Homecoming Week!

This week has been crazy! Each day the Alpha Xi Deltas have taken part in some sort of competition. Wednesday we played powderpuff against the Halo club. Unforutnately we lost, however both teams played extremely well. :)      

   Here is a pic of our team      

Friday our sister competed in the homecoming pagent and she was crowned homecoming princess! I'm so proud of our sisters for stepping up, and putting on an awesome show for her! We really did a great job. :) 

Today, the during the last day of homecoming, we had the parade and the football game! We decorated our float with a bengal! 

It's been an amazing experience to show my Bengal Pride with my sisters this week! I finally feel like a part of this school, and a part of my beautiful sorority. This week has been amazing, and I can't wait for next year's homecoming. Go Bengals! 

Are You Socially Present?

When was the last time you checked your cell phone? 

5 hours ago?

5 minutes ago?

5 seconds ago?

Right this very second?

        Last night, I was at dinner with a few friends. We were all laughing and having a good time. I looked over at one of my friends and realized that this person was on their phone. They weren't laughing, and maybe they were having a good time, but I will never know. They were totally missing out on our conversation, our laughter, and our company because they were so absorbed in their phone.

     Now don't get me wrong, I'm not pointing fingers. I've been guilty of this too. I can't count how many times I have been texting/tweeting/messaging while someone else was talking to me. This is something I think most people struggle with; a constant need to be connected to the outside world. In fact, John Fetto reports a study by Experian Marketing Services who report the average American spends about 58 minutes on their phone a day. That means we donate an entire HOUR of our day to our cell phones. What are we missing here?  What are we truly giving up when we miss out on this hour? What kind of message are we sending to the people we are with? Are they really that uninteresting? Are we really sitting at the table eating dinner with people, or is it just our body there? Our mind is obviously not there, it is wherever our phone is. I bet if I asked my friend what we talked about last night, she would have no idea.

      Here's the challenge. Spend a day, or maybe just one meal without your phone. If you can't part with your phone, then just leave it in your pocket, perhaps on silent and don't look at it. Really focus on connecting with those around you and be socially present. Realize what is happening around you and spend some time thinking about what you would have missed if you were simply looking at your phone instead. Would you have missed out on that joke someone just told? Would you have made a connection with someone that you perhaps used to dislike? Would you have gazed into your true love's eyes and instantly fallen madly and deeply in love?

      Okay, I know, I'm getting carried away. But the point here is this: If you are constantly attached to your phone, you may be present, but are you socially present? And if you're not, what are you REALLY missing out on? 

 Source

Fetto, John. "Americans Spend 58 Minutes a Day on Their Smartphones | Marketing Forward." Marketing Forward RSS. Experian Marketing Services, 28 May 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.

To Read the Article Click Here: Cell Phone Use Statistics

Homecoming Week

This week is homecoming week! I am super busy with all of the homecoming festivities going on. Last night, we had a bonfire and tonight we have a chip dip competition! Tomorrow we have a big powderpuff competition, which I will be competing in, so tonight I am headed off for practice!

How to Stay Active in College

In college, it can be a bit challenging to stay active. It is SO tempting to watch Netflix and television all day long. The good thing about college is that there are many FREE activities offered to students. Today I going to share a few tips and activities I have found that help me stay active.

1. Yoga- If you're like me, you might not always enjoy high-intensity work outs. Sometimes its nice to just take things slow. At my school, there are free yoga classes offered every Monday night. Grab a friend and go!
   
   
   
2. Gym- One of the benefits of paying tuition is the school gym! Usually school gyms are free, and if not they are a nominal price. Try hitting the gym once or twice a week. Bring note cards and study to make the time pass faster... maybe work out next to a cute guy to keep you motivated. Whatever works for you, try it!
3. Boot Camps/Fitness Classes- My school offers students who are seeking to become personal trainers a chance to run their own class. Take advantage of this and attend their classes! Not only will you be doing yourself a favor, your friend or classmate will appreciate the extra support!
4. Dance Clubs- Not that kind of dance club! Although, that might be a good option for you too! Some universities offer are dance clubs! I joined a swing-dancing club. It's a good way to meet people and sneak in some fun exercise at the same time
5. Racquetball, tennis courts, swimming pools, rock-climbing wall- If your school offers any of the following, try them out! You may just find your passion. Bring a friend along and get started!
6. Intramural Sports- These are a good way to get to know a lot of people and have a good time. Luckily intramural are not usually super competitive, so if you have never played before, people are pretty relaxed about your skill and ability. I've tried softball and kickball which have both allowed me to make friends and have a good time. Check out your student activities office or gym to find out what kind of intramural are offered at your school.
7. Explore New Paths- If you're on a new campus or living in a new area, chances are there are some cool paths that you haven't hit up. Go on a run, a hike or maybe just a nice long walk. Chances are you will find a beautiful sight, or strike up a nice conversation with a friend if you ask someone to tag along. 
   

My First Week as an AlphaXiDelta

        My first week as an Alpha Xi Delta has been a ton of fun! I've attended a sisterhood where all my sisters and I watched movies and painted nails. I also went to Xi in the City where I learned about the high standards my sisters and I are held to from now on. Homecoming starts this week and us girls are in competition mode because we want our sorority to win! We are decorating floats, and windows! Wish us luck. XOXO

Greek Life

This week has been intense. I've attended a bunch of parties to get to know many beautiful, intelligent, amazing ladies. Fortunately, the hard work has paid off! Tonight, at the end of rush week, I have recieved a bid and accepted an invitation to join Alpha Xi Delta. I'm super excited to spend my college years with these ladies. I feel extremely blessed to be apart of this group.

Weekend Recap

This week has been crazy! I decided to Rush. Even though I never exactly pictured myself as a "sorority girl" I went along with it. I discovered both of the sororities at my school are full of amazing girls who seem very true, real and kind. I can definitely see myself joining one of them, and later today I will find out if I got a bid! Fingers crossed! Besides recruitment, I went to a football game with one of my best friends at the school. We won! Wahoo!

The top and bottom picture are from preference night, and the picture in the middle is us at the game. (: