Anchored to sisters – Abbey Claes

Serving as Alpha Sigma Tau’s New Member Educator for 2018

During the 2018 year, I had the privilege of serving as my sororities New Member Educator. In this position, I was able to help welcome new women into AΣT and teach them about the sorority. As New Member Educator I was tasked with helping the new members through our six week process that leads to initiation. Within the six weeks, they learn about the history of AΣT and what we hold most dear. Also, they get their bigs which is always exciting. Finally, at the end they become initiated and officially active members of the Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority.

To the Fall 2018 class: First of all, thank you to the whole Fall 2018 class. I am so thankful to have had such an great group of women to welcome into the chapter. Teaching you about AΣT and guiding you all through the new member process was so fun and reminded me what I love about the chapter. I loved being able to watch you all fall in love with our chapter and find your place in this wonderful group of women we have. You are all doing such great things within the chapter and I could not be more proud of you. I can’t wait to see where you all take the chapter and the positive changes you are able to make. You are all truly amazing individuals and the chapter is so lucky to have all of you. Thanks for making my time in Alpha Sigma Tau the best ever.

Advice for the next New Member Educator: Be there for the new members! It is your job to make them feel welcomed and love within AΣT. Make sure you are there to answer their questions and address any concerns they may have. Along with that, help them create a relationship with other member in the chapter. Help them reach out to others and find their place in Alpha Sigma Tau.

Final Thoughts: Being the new member educator was one of the hardest yet more rewarding positions I have held. There are things I wish I would have done differently or should have changed but overall it was an amazing time. I loved being able to see the chapter of actives from that position and watch them welcome our new members while also being there for the new members.

{My home away from home}

With all of the stereotypes about sororities, here is why I joined one and how my experience is nothing like what you see in the movies. If you would have asked me as a senior in high school if I would be a part of Greek Life I would have laughed and said heck no. I, like so many other people, had these crazy ideas about sororities until I met my mentor, Emily. She is and was then, exactly like me but she was involved in Greek Life. Through her, my knowledge of sororities grew and I went through recruitment my Freshman Year.

September 30th, 2016 was the day I, and multiple other girls, jumped home. I found my home in the Central Michigan Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau. Here, I fell in love with the colors Emerald Green and gold, sisters, Anchors, and philanthropy. I have so much love for my sorority and the women in it, I have no idea how to put it into words but I will attempt.

AST has given me so much this first year, and I always try my best to give back. For my new member class, I was the Historian, along with Shelby and we made the scrapbook, anchor, and teacup for the chapter. It was fun being able to see everyone’s different photos and have digital evidence of my class blossoming into our chapter. Currently, I am the Director of Fundraising and planned our Grilled Cheese Fundraiser. The Grilled Cheese Fundraiser is something my chapter does every semester and the money we raise goes to our philanthropy, Pine Mountain Settlement School. This year I planned our first ever Philanthropy week which was absolutely amazing. If you want to know more about Grilled Cheese and our Philanthropy week, there is a specific blog all about it! Also, I participated in the 2017 Greek Week, other chapter’s philanthropy weeks, and endless AST events. On Central’s campus, Alpha Sigma Tau has over 1,000 hours of community service for this semester, the highest GPA, and members from all parts of campus. We are a tight-knit, passionate, and welcoming group of people. Alpha Sigma Tau and all of my sisters mean the world to me. They always have my back and I always have theirs. When something happens to one sister, it happens to all of us because we support and love one another. Being a Tau is part of who I am today, it has made me more confident, compassionate, and strong.

Through AST, I found so many important people in my life, and yes they will probably be my future bridesmaids. First to my Twin Carly… after your sister told us we look more like sisters than you two, we started saying we were twins. Without all of our constant texting, a sleepover, forcing you to go to Leadershape, and being “mom’s” together I don’t know what I would do. You have helped me find my voice and place in a sisterhood of 70+ girls. My best friends Michelle and Ellen. With Garrett, we make our little Greek Life family. You both are always there for me when I need you most. Thanks for being my family and keeping me sane. My crazy G Brenna… without you I don’t know where Em and I would be. You make sure both of us have fun even when we are stressed to the max. Thanks for the endless HAPPs dates and laugher. Finally, the most important, my Big Emily. Em was my mentor even before I joined AST. After joining the same sorority as her, we only became more close. The past few months have been hard but we always have each other and I don’t know where I would be without her. There are countless more people who have come into my life and made an impact but it would take me years to go through everyone.

My version of “What is a Tau?”

A Tau is a mixture of a boisterous little girl, a troubled adolescent, a charming young woman and a wise old lady. She is a streak of gold and a flash of green. She is a Leader Advancement Scholar, Centralis Recipient, an Athlete, and anything she wants to be. She is a shoulder to cry on, never-ending “your mom” jokes, and a friend. You can find her studying at coffee shops, cheering on the football team, and scootering through campus. She is involved, kind hearted, driven, and passionate. A Tau is all of this and more. A Tau is my sister ♥