New Member Spotlight: Erin and Rachel Shockey

Note from the interviewer:

This week we will be focusing on our new members. When I first thought of who to interview for this series I immediately thought of these two. Being on the other side of recruitment I got to see them throughout their entire process and watch their reactions on bid day. I have seen these two flourish in their own unique ways that really show off their amazing personalities. I really enjoyed my interview with them and encourage you to get to know them just like I did.

First off, where are you from?

Madison. Bob Jones

Why did you choose UNA?

E: We both played volleyball in high school and I was choosing colleges based on volleyball scholarships and this was the only place I was considering not playing at and I chose here because I prayed about it and I was at peace here.

R: We went to a big high school, and while it was awesome I chose a smaller college because it felt homey and like I would have a voice here and I would not be just a number; a place where I could get to know my professors and small class sizes.

Why did you go through recruitment?

E: Well it’s funny because I wasn’t going to do recruitment but Rachel was. Since I wasn’t going to do volleyball at UNA I was wondering what I would do with my time. My high school volleyball coach really encouraged me to go through recruitment. She actually went to UNA and was in a sorority here and told me about how if I didn’t like it by the end of the week I didn’t have to take my bid but I would meet a lot of people throughout the process. I really respect her and her opinion so I decided to go through. I think she knew that I would have taken my bid at the end of the week no matter what.

R: In high school we had 2 best friends who are our support system besides our parents because they are so strong in their faith and when they went off to two different schools I decided to go through recruitment so I could have strong friendships like that here. It’s been great. I’ve already been making amazing friends and I love it!

What was your idea of a sisterhood before recruitment and how is it compared to now?

E: Beforehand I thought that with that many girls in one place there would be drama or whatever. I didn’t know how deep it actually is. I had no idea what sororities were about. It’s about having each other’s backs and loving each other. After step show it was crazy to me how much of a bond we already have. You are all joined together by something bigger than yourself.

R: I kind of went into recruitment blind. Even though our dad was in a fraternity no woman in our family was Greek. I mean fraternities and sororities are different so I had no idea what I was wanting to enter into. I just thought sororities were a bunch of girls that hung out and went places together. Sisterhood and values night was a real eye opener to me. Now I realize it’s a lot deeper than I thought it would be. It’s who you are as a person and pushes you to be the best person you can be.

Define sisterhood.

R: Wow, that really hard. It’s just knowing that no matter what people will do anything and everything for you. They are your support system and encourage you to be the best person you can be.

E: I mean Rachel and I have our own sisterhood, but it’s not the same. While I always have her best interest at heart it’s someone who would drop everything for you. Someone who would stand out in the rain and miss a college football game while you have a flat tire. If I had to define sisterhood it would be going through life with people no matter your background and loving them regardless of how different they are from you.

What was your first thought when you opened your bid?

E: I honestly thought that I was going to go somewhere else so when I opened my bid I was in shock. Rachel’s Gamma Chi group and mine were right beside each other and I instantly thought of her and looked at her. I saw her jumping and smiling and I was a mixture of emotions. I was upset that I wasn’t going where I thought I was going to and confused that something like this had happened.

R: My first thought was “Oh my gosh this is great!” My second thought was Erin and when I looked up I saw she wasn’t okay. I never even thought about us being in different sororities because we have been together our whole lives. I thought this had to be a mistake. It was a mixture of happiness and sadness.

What did you think when you two got two different homes?

E: I thought the world was crumpling around me. I thought it was the worst thing that could happen. We told each other we would be in the same sorority before recruitment so when we didn’t end up in the same place I felt so alone.

R: I almost felt bad for being happy for going where I wanted to be. I didn’t prepare myself for that because I didn’t think it could be a possibility. I was so stunned and also felt so alone.

What are the pros and cons to being in different sororities?

E: On bid day I was crying on the way to the events and I had 3 different girls that all sat with me and talked to me about everything and how it wasn’t a mistake I was there because they wanted me so badly. Every girl was so concerned when they didn’t even know me. It’s best feeling to be wanted. Rachel and I are so different and we are seeing our differences so much more now. The best thing is I’m seen as an individual. Our whole life we have been mixed up since we are identical twins, but when I walk onto the floor they know who I am. Now because we are in different sororities I get to know twice as many people and I really feel like we are bridging both chapters in a way.

R: You are loved who you are not who y’all are. You aren’t loved for being “the twins”. Erin is much more of the outgoing one and I felt like my confidence came from her, but being in different sororities it helps me be confident in my individual self. It’s really helped me as a person.

E: One of the cons is I can’t wear her t-shirts. I mean what college girl doesn’t love t-shirts?

R: One of the cons for me is that some times I will be missing her throughout the day when she is busy doing her own sorority thing. We have a blood bond, which makes it worse X1000.

