The purpose in my heart

The title of this post is also the name I have chosen for my blog.  I thought I should explain a little about myself and about Alpha Chi before explaining the title.  This title comes from a quote in the Alpha Chi Omega shared commitment.  From my last post, you can see how much Alpha Chi means to me and that shows how much I believe in this phrase.  

At Alpha Chi Omega we are Real. Strong. Women.  That is something that we live by.  It's something I have always attempted to live by, so seeing this as a part of Alpha Chi after I had joined meant a lot to me.  I knew even more when I heard this, that this is where I belong.  

"...We are Strong.  Strong in the courage of our convictions, the confidence in our actions and the purpose in our hearts..." 

From the moment I first heard this, it has tugged a little at my heartstrings.  I know where ever I go in life, I will be following my heart.  What ever my purpose is or will be, I know I will be strong, confident, and it will be my passion. Right now, I'm doing everything I can to be a good person, a good Alpha Chi, and a great friend.  Hoping that this will lead me to somewhere... 

Alpha Chi Omega

If you had told me at any point in my childhood that I would join a sorority, I would have laughed.  I was your typical "Tom-Boy."  I played every sport I could, any chance I got.  I had mostly male friends my whole life.  I played on boys teams.  Starting with the all-boy (except me) t-ball team and continuing to the male dominated sport of water polo.  I was always that girl refusing to believe that boys are better than girls. I never thought I would even consider joining a sorority.  I just wasn't the 'typical sorority girl type.'

Even though I was convinced Greek Life wasn't for me, the moment I stepped into the Alpha Chi Omega house, I felt something good, something great.  The girls I met going through recruitment weren't what I thought to be 'typical sorority girls'  and I liked that.  These girls were caring, smart, strong, supportive, and fun!  I knew before I stepped out of the Alpha Chi Omega house on that first day that I felt at home.  I know this may seem a little corny, but this is the only way I know how to express the love I feel for my sorority.  

As soon as I became a member of Alpha Chi, I knew that Greek life was something that I had been looking for my entire life.  A chance for leadership, and to make a difference.  Unlike most of my sorority sister I grew up in a house full of girls and went to summer camps with a lot of similar aspects of living in a house with other girls.  That is what a lot of people look for in a sisterhood, a home away from home, clothes to borrow, girls to share with.  That wasn't what I wanted, what I needed from my college experience.  

At Alpha Chi Omega, I found values, confidence, leadership, sisterhood, friendship, strength, kindness, purposefulness, and the most wonderful women I have ever met.  The women in my chapter are what makes it what it is.  Some of these women are unfathomably strong, supportive, kind, and courageous.  It was hard for me to understand at first how such young people could be so amazing.  Now I understand how Alpha Chi has helped them harness and polish those qualities so the entire world can see them.  I love my sorority sisters more than I ever thought I would.  

The more I live in the sorority house the more I see those little things that make me think of the 'typical sorority girl.'  Now, I've noticed they aren't so bad.  The screaming, chanting, cheering, singing, hair flipping, and phrasing make me feel like maybe I'm not so much of a 'Tom-Boy' anymore.  I'm a sorority girl and I NEVER thought that would happen.

The  typical sorority girl is smart, confident, strong, ambitious, and caring.  And I see these qualities in my A-Chi-O sisters everyday.  And I couldn't be more proud to be a part of it.  

Alpha Chi Omega has turned me into a sorority girl and I am so thankful to have the opportunities and experiences it has given me. 

I never knew.

I love Alpha Chi Omega all the way to the stars and back again. 

Some of my favorite sorority quotes:

"The ties that bind me to my sisters are not wrapped around my wrists, but rather are fastened to my heart." 

"My sisters have taught me how to live."

"When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?" 

"Bits and pieces
Bits and pieces
People important to you
People unimportant to you - cross your life, touch it with love and carelessness and move on.
There are people who leave you and you breathe a sigh of relief and wonder why you ever came into contact with them.
There are people who leave you and you breathe a sigh of remorse and wonder why they had to go away and leave such a gaping hole.
Children leave parents;
Friends leave friends;
Acquaintances move on.
People change homes;
People grow apart;
Enemies hate and move on.
Friends love and move on.
You think of the many who have moved into your hazy memory; You look on those present and wonder.
I believe in God's master plan in lives. He moves people in and out of each other's lives and each leaves his mark on the other. You find you are made up of bits and pieces of all who ever touched your life and you are more because of it and you would be less if they had not touched you.
Pray to God that you accept the bits and pieces in humility and wonder,
and never question;
and never regret.
Bits and Pieces
Bits and Pieces"
-- Lois Cheney  

Hello

This is my first blog post!  I'm really excited to start this and I'm hoping I can keep it up!

     My name is Katie and I'm a student at William Woods University.  I absolutely love William Woods and everything about it.  It's a small campus where you can't help but feel welcomed.  The program that I am going for (Equestrian Science) is one of the top in the country.  I love the EQS program, especially the fact that is basically a student run barn.  Without the students, the barn with 150+ horses, would not run as easily. 
     People always ask me, "Horses?   You're majoring in horses?"  and the answer to that is Yes, and I love it!  I've heard it said that if you love what you do, then it isn't work.  Well I love everything about the horse industry.  The thing I love the most about the horse world is that there is always something more to learn and someone new to teach you.  Some people think they know everything (I won't name names) but it is impossible to know everything! I know people may not understand why I love it, but this is the best way I know how to explain it:
I Love
      The hard work that goes into making a horse comfortable, safe, and happy
      The on-your-toes thinking when an emergency could arise
     The precision that gets put into making a horse show ready, shiny, clean, and clipped
     The heart race of competition
     The knowledge shared with a student and knowing they will grow from it
     The feeling of a perfectly clean jump
     The hoof beats of a canter and the wind on your face
     The friends who share the same love and how it brings you together

The feeling I have right now is how I know this is what I am supposed to do.  Horses have brought me so much, helped me to grow.  And I cannot wait to share it with the world. 

     I had a teacher in high school who used to make us what he called 'practice for the real world' and 'dress for success.'  We had to wear business attire and sit at computers and do group projects and present them.  Once he had us go around the room and say what we wanted to do with our lives and then he told us how this class would help us.  When he got to me and I told him I wanted to be a horse trainer.  He was confused and told me it was an impractical career.  He said horses were a hobby, not a job.  In front of the entire class he tried to crush my dream.  I wasn't as strong then as I am now.  It really hurt my feelings then, but now it's fuel encouraging me to accomplish everything I can.  It's funny really, because he is the same teacher that ultimately brought me to William Woods.  I had a 3.4 GPA and I needed a 3.5 to get the scholarship to go to my dream school, Kansas State University (hello...purple everywhere, how could you not love it?!) His class was the only class I had a B in.  And an 87 at that! I got an A on my final and I was super excited!  But when our final grades came out it said I had a B.  I was really confused, so I talked to him.  He told me, so many people had done badly on the final that he reduced the amount of points it was worth so I ended with an 89.9 and he refused to round it up.  I was once again crushed by this teacher and I spent December getting over the fact that I would not be at K-State in the fall. 
     Although I was crushed by this, it also led me to find William Woods.  William Woods is one of the best decisions I have ever made and I wouldn't change it for the world.  I have met the most amazing friends, role models, teachers, and people at William Woods.  I am thankful everyday for the teacher who crushed my whole world, and led me to where I am now. Happy, healthy, and driven.  If I ever believe the saying "everything happens for a reason" it is right now.