Union Hand in Hand with Texas Alpha Phi

By: Angela Choi PC '16

When I first came to campus last fall, I was so worried about fitting in and making friends. College was a whole new playing ground, and it was one that I wasn’t sure that I was going to survive in. I felt sort of lost and scared, and a part of me felt like I was missing something. After becoming a member of the Omega chapter of Alpha Phi at The University of Texas, I realized what I had been missing all along… A group of girls that I could call not only my friends, but also my sisters. I found exactly where I was meant to be. And, well, that was home.

Many people don’t usually say this, but Mondays are definitely my favorite days. Why you ask? Well, the answer is easy. It’s because The Bachelor, a new, fresh start to the week, and chapter meetings… which means great food and time spent with even better girls. I remember my first chapter meeting and how nervous I was making the walk from my dorm to the house. Worrisome thoughts began to creep into my mind as I got closer and closer to the house. I had known a couple girls in Alpha Phi, but there were definitely more girls than just the few that I was friends with. But, once I walked in, all those thoughts disappeared, and I felt at ease.

Greek life often gets a bad rep for things that are portrayed in movies or preconceived notions that other people have. But, I can honestly say that it’s far from the truth. The first moment that I had walked through the double doors of the Alpha Phi house, I knew that it felt right. There were girls walking around laughing with each other or sitting on the couches hard at work, with their faces burrowed into their textbook. All around me, I saw so many girls that were so well-rounded and wholesome, but all in different ways. I’ve learned that you don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to have everything in your life figured out. And, through Alpha Phi, I have met so many girls that I can grow together with. The girls are so humble, yet confident, in exactly who they are. They each inspire me in more ways than one.

Though simple words could never be enough to truly encompass my gratitude, there are a few things I’d like to thank Alpha Phi for…

Thank you Texas Alpha Phi for showing me sisterhood—Alpha Phi has given me friends to have sleepovers with in our cramped freshman year dorm room. Because, honestly, no matter if we were to be in a box or in the biggest bed in the world, we will always have a good time. The friendships that I have made truly are genuine and real. These girls are, hands down, the best friends that I could ever ask for.

Thank you Texas Alpha Phi for making me into the best version of myself—Being an Alpha Phi at Texas gives me so many amazing girls to look up to. Girls with all different majors, girls from other states, girls with different views, and the list could go on. But, no matter where I am, or who I am with, I know that I can always find myself growing, and learning, from all the unique girls that surround me.

Thank you Texas Alpha Phi for giving me a huge support system— I know that whatever I do, I will have girls being my biggest supporters and standing beside me along whatever journey I find myself on. It could be three a.m. or two in the afternoon, and I would still be able to call my friends and vent as I find myself a little lost.

Alpha Phi has become my sweet home away from home and has given me girls that will not just be in my life for four years, but instead they will be with me for life. So, thank you Texas Alpha Phi, for giving a simple girl like me the opportunity to wear our letters with such pride and joy. I made the best decision ever, and I joined the Ivy League.

Big Little Reveal

By: Torey Barnes

As ironic as it may sound, I met my family Freshman year. My whole life people had told me that college was the time to say goodbye to family and feel the homesickness set in, hopefully meet some new friends and yada yada yada… In my opinion, those people had never experienced Big/Little reveal because I am sure that if they had shared a similar experience to my own, they would have to understand that meeting “new friends” does not even come close to the overwhelming love and friendship that my Alpha Phi family brought to me.

I had originally thought that the day I received my bid from Alpha Phi would be the happiest moment of my life as a member. In my then small-minded perspective, that was it. It had set the bar. That is until the big/little reveal, when my entire outlook of what I considered my “happiest moment” was forever changed.

On the actual day, after days of much awaited anticipation, I arrived at the Alpha Phi house where I anxiously awaited with my sisters. We got the OK and sprinted to the decorated boxes in front of the house where my big sprung out like a Jack-in-the-box. Needless to say, this surprise easily exceeded a little clown in a tin box. Not only did I feel my excitement, but I could see the excitement of all of my sisters around me as they found and expanded their own families. I smiled harder than I think I ever had in my entire life, and not just because we snapped about 1000 pictures together.

Today, almost 2 years later, my big still means everything to me, and she was everything I expected and more. Having my best friend as my twin made it even better. Suddenly, I had a family to laugh, cry, and laugh some more with, to group text “movie night tonight??” and “who wants Chik-fil-a?” all-the-while wondering how I ever didn’t know them. As more and more memories were made, I soon came to realize that there would never truly be one “happiest moment”. My entire existence as an Alpha Phi would be an ongoing collection of the happiest moments, the majority made possible because of my amazing family and the memories we shared together.

Seven Things That My Sisters Have Taught Me

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