Your Freshman Year at UNA as Told by Kimmy Schmidt

Your freshman year of college is incredible. Some might even call it your best. Whether you leapt across state lines for the chance to start over and prove your independence, or decided to treat college like a hipster treats beer, (locally crafted with just a touch of loving nostalgia) and receive a higher education right in your back yard, it’s the year that you and your life start the transition from clueless (this is the part where you’re thinking “Me? Clueless? As if!”) high school student into your “post-adolescent idealistic phase.” As dramatic as that sounds, it’s absolutely true. Don’t worry though, because you’re far from alone; throughout the good and the bad you’ll always have one friend who you can relate, Kimmy Schmidt who is "Unbreakable".

Your freshman year is so exciting simply due to the amount of freedom you now have. You make the decisions on everything from where you go to school right down to when you want to take a nap. Amidst all those choices, one of the biggest ones you’ll have to make is where you’re going to live and who you’re going to live with. More often than not, the place you’ll be living is a dorm reserved strictly for freshmen and the person you’ll be living with is a stranger.

Just like Kimmy didn’t know her bunk-sters (Get it? Like bunk-mates and sisters? No? Oh, okay. I’ll stop trying to make jokes now) you won’t know everyone on your floor or in your building. This can seem a little overwhelming at first, but pretty soon after you move in and the semester starts terms like “that building” and “those strangers” evolve into “home” and “family.” You find yourself becoming close with your RA, people who live above and below you, even people you never expected to be friends with. Being in such close proximity and sharing similar experiences are the two biggest factors that contribute to creating a bond with your fellow residents that will go on even after you’ve been freed from the bunker.

Jacqueline Voorhes = Every Upperclassman Ever

One of the most intimidating things about college is looking at the older students and coming to the realization that the stressed out senior you see every time you got to Collier will one day be you. You’re pretty sure they live there and don’t actually have an apartment. How else would they be able to spend SO much time there?! College is where you start to narrow down what you want to do for the rest of your life. The process of what is ultimately choosing a career that matches your passions and interests is grueling, but all the sophomores/juniors/seniors make it look sooo easy. They have everything planned out, right? WRONG. When you first meet an upperclassman, the impression they give you will be reminiscent of when Kimmy first met Jackie. They’ll have it all and more, but once you start to take a closer look you notice that they actually aren’t as perfect and put together as they seem. 

I’m a junior and, like most of my peers, I’m still not entirely sure of what I want to do when I graduate. So when the moment comes that you’re stressed about switching majors or trying to plan your future and you feel the urge to just drop out and be a hippie that sells fortunes for the rest of your days, remember to take a moment and breathe. You are definitely not alone in that feeling. To quote High School Musical, “We’re all in this together.” Find someone who’s a little older to talk to and swap perspectives with. The cool thing about college is that there is always an opportunity to learn something from someone, whether it’s an 18 year old bright eyed freshman, or that one professor that everyone loves. Just like Jackie needs Kimmy sometimes, the veterans of the college need you, the freshman, to help us out too. So go on you new freshman with your bright eyes and new ideas. It's your year. Make it how you want. 

Written by Nicole Morris; Edited by UNA Panhellenic

They're All the Same {MythBusters}

​I am certain that if you heard Lily Pulitzer, chubbies, Yeti coolers, XL t-shirts, “norts”, and monogramming all in one sentence your first assumption would be that we are speaking of Greeks. Well these are just a few of the stereotypical fads that are paired with members of a Greek organization. A common myth you’ve probably heard about Greeks is that “They are all the same”. I am here to prove this stereotype wrong for all of you who believe it to be accurate. I myself am Greek and if you would have known me before college you would have never guessed I would have been the type of girl to find a home in a sorority. I actually recall telling my friends in high school that I was going Greek and they all genuinely thought I was joking. That could be because in high school you would have seen me walking the halls in a pair of converse and a t-shirt with a punk band on it (yes I went through that awkward punk stage). Anyways I had never heard of Lily Pulitzer and I had never owned anything with my initials monogrammed into it…well unless you count my purple L.L. Bean backpack that I used to carry down the halls of my junior high school (but I mean who didn’t have one of those). I played soccer and basketball and never cheered a day in my life. I guess you could say I was a tomboy. Scratch that…I was definitely a tomboy. Basically what I am getting at is that I wasn’t the type of girl that you may think would belong to a sorority in college because I obviously didn’t fit the “standards”, right? Wrong!

(My standard was I didn't fit the "standard")

​To my surprise, and my friends' surprise, I very skeptically decided I was going to go through recruitment. I told myself that if I didn’t fit in I would just find something else to be a part of on campus. The more I heard about sorority life from a couple rumors and the more I saw from the movies (The House Bunny) the more I started convincing myself that I wasn’t going to fit in and that terrified me. However, upon my skepticism I took a risk that I will never regret.  

