I have been a member of Tau Beta Sigma since the spring of 2010. I have known what TBS was for much longer however.

My oldest brother, John, attended Baylor University and played the TRUMPET in the band just like me. He became a member of Kappa Kappa Psi his sophomore year at Baylor. John is nine years older than me, so at the time he crossed, I was 10 years old.

As a 10 year old, my big brother was THE coolest person on the face of the earth (I’m 20 now, and still think he is the best!).  He came home with all these great shirts and great stories from everything he was doing. I couldn’t wait to get to college and be in band, courtside, and TBS. 

So…fast-forward a few years and there I was at Baylor, in BUGWB, just where everyone predicted I would be. During band week, Jeanne and I became an inseparable unit. In fact, “Jeabre” was born at a trumpet lunch that week (but that’s another story completely).  Luckily for me, the person who was quickly becoming my best friend, was a member of TBS. 

From that moment on, I was hooked for sure. I was at every rush event and anything thing else they would let me come to. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be apart of such an incredible sisterhood.

There is a character in this story that certainly plays a large role, who hasn’t been mentioned yet. My brother married Chelsea when I was in junior high. She has been a Middleton for pretty much as long as I can remember. Growing up with two big brothers, she became the much-needed sister I never had. Here’s the kicker though- Chelsea is in TBS.

Yup, that’s right. My connection to TBS just got crazier and crazier. It was so special getting to sit down with her and look through her pledge book, compare stories, and get to talk about all the super secret TBS stuff with her. She was even able to come for the end of the MEP and get to participate in some stuff with me. It was so special getting to have her as a sister in every sense of the word.

Today, John and Chelsea are still very much in love with KKY and TBS. They come back for games every year and still love talking about the old days with me. Additionally, they have two great kids, Sera and Seth who we are all trying to brain wash into loving Baylor  : )

I cannot begin to describe to you all the special moments that I have had with my sisters of TBS. I have laughed and cried with all of them more than once. I have no doubt I will keep in contact with them when I get older. But one thing that has made my TBS experience extra special that is pretty unique to me is the element of family to it. Whether I am talking about John and Chelsea or Adam and Sara (my Littles), I love my brothers and sisters so incredibly much! 

ITB,
Brenna

This past Thursday, Iota was happy to host its annual Pancake Break rush event!  This rush event is especially fun because all the families in our chapter get together to make different kinds of pancakes. This year there were all sorts of pancakes! To name a few, we had pancakes with Reese’s, Twix, Snickers, blueberries, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and much more! We also had some breakfast juices – because who doesn’t like breakfast for dinner?!

Pancake Break was also a very important rush event this year because it served as our Informal Interviews. Informal Interviews usually only happen once towards the end of the fall semester and they actually give the rushees a chance to ask US questions about Tau Beta and bring up any concerns about the MEP (Membership Education Program). We also take this chance to tell the rushees more about our sisterhood and purpose.  Brenna and her membership committee made a wonderful powerpoint to show them how fun our sorority can be!

Our Beau, Figgy, was there to try all our pancakes and pick his favorite. This is a tradition in our chapter, so every year the members make sure they work extra hard on their pancakes (and sometimes even try to bribe him a little with extra candy or a personal pancake the size of a whole plate!) He ended up picking the Rosy D’s Reese’s pancakes!

After we ate we played fun games like Pictionary and Catch Phrase.  I can honestly say that my cheeks were hurting after laughing so much!

Sic ‘em yummy pancakes and a growing sisterhood!



ITB,
Iota <3

Let’s start easy.  What’s your favorite color?

Blue

What was YOUR favorite rush event to attend before you were a member?

All of them- I was the girl who went to every single one

If you could do your Tau Beta experience all over again would you (MEP and all c: )?  And Why?

Of course! Although, as long as we’re discussing time travel, I would keep going forward in time not backwards. Each year I have been a member of Tau Beta has been more memorable than the next. I have loved getting older and the perks that come along with it such as getting littles, (love you Sara and Adam!!) watching younger members learn secrets, holding larger offices, etc. TBS has been a wild and wonderful ride; there really is nothing else quite like it.

Show us a picture of you and your bigs!

My big sister is Jeanne Knepper. Together, we are Jeabre. This is a picture of us being awesome (something we do on a daily basis)

My big brother is Brad Jarka. He was our Beau last year, which was tons of fun!! He lives just a few doors down from me and I love him so much!!

