"No one becomes poor by giving."-Anne Frank

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Chapter: Eta Chapter (West TX A&M)
Major: Double majoring in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Advertising & Public Relations & Psychology.
KDChi Officer position: President, Executive Committee Chair, Council Delegate & Treasurer
Hometown and state: Amarillo, Texas
Why did you join KDChi? I never saw myself as a "sorority girl" because I had a negative preconceived notion of what a sorority girl was, but when I was introduced to KDChi, I looked at sororities completely different. I really wanted to be a part of something greater than myself. I was excited to become a part of something that could be very different.
Current Occupation: I am employed by the university here at West Texas A&M, where I hold a few jobs. One is the Instructional Technology Services department. I am a media assistant there and my main duties include, Media editing and conversion, equipment reservations and check-out procedures. Job number two is a Peer Leader Intern. This job basically consists of running the New Student Orientations for incoming freshman as well as all other associated freshman events. We as Peer Leaders are assigned a certain amount of incoming freshman at each of the 6 New Student Orientations in the summer and our job is to make them feel welcome, introduce them to campus, and be of guidance. Through their first year, we are required to contact them via call/text/email/facebook to inform them of important information and also to be their friend and guide them to on campus resources they may need such as tutoring, etc. We are also teaching assistants for a special class aimed to prepare the freshman for college and ease their transition. My third just job is serving as a Sound Technician at certain events in the campus banquet hall. I set up any media needed an supervise sound and run the different media needed for the event( ex: mics, powerpoints, videos, music, camera).
Most valuable KDChi lesson: If you let personal relationships leak into business or vice versa sometimes things don't get done right. Keeping them separate but still in tune makes for a wonderful organization. It takes some time to find the median, but once you do everything runs so smoothly.
Best college memory: Best memory- Freshman year. I stepped into another world and made the most of it. I didn't hold back.
An amazing place you've traveled: The summer after I graduated high school, I won a trip to go to Italy. It was truly a life-changing experience. Not only was I able to learn and embrace another culture but I went all by myself. I stayed with a host family for about 3 weeks. That was really difficult because they barely spoke English. Then I went to a Lions Club International Camp with students from literally all over the world. I made the best of it and made it a point to speak with each and every one of them because I wanted to understand and embrace difference and really open up my mind and step outside my boundaries. I came back with a very different mindset and I really think that it eased my transition into college. I was able to connect with people and do things I might've never done. Meeting new people and being in a different place wasn't the worry I was dealing with. Also, going to Italy for a month was the longest I had ever been away from home. I believe that helped me alot when I went to college because I wasn't too attached or afraid. It was definitely a challenge I'm grateful. In a sense I tackled the biggest guy on the field first and knocked him down, so when I tackled everyone left on the field, it was alot easier and less stressful.
Has KDChi changed your life: Wow...where to begin...KD Chi has definitely been the biggest part of my college experience. It has turned into more than just another organization I am involved in. My passion for KDChi is unmatched in any other area of my life. I think it may be because of my nature. I am the type of person that wants to really get out there and help people (that's where my two majors come in). With KDChi, as President I have developed a real vision for KDChi. I want to turn it into more than just an organization. I want it to be a place where young girls can learn to thrive as young women. Not only by teaching them values and responsibility but by embracing the sisterhood. Making them well-rounded individuals that can work with anyone or through anything. I want women who will break barriers and push the limits, not only to help them excel in their careers but also to create truly amazing women that people can look up to. I feel KDChi has given that to me and my mission now is to instill that same fire in every woman.
Special KDChi moment: Yes....every Initiation ceremony we perform. It literally fills me with joy to see a whole new set of young women that have the potential to excel.
As it relates to college, what do you wish someone would have told you? Nothing...I am grateful for everything I've learned on my own. I believe that has made me much stronger and smarter to hold my own experiences rather than live through others.... well.. I do wish someone would've warned me that I had to use shower shoes in the dorm ;)
Most challenging point as an undergrad: The most challenging point in my undergrad career was when I joined KDChi. I rushed under extenuating circumstances because of our dangerously low numbers with a GPA of 2.3. There was a tremendous amount of pressure I went through that semester with not just the rush process, but with really focusing on my grades. Up to that point in my college career, I hadn't really accomplished what I knew I was capable of. I felt lost in a way, and KDChi came into my life and put me back on the right path. It really pushed me to excel academically and to accept nothing but the best from myself, for myself. It gave me vision and motivation I had never had before. Now my GPA has greatly increased and only continues to get better.
What do people not know about you: I don't like to accept gifts. I always feel bad :(
If I won the lottery I would buy: 1) I would sponsor an essay contest for graduating Seniors in high school to win an all expense paid trip to a foreign country. They would have to write about why they deserve a trip and what they have to offer another culture and how they would benefit from it. 2) I would sponsor-a-child (probably several) in Africa. 3) I'd buy my older sister a house, so she could have a place of her own for her and my unborn niece.
Have any plans for the spring and summer? I hope to either get a sports AD/PR internship or go study abroad!
Brag a little: I made the President's list this last Fall for achieving a 4.0 for the first time in my college career.
Favorite place to volunteer: Volunteering has always been a passion of mine. I've done everything from grunt work to planning events. In all that I can narrow it down to a local organization in Amarillo, TX I have been volunteering at for years. The Eveline Rivers Christmas Project is one of my favorite places to volunteer at. Their primary mission is to improve educational outcomes and they supply basic childhood needs to economically disadvantaged children during the Christmas and winter season. This organization, which has been operating for 20+ years, is unique to Amarillo and the surrounding area and serves primarily children, adolescents and teenagers in the Amarillo/Canyon area. I love it there because as a child I had a few Christmases where the only present I received was from that organization. I got coloring books, and school supplies and a giant teddy bear. I'll never forget how that made me feel and I help because I hope that my contributions help to give to give that same feeling to another child. They also have a special project called the coat drive, where they distribute coats to children in need in the area. It's always amazing to see the kid's faces when they receive something as simple as a coat. Their eyes light up and it makes me really happy.
What's on her bucket list? I do have a real "bucket list".
1) Help someone that cannot help themselves
2) Visit the Seven Wonders of the World
3) Find myself
What brings you joy? Reaching the goals I have set for myself.
What is something about KDCHi that others who aren't sisters may not understand? I don't think people understand the true sense of unity you get as a member of KDChi and the support that comes with it. I always hear people say "Well I don't want to have to pay for my friends". People don't see past that and realize there is so much more that comes with it. As they say "From the outside in, you can never understand it. And from the inside out you can never explain it. Can anyone really ever explain why they are passionate about something?
Post graduate plans: My career goal is to work in Sports Advertising/PR (hopefully one day the Cowboys!), and of course I would love to be a part of improving KDChi's marketing. I'm also seriously considering taking a year off when I graduate and joining the Peace Corps.
Favorite motivational quote! "Everything in life changes you in some way, even the smallest things. If you do not accept these changes, you do not accept yourself. For through these changes, new and greater things come to you, making you wiser as time progresses. To avoid these changes is a loss. You only live your life once. Do not waste a minute of it avoiding things. Let them come to you, and learn from them.