​In my last few years of high school, I wasn’t exactly sure if I really wanted to participate in Greek life.  I always said that it was overrated and I wasn’t the type of girl to join a sorority.  It wasn’t until my senior year that I truly took an interest in the idea of being Greek.  The majority of my friends, including all three of my roommates, were planning on rushing at their various universities. So in order to avoid FOMO and  complete jealousy, I decided to give it a try.  I didn’t have many expectations, as I wasn’t convinced that I would just love the experience. 
            As I made the final decision to at least go through recruitment I began to get all of my applications, recommendations, and outfits planned out and finished.  While worrying about the small details, I had been reached out to by a Delta Zeta named Kasey Sams. At the time she was an upcoming Junior that had just so happened to attend the same high school as me; we also had a few mutual friends.  Multiple times she texted or called me before the “no contact period” to extend her hand for advice or help in any way.  She let me know how important Delta Zeta was to her and how she was looking forward to seeing me at the university in the next year.  Little did I know, Kasey Sams was going to have a huge impact on my college life.
            When recruitment week started, I felt nothing but stress and worry.  I constantly wondered, “Who is going to love me?  Who is going to drop me?  What do I need to say to make these girls think I am perfect?”  As the week went on, I experienced a few heartbreaks by houses that I loved but didn’t get called back to; and I experienced a few wins by houses that loved me as much as I loved them.  Delta Zeta was a constant throughout the entire process.  It was always a house that I completely enjoyed and one that I was getting invited back to every day.  I was ecstatic because I knew how much it meant to Kasey Sams, and I couldn’t want more.  For the last round of rush week, Preference Night, Kasey was the Delta Zeta lady that picked me up at the door.  When I saw her, I felt nothing but joy and comfort.  I knew that we were about to have an amazing conversation.  By the end of the night, I knew that I loved Delta Zeta and that if that was the house I ended up in, I was going to be in a good place.
            Sure enough, when I opened my card up on Bid Day, Delta Zeta was the house written down.  I ran to Delta Zeta right into Kasey Sams’ arms.  From that day forward, Kasey took me in, introducing me to all of her friends, inviting me to all of their hangouts, and making me feel nothing but completely included and wanted.  Throughout my freshman year, her group became my group, and I was taken in by a few Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.  I enjoyed being able to be friends with older girls who not only gave me insight on college, but loved me despite being younger than them.
            Still to this day, that group of older girls are my very best friends.  We do everything together from lunch at the house, to coffee dates, to going to date parties.  Life is nothing but fun with them.  We have been through thick and thin, laughter and tears, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to join Greek life, and that I made the decision to stay in it because I was given the best girls in the world.  Every year is bittersweet as we lose a few to graduation and adult life, but our friendships will never fade.  That I am very confident in.  Thank you, my girls- you know who you are.  I love y’all so much.  Here’s to a lifetime of love and sisterhood!
 
Keep on burning,
Savannah Brasher - PC '17

By: Shelby Scott PC '15

Coming to The University of Alabama as an out of state freshman in 2015, I wanted so badly to find a group of people that I could connect with immediately in a community I was utterly unfamiliar with.  I have always been the kind of girl who cares deeply about her academic success, and this trait was not going to change for me once I began college either.  There is a huge stereotype placed on sorority women regarding their academic performance, and I’m here to tell you for a fact that that couldn’t be further from the truth.


I came to The University of Alabama as a pre-nursing major, with high hopes of making my way into the competitive nursing program.  I knew this feat was not going to be simple, but through continuous support of my sisters, hard work, and academic programming that Delta Zeta put in place for me during this time, my dreams became a reality.  Not only did Delta Zeta provide me with study partners, access to tutors, and quiet places in the house to review my school work, it also provided me a mentorship with a sister in the nursing program to offer me practical advice about the process of applying for acceptance into the nursing school.  I was accepted into upper division nursing classes in March of 2016, at the end of my sophomore year.  My sisters congratulated me, and supported me, as many of them knew the countless sleepless nights I had studying and quizzing myself in hopes for a couple more points on the next mornings test.