What has been your favorite official Tau Beta Sigma moment? 

I have had so many wonderful moments, but one that sticks out to me was watching my little sister Sara become a member. It was incredible getting to see a class cross anyways, but getting to see my little sis officially become my sister was such a wonderful moment. I was so proud of her and I had goose bumps the whole time : )

What has been your favorite “non-TBS” TBS moment? 

Everyday at my apartment with my lovely roommates. We are all pretty crazy to say the least. I love creeping on people out our windows, having fancy breakfast, decorating our walls with who knows what, and always being able to walk downstairs and find at least one person chilling on the couch no matter what time it is. I absolutely love living at 114 : )

Draw a picture of a turtle.

if anyone makes it through this entire video I’ll be very impressed. I didn’t even make it to her actual explanation

How do you feel about the Beta Alpha/Iota relations?

Well considering I knew what Kappa Kappa Psi was before TBS since my older brother became a member when I was like 12, I’d say I’m a bit biased towards them. For anyone out there who has brothers, you’ll understand what I mean when I say that there’s nothing quite like the love and protection that comes from brothers. I love Beta Alpha.

What’s the best TBS or Iota thing you own and who gave it to you? 

My “Propeller girl and Semi-Webbed Toe Person” plaque is probably my favorite TBS thing. Jeanne gave it to me : ) If you are confused, that’s ok, inside jokes are the best part of TBS (or one of the best at least).

Let’s start easy.  What’s your favorite color?

Definitely purple!

What was YOUR favorite rush event to attend before you were a member?

I didn’t go to a whole lot of rush events…just two I think. Soooo….I guess my favorite would be the Pancake Break. That was my first one and I really like to eat. I fit in Iota quite nicely! I remember really meeting Leanna, my MC class sister. We went to the same two rush events and basically convinced each other to join Tau Beta when we roomed together at the bowl game. I love her so much!!

If you could do your Tau Beta experience all over again would you (MEP and all c: )?  And Why?

First of all: DUH I would do it again. Joining Tau Beta is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. It sounds cheesy but these girls are truly my sisters and will be forever and I have no doubt about that. MEP was AWESOME! Call me crazy, but I loved being with my MC sisters so much. I just always had a blast get everything done and we cannot forget about the lovely “purple dragon” that was created with Leanna – please don’t take that out of context.

Show us a picture of you and your bigs!

My big sister is Brenna! This is from formal.  That’s how we roll.

This is from a snow day during the middle of MEP!

My big brother is Daniel Quan or many people call him DQ. I NEVER call him by either of those. I always just yell “BIG BROTHER!” when I see him and he always calls me “Little Sister”  It’s now weird to say his name.

I put this picture up because big brother plays World of War Craft like..a lot. He keeps trying to get me to play, but I haven’t been fully convinced yet.

What has been your favorite official Tau Beta Sigma moment? 

Oh my goodness…I don’t want to copy Leanna BUT the purple dragon has definitely been my favorite memory. Now every time one of us goes….crazy we call it the “purple dragon phase.”

What has been your favorite “non-TBS” TBS moment?  

My favorite non-TBS moment was very recently with Christina!! I wanted to get out and do something and who is better to ask than Christina? I didn’t tell her what I had planned and needless to say she was very frightened. (I don’t know why because I tend to be a fairly calm person……..at least I remember being calm at one point in my life.) Well I picked her up from her dorm and we went to Taco Bell first because we are Tau Betas and we like to eat. Then we went to Wal-Mart where I explained that we needed a wig and a mask. So I got a clown wig and she got a blonde beautiful wig and we got matching masks. Then we went back to campus, assembled our costumes and knocked on people’s doors to give them candy! We also gave random people around campus candy if they weren’t too creeped out to take it from us. Apparently we looked like weirdos…Oh and did I mention we were singing at the top of our lungs while we did this? It was fabulous.

Draw a picture of a turtle. 

How do you feel about the Beta Alpha/Iota relations? 

AAAA I love my brothers!! I was absolutely shocked when I went to convention and found out that some chapters don’t get along with their brothers at all. I just felt really depressed for them because my brothers have gotten me through so much! I know they are always there to help me with anything I need. Plus, they are so awesomely entertaining all the time!

What’s the best TBS or Iota thing you own and who gave it to you? 

