Kaley Hoffman, junior Kaley is currently studying in Aix-en-Provence, France for the semester at Aix-Marseille University with French students. “My university is now the biggest in all of France. It is a very big change from Ohio Wesleyan University. There are over 20,000 students. I am in a small French grammar and phonetics class consisting of 12 students who are from all around the world including Korea, China, and Columbia. I absolutely love it here. I am living with a host family and another girl from California named Kimberly and I spend most of my weekends traveling. Why not? By the end of the semester, I will have been to 8 countries including: Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and France. France has completely stolen my heart, not only because of all the cheese and bread I have been eating, but the love I have felt from complete strangers welcoming me into their homes and their lives. Studying abroad was the best decision I ever made. I miss all of my sisters and I am thinking of them constantly.” Lizzy Wynne, junior Lizzy is in Tanzania studying East African Cultures; African Medical Systems; Women, Development, and the Environment; and has an internship at the Tanzania Youth Alliance, an organization dedicated to educating youth about important social issues (such as HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence) and how to become successful in employability and entrepreneurship. “A funny story from our first few weeks in Tanzania while we were camping in Tarangire National Park: We were legitimately camping within the park which is open to all of the wildlife living there - lions, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and everything in between. All 8 of us OWU students were sitting at a table under a small, lit pavilion late at night talking. We were just lounging at the table, when all of a sudden we hear a very loud grunting come from what sounded like very close to where we were sitting. Within a second we were all on our feet - chairs flew in all directions, water bottles flew from the table, we were all screaming as we sprinted towards the tents. After all of us piled into one tent, I realized that I forgot my camera on the table. I made Addy come walk back to the table with me to retrieve it. So we grabbed my camera and began to speed walk/anxiously jog back to the tents when a ranger pops out of nowhere, a big gun strapped over his shoulder. He asked us what was wrong (we were pretty loud in our scramble to the tents), and we apologized for the commotion, saying we heard a loud animal noise that frightened us. He chuckled and had us follow him over to the pavilion. He pointed his flashlight to the area where the noise came from - lo and behold; it was a group of impalas cuddled up (for those who don't know, impalas are small, deer-like animals). We felt pretty silly as he laughed at us and told us that we will be okay. When in Tanzania, sleep where the lions are, right?” By Saige Bell, senior I'm always asked why I waited so long to go Greek, or why I even went through recruitment at all. Most people go through recruitment their freshman or sophomore year, but rarely do they go through formal recruitment during their junior year. If I'm being really honest, it's mostly an accident that I didn’t go through recruitment earlier; freshman year, I forgot to sign up, sophomore year I signed up too late, and then I was abroad first semester junior year so I had to wait until formal recruitment in the spring. But I'm so thankful that I kept messing up, because it let me to Theta. I'm not the same person I was freshman year, or even sophomore year. I’ve changed in so many ways both big and small, and I think that if I went Greek earlier in my college career I would have had an entirely different experience, maybe even ended up in a different sorority. Of course, all the sororities are great and are filled with wonderful girls, but Theta is that and so much more for me. During recruitment, the Theta house constantly reminded me of one ideal that I still think holds true: we are sisters for life. It couldn’t be truer. My sisters are so cool, funny, super supportive and do so many incredible things all the time. My sisters make me want to be the best version of myself, for me and for Theta. We, as Theta sisters, expect the best from ourselves and from each other in every way. We focus on being strong leaders and members of the community, have high academic goals and make so many efforts to help those around us through philanthropy. I'm constantly amazed by everything we represent and try to do. I know that no matter where I end up in life, I will always be able to look to them for help, support, or inspiration. Above all, Theta represents a network of incredible women that I am proud to call my sisters. By Laurie McGregor Connor, '77 It’s hard to believe that I’ve been a Theta for 40 years. I pledged Gamma deuteron in October of 1973, worked hard to make my grades, and initiated January 10, 1974. It was a very special event for me and many of my hometown Findlay friends surprised me which contributed to the joy. Reading all of the notes was meaningful and I took the ceremony seriously. I can honestly say that I learned most of my leadership skills from my experiences with Theta. I was pledge class president and leaped right into Panhellenic Representative. I eventually served as treasurer and president of Panhellenic. I didn’t really know much about the job, but my sisters thought I could do it and supported my efforts. They believed in me and that has been a constant throughout any endeavor I have undertaken. I’ve had a lot of different positions in Theta, locally and internationally. Each time I’ve been asked to assist, I said “yes.” And I have cherished each experience. I always meet women I want to be like when I’m working with Theta volunteers. Each woman has a special talent or characteristic that I admire. There is always something new to learn. Tonight is the Columbus Alumnae Chapter’s annual potluck which I always look forward to. I know I’ll see long-time friends and meet new gals. It is so true-Theta is for a lifetime and I am grateful for the journey! |
OWU ThetaEach week meet a different sister or advisor on our blog! Archives
April 2015
Categories |