By Kelsey Ullom
As a senior, I am beginning to reflect upon the many wonderful memories my time in Theta has given me. To draw from a bit of Ohio Wesleyan’s culture, I have tried to live up the opportunities college has given me as much as possible by adhering to the words of our notable alum, Branch Rickey: “Never surrender opportunity for security.” I have tried to never let intimidation or fear of failing keep me from taking an opportunity for growth, or a chance to get outside of my comfort zone. When I think about every new thing I’ve attempted under this mantra— SCUBA diving, rock climbing, Bollywood dance, taking a philosophy class—the image is incomplete without Theta. My sisters have constantly been by my side cheering me on, and helping me up when I fall. They are my rock of encouragement and inspiration, and that has truly made all the difference. Here are just a few of my favorite moments of my time in Theta:
I have always enjoyed traveling, and before college, my family was who I shared most of my travel experiences with. When I joined Theta, I had a whole new family to be my travel buddies! I love that my sisters are as excited about exploring the world as I am, and those who haven’t traveled with me are essential to sending me love whenever I felt homesick. Some of my strongest friendships in Theta surprisingly developed when I was out of the country via postcards and e-mails back and forth with Thetas back home, or abroad somewhere else in the world.
As a senior, I am beginning to reflect upon the many wonderful memories my time in Theta has given me. To draw from a bit of Ohio Wesleyan’s culture, I have tried to live up the opportunities college has given me as much as possible by adhering to the words of our notable alum, Branch Rickey: “Never surrender opportunity for security.” I have tried to never let intimidation or fear of failing keep me from taking an opportunity for growth, or a chance to get outside of my comfort zone. When I think about every new thing I’ve attempted under this mantra— SCUBA diving, rock climbing, Bollywood dance, taking a philosophy class—the image is incomplete without Theta. My sisters have constantly been by my side cheering me on, and helping me up when I fall. They are my rock of encouragement and inspiration, and that has truly made all the difference. Here are just a few of my favorite moments of my time in Theta:
I have always enjoyed traveling, and before college, my family was who I shared most of my travel experiences with. When I joined Theta, I had a whole new family to be my travel buddies! I love that my sisters are as excited about exploring the world as I am, and those who haven’t traveled with me are essential to sending me love whenever I felt homesick. Some of my strongest friendships in Theta surprisingly developed when I was out of the country via postcards and e-mails back and forth with Thetas back home, or abroad somewhere else in the world.
A little while after traveling to India with Thetas, an Indian student joined Gamma deuteron and became one of my closest sisters. She has shared so much about her culture with me, and I taught her a few things about American traditions as well….
My travels have also included a road trip to Indianapolis to visit Theta’s headquarters with some fellow Gamma deuterons. The weekend was full of Theta tourism— from getting a tour of the archives and taking pictures outside of Alpha chapter, to foraging all over the cemetery looking for Bettie Locke’s gravestone. I remember being surprised that a woman who was so influential in the lives of so many women all over the nation had such a small, humble gravestone. I was expecting an elaborate monument! But Bettie’s modest grave reminded me that while she was no doubt very distinguished and affluential, she was really no different than the women I know in Gamma deuteron. She was just like any other collegiate woman with a drive and ambition to challenge the status quo and never take no for an answer— to never surrender opportunity for security. She was just like me. When we visited her grave, I did not feel mournful or sad. I felt like Bettie was so very alive in that moment, and I was overwhelmed with pride and inspiring motivation to uphold her vision of nobler womanhood, and make a difference in the world like she did.
While it is bittersweet that my time as a collegian is coming to an end, I am confident that Theta will remain a guiding force in my life for years to come. It may appear in different, unexpected ways, or may include sisters that are not part of my chapter. But I welcome those changes, because I know no matter what, the pure and faithful entity I know as Theta, is truly for a lifetime.