After I was accepted into my program, I thought the hardest part of my journey was passed. Boy, was I wrong.  My schedule grew busier, my classes got harder, and I felt like I had very little free time.  However, I’m seldom the girl to back down from a challenge.  I ran, and was elected to serve as the chaplain for Delta Zeta for two years.  I grew even more active in my sorority, and even closer to my sisters although my schedule had considerably less free time.  My closest group of sisters and I often want to spend time with each other, as we realize we don’t have many more nights together before our impending graduation.  Due to their unyielding support for me and my crazy schedule, many of our nights are spent in the common area of the sorority house with a movie on and our notebooks in front of us while we study together.  The most important word of that last sentence is “together”.  My friends could be doing anything else, but they continue to motivate me to be the best version of myself I can be, and offer support or a helping hand when necessary.  I couldn’t be more thankful for this group of girls, they have changed my life, and offered me steadfast love and friendship when I needed it most.




I get asked all the time how I balance by social life, and my rigorous school demands.  People ask how I can possibly have time to make good grades, while also being heavily involved in Delta Zeta.  The answer to that is easy; Delta Zeta has provided me with a wonderful support system of sisters who are like minded to me, and fervent in their academic endeavors.  Delta Zeta has also been my biggest cheerleader, and my safest home when things don’t seem to play in my favor.  I’m truly comfortable here; I am allowed to be unapologetically me.  If I said college has been easy, that would be a lie.  However, the support of my sisters has made it all worthwhile, and helped me succeed even when it seemed impossible.  I am so thankful that Delta Zeta has taught me real world skills, and offered me the support system that I truly needed during my academic years and beyond.

​After I tell someone what my dream career is, their reaction is usually “you are not the typical sorority girl I know.” Growing up my dream job when I was young was to be an astronaut for NASA. When I got a little older, I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist. When I got to college, I realized that while Apollo 13 is my favorite movie and as much as I loved science in high school, my dream job just wasn’t going to happen.
 
I am a junior at the University of Alabama (ROLL TIDE!!) studying American Studies, Criminal Justice, and Cyber Criminology. Last fall semester and this semester (YAY!!!), I interned with the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit. The unit is housed out of the Tuscaloosa Country Sheriff’s Office with officers from Tuscaloosa Police Department, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, University of Alabama Police Department, and Northport Police Department. The men and women that I have worked alongside the past four months, and will continue to do so in the future, have changed my life. They have pushed me outside my comfort zone, challenged me, and have given me the best academic and educational experience possible. The officers have allowed me to gain a real-world perspective that many college students my age don’t have. I have created memories and had many laughs while seeing them make a difference in my new home, Tuscaloosa. Next, to my dad and mom, they have become the first people I ask for advice from and a support system that I can rely on.
 
While my internship is wonderful, and the investigators are even better, Delta Zeta has given me a home to chase my dreams. My sisters have shown me nothing but support, pushed me to be the best version of myself, encouraged me when I had doubts (or others doubted me), and allowed me to grow into the person I am today.
           
My dream job is to work in a homicide and narcotics unit. I am proud to say that when I graduate in May 2020, I will be working to make my dream a reality. One day I will be captain of my own unit and leading a team to achieve our goals and better the community.
 
My sisters in Delta Zeta have given me an environment to pursue my dreams and keep me on track towards my goals. They have shown me the value of making the community a better place. In our creed, it states “crusade for justice, seek the truth and defend it always.” I am excited to pursue a career that investigates the truth and stands up and defends justice. Thank you, Delta Zeta, for teaching me that life lesson. Thank you to the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Task Force for showing me that I can make a career out of helping the community and stand up for what is right. Thank you to my sisters for having my back and letting me who I truly am.  
 