Well since I am Keeper I get to take care of our Tau the Betta fish! He is so awesome and I wish I could keep him forever!

Let’s start easy.  What’s your favorite color?


Well my MC name is Orange, so that's up there.  I also really love pink and yellow.  Let's go with yellow. 

What was YOUR favorite rush event to attend before you were a member?
This is a hard one because I went to every single one in the fall... My favorite was probably Mrs. Kraus' Formal Tea (How is that for showing my age?).  The Sponsor/Directors wife hosted a formal event for the rushees and it was so cool.  It was old black and white movie themed and she made all these super cute fancy pants foods for it.  It was pretty legit.  

If you could do your Tau Beta experience all over again would you (MEP and all c: )?  And Why?
My original answer on this was "no," but then half way through typing it out I realized my answer was actually yes lol.  If I knew back then what I know now about all that TBS entails both good and bad, there's no way I could keep myself from doing it again.  The wonderful and amazing parts of being in this sisterhood have greatly out weighted the small frustrations that have come with it.  I guess that's like saying, "Would you decide to not go to college if you had a realistic understanding of how hard it would be before you got here?"  Of course you would still go! The benefits outweigh everything else.  And I love my sisters and the bonds I've gained from this entire experience.  

Show us a picture of you and your bigs! 

This is my big sister Sarah Marzano! I think Brenna said it best up above, but inside jokes are one of the best parts of TBS.  You don't need to get this picture, but it was one of the most fun nights I've ever had in college. 

My TBS twin Alexa is on the left, my big sister is in the middle, and I'm on the right.  I was very luck and got to go through MEP with a Twin!  She is awesome!  We like taking awkward pictures. c:

This is Sequoyah Johnson!  He's my big brother!  Don't you love the hair?  We are both horn players and we are awesome!  I made him the awesome name tag in this picture. c: 

While we're on the topic… This is Jeanne! She's my little sister in Tau Beta.  She is a freaking baller.  

What has been your favorite official Tau Beta Sigma moment? 

Getting the opportunity to train two classes and watch all these beautiful ladies grow within the organization.  Sometimes I'm a little hard on myself and when they mess up I think "that should've been in the MEP! What was I thinking!?" but they usually don't mess up so that doesn't happen often c; Mostly I've just enjoyed watching who they've all become from day one when I saw them all excited in the spring for MEP to now where many of them are holding big executive offices.  

What has been your favorite “non-TBS” TBS moment? 


These ladies have been my life-line the past couple of years and without TBS I would never have had them.  <3 114

How do you feel about the Beta Alpha/Iota relations? 

Well, I just got engaged to a Beta Alpha, so I'm gonna say that I feel pretty dang good about our joint relations right about now! 

What’s the best TBS or Iota thing you own and who gave it to you? 

It's not a thing, but the best thing that TBS gave to me was a place to call home in college.  I didn't feel like I had a "place" here until I had sisters.  So Iota gave it to me! 

I know this blog is way overdue, but we've been so busy making our friends and ourselves feel beautiful :)  Brenna, our VP Membership, had the great idea to host a rush event that was all our beauty! There are so many girls and women who constantly put themselves down because they don't look skinny enough. This girl named Caitlin started Operation Beautiful to put an end to girls and women who negatively talk about themselves. A part of Operation Beautiful is just leaving little notes everywhere for other girls and women to see. They can say anything as long as it gives people a boost of confidence! You can read more at www.operationbeautiful.com. For now, please look at how much fun the ladies of Tau Beta Sigma and all the other girls had while participating in Operation Beautiful!

First, we had to write our little tid-bit of encouragement!

Then we posed after we felt encouraged enough to encourage the whole Baylor Campus! For example, here's a pose of Katie and Hayley in the library!

Sticky notes in bathrooms....

Sticky notes on doors....

Sticky notes on cones(?) 

A lot of groups even put sticky notes on cars and inside bathroom stalls! 
After Baylor was covered in sticky notes, we headed back to the Music School to see what surprise Brenna had for us and we showed up to this! 

Jeanne has a super awesome camera and she borrowed a few things from the photography department to use for our rush event! Yay! Brenna provided a bunch of silly hates and feather boas! Also, the sisters of TBS put our nailpolish together so that everyone had options on which to paint their nails!!! 

Thanks for reading our blog and I hope now you feel beautiful :) 

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran

<3 Iota