​Today I have been a member of my sorority for 3 years and I can honestly say that I haven’t had to change anything about myself to “fit in”. I wear my same old converse, rips and all, almost every day. I can see how Greeks may be perceived as being very similar to one another. Yes! Most of us in a sorority might wear big t-shirts and running shorts…but I mean WOW if you tried this outfit just once you’d probably never want to wear anything different because of the comfort. However, behind the outfits and brands we are all so very different. In fact, diversity is a word that you will hear often within the Greek community and for good reason. Each brother and sister that makes up Greek life comes from a different background and lifestyle. What you rarely see as an outsider is how we come together as an organization to learn from one another’s differences and grow individually from them. Honestly one of the greatest things I have learned from being Greek is that "being you" is a beautiful quality to possess and my sisters accept me for the person I am. It is heartwarming to see girls feel so comfortable and encouraged around each other to not be afraid to be who they are.

     I think this is one of those myths that can only be proven wrong from the inside and that is why I sit here typing this as a genuine inside source of the Greek community to tell you that the men and women that make up Greek life are all very unique in their own way. That unique quality lies within every brother and sister of the Greek community whether it be behind the large t-shirt and “norts”, or in my case, the flannels and converse, and I encourage everyone that believes this myth to be true to take some time to truthfully get to know a brother or sister of a Greek community. I promise this myth will be busted.

      Written by Paige Droulliard; Edited by UNA Panhellenic 

Greeks Don't Care About School {MythBusters}

One of my favorite myths about Greek life I hear is that we don’t worry about school. I’m assuming this myth suggests that our energies are focused on other frivolous activities such as partying, drinking…you know… the stuff you see on TFM/TSM. Why waste our time with classes and studying when we can party and pay to be in the most elite groups on campus and network to find our dream jobs? HA

            For everyone who understands the real Greek system, the importance of scholarship is taken incredibly seriously. Though Greek life may aid in providing students with the opportunities and skills for networking to help in their future career, each and every fraternity and sorority expresses the ideals of scholastic pursuit and achievement in their creeds, mottos, and membership obligations. Greek life supports students to get involved on campus and to maintain high GPA’s while also balancing community involvement and service. Greek life, in fact, implements systems specifically designed to help each student work diligently and manage time to instill the skills needed after college in the workplace. All fraternity men and sorority women push each other because they both must meet a specific grade point average each semester in order to be in good standing in membership to attend social events. With these multiple checks and balances, Greek life is centered on scholarship and academic success. 

            In addition to the school requirements for social and membership activities, Greek life delivers emotional support from a family of students who strive for success in scholarship and careers just like you. Because all Greeks feel the same pressure to work hard and maintain high GPA’s, each group empathizes with the difficulties and struggles and bonds together to help one another thrive. In fact, in my personal experiences, I have witnessed my sisters and Greek community encourage me in my academic goals and discourage the peer pressures to cave in and waste time. Since joining Greek life, I have seen my GPA soar and have been inducted into several honor societies and received many academic achievement awards, all because I have a huge support system feeding my fire to push harder in my studies.

Greek life is an organization with one of the worst reputations, yet it holds the highest ideals and esteem of any other group I have been apart of. My scholastic success is to blame because of Greek life, and the opportunities I have experienced because of my hard work are unbelievable. I, just like many others, am pursuing my career path and working in a field of study that I love without yet owning my college degree. Greek life is so valuable and is life changing, and I could not be more grateful for my decision to go Greek. My only regret is that I stumbled through my first year without giving Greek life a chance. Sign up for recruitment today!

Written by Abbie Holbert; Edited by UNA Panhellenic

All Greeks Do is Party {MythBusters}

One of the most common myths associated with Greek life is that all they do party. So often, people look past what all Greek life actually does and offers for those involved. On a college campus, joining a sorority offers unparalleled opportunities for members to engage in all kinds of activities, including themed parties, theatrical productions, fundraisers, Homecoming Week, and so much more. Many students who decide to go Greek have a stronger presence on campus, participate in more leadership opportunities, and build a deeper commitment to public service than their classmates.

All partying and no intelligence is a common stereotype associated with Greek life. One thing to keep in mind is how sororities focus on academic success. Functions like mixers, date parties, and formals are not parties that are required or forced upon members, but are awarded to those who demonstrate good academic standing. All sororities have a GPA requirement, and plenty of opportunities to help each member achieve this goal. The Greek community offers study groups and tutoring times as a whole, as well as each individual chapter hosts study hours to assist members in their academic achievement. In fact, sorority members generally have higher grades and better retention rates.

85% of Fortune 500 executives were part of Greek life. The first female astronaut was Greek, so was the first female senator, and college graduation rates are 20% higher among Greeks than non-Greeks. WOW!! Some of the most intelligent and successful people are Greek. Not to mention there is a higher percentage of Greek than non Greek residing in our Student Government Association today!