One of my favorite qualities about Delta Zeta is no one has to fit in. My sisters prove to me every day that our sorority is not about fitting in or being the “typical sorority girl,” it is about finding a home, a support system, and family. When you find your home, there is no need to fit in or change yourself because you have already found a sisterhood that will accept and love who you are. I have found my sisterhood, family, and home at 900 Magnolia Drive.
 
To my best friends, executive family, advisors, future bridesmaids, and my mentors in law enforcement thank you for letting me live my best life possible.
 
Always remember… Be you, Be More, Be Delta Zeta!
 
Much love,
Shelby Serad
PC’16

             I remember the first months of freshman year, sitting in my dorm room on the phone with my mom, answering all of her questions about what I did that day, how my classes were, what I was eating for dinner, what my plans were for the day. By the end of the conversation on some days, I could feel that question coming that truly, as a young college student acclimating to life, scares you. The “how are you” that isn’t searching for the simple and easy “good.” It’s the one that desires the true answer, whether that’s positive and happy or negative and hard. And at the beginning of freshman year, I think a lot of people struggle to get to the point of being able to honestly answer that question with an enthusiastic response of how much you’re loving life. My biggest struggle while  transitioning to college life, was feeling like Alabama was where my heart was; I constantly told my mom that I was looking for something or someone to make that connection for me.
            A few short weeks into the school year, during homecoming week, I decided to go to the DZ house before one of my classes. Since it was early, not a lot of people were there. I sat down in the living room, and after a few quiet minutes, another girl walked in and sat down in the room with me. She happened to be someone I had just met the day before, so we started chit-chatting to avoid awkwardness. Through the conversation, we realized so many little random things we had in common, and started bonding over finally finding someone to relate to us on things. After that day, my best friend Tori and I never went a day without each other.
            From sitting in the car listening to new music, to trying local restaurants, going to every Delta Zeta event together, and finding ways to make the other laugh on our bad days, freshman year brought us so close.  As cheesy as it is, we cried saying bye to each other for the summer. I’m from Cincinnati and Tori is from Pittsburgh, so we would be able to see each other over those three months, but we both knew that life gets busy and making time for a four-hour weekend trip can be difficult. One morning I woke up to about 20 text messages from Tori freaking out for me to call her whenever I could. I was a little anxious, but also knew she could be a little ~dramatic~ so I didn’t let myself get too scared. Tori told me that her parents said I could come on vacation with her in the middle of July, so of course I said yes! Our trip to the Outer Banks was one of my favorite vacations ever, and it gave us so many more memories, proving to me that our friendship was more than just two people keeping each other company at school. Even over this winter break, I decided to spend the New Year with Tori.
            All my friendships are equally important to me. I have a core group of friends at school that I have found through DZ; however, I think there are certain people in life that you just connect with. It’s almost impossible to put into words how two people complement each other so well. I am beyond blessed to have one of these people in my life also be my best friend.
            This past year, I’ve begun to realize just how special friendships in college are. Delta Zeta has brought me so many best friends, that I honestly did not know if I would find to replace my high school ones. But, most importantly, I truly believe I have found the person to make this place a home for me. Without Delta Zeta, Tori and I probably would not have connected. This is such a special connection to me, and no matter where our lives take us over the course of the years, I know I have a sister to always lean on. 

