldn’t bring me chicken noodle soup, they were at my door with a piping hot bowl. Alpha Phi has given me a family that I know will be there for me long past my time at UT.”
Shh, this one’s a secret! Rush Texas Alpha Phi and find out who this sweet sista is!
“My sisters have taught me to enjoy the time I have to spend with my family. One of the best things about APhi has been my family. Having older members of the chapter that you can always go to for advice is great and being able to pass that down to my little, grand little, and great grand little has been awesome. I’m so glad that I’ve had them with me through all of college and beyond and leaving the little ones for the real world is definitely one of the hardest things about graduating.”
Becci Brady – PC ‘13
“One thing I learned from my sisters is that you can literally make any adventure fun. One of my favorite memories from this semester was when my friend Sarah and I went to the Apple store to get my phone fixed. We had been up really late the night before and were completely delusional. We made friends with the guy who helped me fix my phone and told him crazy stories about the last time we got my phone fixed! He was so amused with us that he forgot to ask me if my phone had water damage (which it did) and just replaced it for free. So, yeah, sometimes the best memories come out of situations you don’t expect/think are going to be super boring.”
Morgan Miller – PC ’16
“Something that I’ve learned from my Alpha Phi sisters is that no matter what your interests or goals are, your sisters will find a way to support you. In terms of my own interests, I started applying to the Archer Fellowship Undergraduate Program (a semester long fellowship that lets me live, learn, and intern in Washington, D.C.) over 6 months ago. As one of the most selective Undergraduate Fellowships here at UT, the process was long and mentally straining, to say the least. But, I found so much relief and support from my sisters, who went out of their way to give me advice. Then, once I was offered a spot in the program they were the first ones to celebrate my achievement with me.”
Jane Cook – PC ‘15
“If there is one thing that I have learned from my sisters, it’s that there is no such thing as a perfect person, and it’s okay to fail. My sisters have shown me how to pick and choose what I do in order to be my happiest, most productive self. I remember how I was so upset when I got my first B in Calculus freshman year. My sisters let me sit and complain, but what they helped me realize is that I had to learn to find a balance between everything. Since, then I have strived to find balance in my life and go to my sisters whenever I need encouragement. I go to them because they can relate to the challenges that I face. Together, we remind ourselves that perfection doesn’t exist, and it’s okay to be less than perfect as long as we are happy.”
Sydney Hale – PC ‘14
“I’ve learned from my sisters how to experience life’s little moments with each other. There are so many Alpha Phis that run the Longhorn Run every year, and there are girls who stood outside and cheered the rest of us on. Some girls also ran the Austin marathon and others went downtown with posters and water to cheer on our girls (and drive their tired legs home afterwards, haha).”
Julianna Washington – PC ‘13