Being involved in a sorority for 3 years now I have seen just how much Greek functions can benefit the campus and community. I realize from an outsider looking in it seems as if these parties are only hosted for entertainment and fun, but they offer so much more. A lot parties hosted by Greek life are to benefit a philanthropy.  According to the most recent 2013-2014 National Panhellenic Council annual report, sorority women from across the nation raised over $5.7 million for philanthropies and reported nearly 1 million hours of community service in the last academic year alone.

The year I was social chair I got the opportunity to plan and coordinate all events that were hosted by my sorority. This job taught me hard work, organization skills, and most importantly safety precautions. The common misconception is that Greeks not only party, but these parties are destructive and dangerous environments. On the contrary, social events hosted by greek life have been found to be safer than parties off campus. The University is very involved with these functions to ensure the safest environment possible for those in attendance. There is a ton of behind the scenes work that goes into these parties such as, presenting an agenda to the university, allocating a team of risk management within the sorority, and hiring university police to safeguard the party. 

I love being Greek!! Personally, my favorite part of Greek life is the people I've met through it and through the functions and parties Greek life hosts. I never would have met or talked to so many girls in my chapter had I not joined or been involved in my sorority. I've grown so much as a person already through this amazing opportunity and I wouldn't change my decision for the world. 

Going Greek is not just good is GREAT! When you get down to the bottom of it, being Greek is something amazing and everyone should be able to say they are proud of their letters. I try to encourage everyone I know to try out Greek life, go Greek!

Written by Guest Writer, Whitney Rivers; Edited by UNA Panhellenic 

Sorority Is...A Legacy

Leaving a place better than you found it is the opportunity of a lifetime, and being in a sorority has given me that amazing opportunity.

Like many others, I was hesitant about joining a sorority. I signed up for formal recruitment unsure of  what I was getting myself into. But, I soon came to find out that going through formal recruitment would be one of the best learning experiences I had ever had. I got to meet a diverse group of women in every chapter. I was able to learn what values they live by. They told me how much they loved their sisterhood, what their organization's national philanthropy was, and how much they loved being involved. It was breathtaking, because I would soon start my legacy in one of these wonderful chapters. Each one supported a great philanthropy and each one had a sisterhood that was complex and incredible. Finally, when it was time to run to my new home on bid day, I was scared. It was overwhelming that I would soon be meeting the women who would become my best friends.

My sorority has opened so many doors for me; it has given me opportunities I never thought I would have. As a freshman and a new member, I looked up to the women who were officers in the chapter and hoped to one day follow in their footsteps. Now, as a junior, being an officer has made a difference not only in my life, but also in the lives of 90 other women. I've had a myriad of opportunities to go to conventions and conferences to better myself as an officer, as a leader, and as a woman. I found that by being involved in my chapter I have already gotten so much out of it. Someone once told me, "you get out of it what you put into it." I carry that advice with me no matter what I am doing. To get the most out of your college experience, it's important to try and make a difference. 

People ask, "Why join a sorority?" I say, because these women are my shoulder to cry on. These women are my support system when things go wrong. These women are my future bridesmaids. They're my 3 A.M. laughs, and they're my best friends. These women are my source of truth. My sisters are the people I go to when anything of consequence happens in my life. My sisters are the people I'm making memories with - memories that will last a lifetime, and that is where my legacy begins.

Post Written by Guest Blogger, Samantha Kolesar; Edited by UNA Panhellenic

Sorority Is...Accountability

On September 1st, 2014 my life changed for the better.

That was my Bid Day and that was when I gained 115 friends, sisters, and allies that would become my rock during the rough sea that we call “college." Going into recruitment, I knew that the sorority women called each other “sisters,” and I will admit that I was skeptical. I remember thinking, "Surely these women cannot all be best friends!" But, now I know just how wrong I was. I ran into the arms of my best friends and yes, my sisters.

I quickly became aware of the tight bond that my chapter has, and I, the friendly neighborhood introvert, was blessed enough to be able to tap into it. As a part of the new member program, the first wave of accountability came into light: study hours. At first I will admit I was annoyed. I am an honors student that cherishes her grades a little too much. So, why did I have to document that yes, I do study? The answer is simple: accountability. Now, I love that I have people watching out for me in this aspect of college life.

I also gained sisters in Christ.

I am religious. I love Jesus with all of my heart, soul, and might. It means everything to me that I can go to church services and always have someone that wants to go with me. I have women that will pray for me. I have sisters that know my battles as a woman and they fight those battles alongside me. That, to me, is huge. It is refreshing to have the kind of spiritual accountability that only my sisters can give me.

While joining a sorority was one of the scariest plunges that I have ever taken, I am forever thankful for these friendships, forged in love and accountability, forever.

Post Written by Guest Blogger, Hannah Schrieber; Edited by UNA Panhellenic