​Hi everybody! I’m Bri, a rising senior! I just got back from a whole semester abroad in Sorrento, Italy. Studying abroad is an amazing experience but it was definitely hard leaving all my sisters for an entire semester. I’ve lived in the house since my sophomore year and let me say that living with roommates that are not your sorority sisters definitely took some getting used to. My dog, Nala, lives in the house with me and I’m sure she missed getting snuggles and pets every time she walked through the house or when someone stopped by our room to say hi. One thing I was really sad to miss was Greek Week. Everyone was so dressed up and it looked like the best time, most of my best memories from freshman year are from spring semester - specifically Greek Week. Another thing that took some getting used to was not having an incredible staff preparing 3 meals a day for me like I have at DZ. Our kitchen staff consists of some of the most kind-hearted and considerate people and the food is REAL good. I had to learn to cook which is probably a good thing but I did burn a dinner or two before I really got the hang of it if I’m being honest. What really was hard, though, was being away from all of my sisters. Normally, if I need advice or just to talk I’ll see what my little Morgan, or my best friend Marcy is doing and that always helps because not only do they give really good advice but they provide the most reliable support system. I know if I ever need anything I can call them or really anyone in Delta Zeta and they’ll be there to help ASAP. Of course I was able to talk to them while I was abroad but between the time zones sometimes it was pretty hard to be away from my people. Something that I thought was really cool was actually meeting a Delta Zeta alumna while I was in Sorrento. Sorrento is a TINY little city on the Amalfi Coast so I certainly wasn’t expecting to meet any alums but I did! She worked for a company that coordinates abroad programs and I was asked to help show her around which was lovely because even though we hadn’t met we knew we had similar values and we were able to joke and laugh and it just felt authentic and organic - truly a heartwarming and special day for me. I’m really excited to be back in t-town to see all my beautiful sisters and of course to welcome the PNMs! I’m so happy I get to go back in time for recruitment because it’s really fun meeting new women, seeing them go through recruitment but especially because recruitment is such a bonding experience for women who are in the house. I’m sure Nala is just as (if not more) excited to see all her friends and preside over the castle like the queen she seems to believe she is. Studying abroad gave me some of the best opportunities and experiences of my life but it would have been way sweeter if I had some, or all, of my sisters there with me. I met some incredible people during my time abroad and I hold them all dear to my heart but there simply is nothing that can compare to sisterhood. I would definitely recommend studying abroad to anybody and everybody but my advice is take a sister with you because it really helps with adjusting to a place that is so foreign, as well as the FOMO and of course you’ll always have someone to take your Instagram photos! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to read about my experience away from DZ for the semester! Have you traveled anywhere cool? Leave a comment with your experience overseas - I love hearing about other experiences/cool things people have done abroad! Maybe one of your experiences will help me convince my parents to let me travel overseas again (a girl can dream).

Bri Spence- PC '15

Our President, Shelby Serad, is from Crestwood, Kentucky and majoring in American Studies with a double minor in Cyber Criminology and Criminal Justice. 

What is the most important thing you've learned from being in DZ? 
"I have learned a lot of things from being in Delta Zeta. The most important thing is always be there for your sisters. College is amazing. I­t­ is the best four years of your life but I­t­ can get hard. Sometimes a bad test score or getting homesick can bring you down but I know my sisters will be there for me to cheer me up. They help me study to do better on my next test or have a movie night at the house to make me feel at home.  When you walk into Delta Zeta to eat dinner or just hangout, someone will say “hi” and ask how you are doing. My sisters care about me, they love me, and they would bend over backward for me. My sisters are there to celebrate the good things in life but they are there to cry and watch a Nicholas Sparks movie if I need it. Knowing I have 350 girls there for me is incredible." 

What are your biggest goals as President? 
"I am focusing on bringing back some old traditions that DZ had back in the day. They sound like a blast and a wonderful opportunity to create more memories. I am looking forward to working with our sisterhood chair and VP of Programings to plan some awesome sisterhood events in the fall that the entire chapter can do together. My last goal, is to put the voice back in the chapter. I was elected president by this chapter and it’s my goal to help make this chapter what the members what it to be."

What motivates you to be a leader?
"I am movivated by my sisters. We all joined Delta Zeta to meet our bridesmaids and make memories we will cherish for a lifetime. I want to make these four years the best four years for my sisters. They deserve all the fun sisterhood events, movie nights, and surprises a girl could have. These four years go by fast, so I want to make every member have the best experience of her life. I am motived by change. This chapter is incredible and the love I have for Delta Zeta can’t be put into words, but we can always make changes. Changes to better the sisterhood and experience for our members are vital for moving forward." 

Who inspires you?
​"My parents inspire me. My mom is a hard working women, who does a lot of volunteer work in our community. She raised me to always but others first before yourself. She is an amazing women, who always leaves any room she walks into a little brighter then when she walked in it. I have yet to meet someone who she hasn’t made smile and I don’t think I ever will. 
My dad is a natural leader. His work ethic and determination is inspiring. When he sets goals, he will do whatever is necessary to meet them. Whether he is commanding a team overseas in Afghanistan or working with his team in his civilian job he is a successful leader. I grew up with him telling me how important I­t­ was to be a team player. He taught me that your teammates are the ones that are going to  help you make memories, be successful, and have your back rain or shine. 
Treating my sisters with respect and putting their wishes and needs first is a priority. I always try to make them smile in any way possible.
To have an executive board, filled with 10 amazing women, who have my back is a blessing. We are a team. We work as a team and always support each other. 

​If I can be half the person my parents are, I will be honored."

What is your personal legacy that you want to leave behind in DZ?
"I want my sisters and future Delta Zeta’s to leave this chapter better then they found I­t­. If everyone of my sisters can make a small change, this sorority is unstoppable. I want people to remember me for the hard work I’ve put into making everyone’s dreams for this chapter come true. I want people to remember me by someone who made them feel special and important. While a chapter this big, I­t­ is important to make sure that everyone gets the sisterly love they deserve. I hope when I leave here, I have given back to Delta Zeta because this sorority has done so much for me."
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​“Once you choose hope anything is possible.”

These are the words I feel summarize what I learned this past summer during my internship.

I decided I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field after my experiences interning at the Mayo Clinic in high school. I am passionate about making a difference in the world and helping those who are sick or in suffering. When I tell people that I have an interest in the field of oncology, specifically in pediatrics I am instantly hit with confusion, and questions along the lines of “ Why would you ever want to do something so sad?”

For me the answer is simple. While I know it is hard for many people to comprehend, often times you can find great hope when put against insurmountable odds. Cancer is a disease that devastates not only ones body, but it affects every single aspect of your life. Last year I was on the executive board for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, a foundation that funds cutting-edge cancer research and aims to provide support to families struggling with their child’s diagnosis. The children and families I met in my year as a board member opened my eyes to how we often take life for granted and their positivity and hope inspired me to want to continue to help people in their situation.

This year I was blessed enough to be selected as a clinical research intern at the Mayo Clinic in my hometown of Jacksonville, FL. This was a very competitive internship, only about 50 applicants from across the nation were selected and I felt so honored to have been given this incredible opportunity.

The Mayo School of Health Sciences created the curriculum for this program which includes mentorship from a physician that you are paired with as well as completing a research project for said doctor and presenting it to a group of medical professionals, peers, and health education specialists at the end of the program.

At the beginning of the program I expressed an interest in learning more about the field of oncology and discovered I would be paired with a doctor in the Jacoby Breast Center. The doctor I was paired with, along with the other women working in the clinic were some of the most inspirational, strong, and positive women I had ever met. I am so blessed to have had them as role models and I cannot even express how grateful I am for their guidance and willingness to teach me.

I learned SO MUCH every day at work that it felt like I was going to need more space in my brain to absorb the scientific information that was being presented every day. I got to shadow examinations, pathology analyses, and I worked diligently on a research project pertaining to risk factors for breast cancer. I was fascinated with what I was learning, however, I also felt as if I learned a lot about myself through this whole experience and why I am so drawn to this career path.

Yes there are days when I want to give up. There are days when the tiniest thing that goes wrong can make it seem like your world is falling apart. College classes can feel impossible and as someone who has a knack for stretching themself a little too thin I am not going to act like I haven’t contemplated completely giving up a time or two.

If I choose to continue down this career path I will experience things that are incredibly sad, but I love the patients and the families I have met so far, they are some of the sweetest and most appreciative people I have ever interacted with. For all of the pain and fear that these patients face If I can be part of the reason that their day brightens up then everything is worth it.

When I think of the beautiful, strong, and courageous women I met during my time at Mayo and how they were filled with so much hope and light at a time of such great devastation and suffering I am reminded that when you choose hope anything is possible. I learned that when you choose to persevere and appreciate every day for what it is you cannot be defeated. Life is worth fighting for and it is important to live every moment like it is your last.

I have learned about love, and sacrifice. I watched each day as women would put on a smile or crack a joke in an appointment because even though they were dying on the inside they couldn’t bear to think that anyone else should suffer because of their situation. Women are truly the strongest creatures on earth and I am encouraged to empower my sisters in Delta Zeta to be the best that they can be because they are all so beautiful on the inside and have so much to offer the world.​
-Alex Sample PC '16

A picture of me with the doctor I was paired with getting taught how to examine for suspicious lumps or enlarged lymph nodes

The Mayo Clinic I worked with in Jacksonville, FL

B+ Foundation

It’s no secret that Bid Day is an emotional roller coaster. Everything seems to happen in a blur, one minute you’re opening your bid in the stadium and the next you’re running through streets of people to your new home-away-from-home. The difference for me was that among the hundreds of sisters welcoming me at the Delta Zeta house was the most familiar face in the world: my momma. During recruitment, I tried really hard to forget about my ties to Delta Zeta. I had just survived four years of having my dad as my high school principal; I wanted an experience that was mine, and only mine. Throughout the week, I was trying so hard to find a fit at other houses solely so that I could be different from my mom. At some point, it occurred to me how ridiculous I was acting. I was trying to find a sorority that I could be myself in by not being myself. During this entire internal debate, my mom was nothing but supportive. She kept reassuring me that I didn’t have to love DZ the way she did and that it was my life, my choice. On Bid Day, when I was hugging her in the library of the Delta Zeta Castle, I knew I made the right choice. I had no idea the impact that this moment would have on my life. On that day, in the chaos of pink and green, I didn’t realize the legacy I was continuing.

Her support helped Delta Zeta feel even more like home. You never realize how much you need your momma until she is 712 miles away. Our bond, through Delta Zeta, helps the distance feel a little less far. She sent me turtles, as I was now going to be starting my own turtle collection to rival hers. She shared more memories from her experience in a sorority, as it now pertained to my life. When the time came for me to be initiated, she was there. I remember being nonchalant about it. I kept saying it wasn’t that big of a deal if she couldn’t come; my big would be there, so it would be fine. She came, which was no surprise, as my mom has always shown up when I needed her. I never expected her attendance to matter as much as it did. To have her being the active member to officially welcome me into the sisterhood made the moment so special. Every year, as we initiate new women into Delta Zeta, I think of my mom being the one to place the Delta Zeta badge over my heart.

As she shares in my experience, I get to share in her memories of college. This summer, she took me around her alma matter to show me what being a Delta Zeta meant for her. I got to drink milkshakes at The Poky Dot, her old hangout, as she told me stories about her sisters. She took me to paint the bell, a tradition on Fairmont State University, where clubs would sneak out at night and paint the school’s bell in their colors. And while painting the bell in pink and green, I couldn’t help but think this is what Delta Zeta sisterhood is. It’s a connection that spans over time, distance, and generations. On Bid Day, it became a running joke that she was my “Sister Momma.” As I bonded with more and more girls within the sorority, the joke spread. My mom isn’t “Morgan’s mom” or “Miss Jean”, she is Sister Momma Jean. To all my friends, she is a sister (that likes to send Facebook messages with cute turtle stickers). She’s always there. I can tell her everything that goes on and she gets it. She was the one I talked to when I was positive I found my little sister and the first one I texted when I was elected historian. Like all of my DZ sisters, no matter the distance or time, I get to have her for more than four years. This experience has only increased my excitement for the future. I know that when my time is up at Alabama I will always be a Delta Zeta.

- Morgan LaRosa (PC' 15)
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