For the summer, we are going to be asking alumnae of Iota to be involved with our blog! :) We know you all read it as much as we do, so why not involve you even more? If you're an alumnae and you're interested in writing a post for us, please contact our Webmaster, Heather :3 Our first "victim" of the alumnae survey was our dear friend Tara Voiles O'Shields :) I hope you all enjoy reminiscing with Tara or just learning more about her! Thanks Tara for being such a great sport!! :3
<3 Iota
What was your MC name? On!
When did you cross? Fall 2003
Where did you grow up? Born in Waco, grew up in Frisco and Whitesboro
Where did you graduate high school? Whitesboro High School, Class of 2002 :)
Why did you choose Baylor? I wanted to go to Texas A&M from the time I was little--no one in my family is really sure where this came from. However, I started to think I wanted to major in Music Education early in high school and didn't want to be in the Corps of Cadets to be in band. That led to me visiting Baylor's campus with my grandmother one summer, and I absolutely fell in love. Nothing was going to keep me from being a Baylor Bear!
While at Baylor, where did you live? Freshman year--Collins; Sophomore year--Allen (when it was a girls' dorm!); Junior Year--North Village: Heritage House (the first year it was open); Senior year...and a half--Baylor Plaza 1 Apt #31
What was your most difficult class? Oh gosh...my Christian Scriptures prof was SO hard. Not to mention it was 8am MWF of my first semester of college. But then there was this class I took my last semester--it was called something like, "Personal Financial Decisions". I only took it because it sounded practical and I needed an extra course to be full time. I honestly thought it was going to keep me from graduating. I skipped all over the place when I got that C.
What is your favorite place and tradition on the Baylor campus? Favorite Place: Carroll Science. I basically lived there while a student, and it's where I got engaged; Favorite Tradition: anything and everything Homecoming...and not just because that's when we got engaged. :) I just love the thought of the Baylor family coming together at so many events over the course of the week/weekend and reminiscing of their time as students.
What did you play in BUGWB? Piccolo
Did you hold any leadership positions in Band Council, within your section, or TBS? Let me think...Okay, deep breath: I was Squad Leader one year and Section Leader for two; Uniform Nazi--I mean, Manager for three years; Class Representative on Band Council every year; BUGWB'er co-editor; In TBS: VP-Membership, Chaplain, Webmaster, Joint Rep, Historian (kicking and screaming...and my apartment looked like Hobby Lobby had exploded); and I was Beta Alpha Sweetheart 2005-06.
Why did you decide to join Tau Beta Sigma? I came to Baylor as a Nursing major and resolved that I would not join a sorority. I had them completely stereotyped in my mind, and was not interested in that sort of thing. However, once BUGWB started and I met the girls in the blue jerseys and found how much fun they were and how genuine, I knew I wanted to be a part of this organization. Not to mention how fun it was to hang out with the K-Psi boys! :)
What was your favorite Tau Beta event? My dear little sis, Crystal Diaz, planned the best Crush: it was 80's themed with old games, movies, and pizza at Poppa Rollo's. Our Crush shirts even had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on them. SO much fun.
With what degree did you graduate? Bachelor of Arts in English
What did you do with your degree? Hung it on the wall at my parents' house... oh, not what you meant? I read? I can write papers? I can judge you grammatically?
What are you doing now/what do you want to continue doing? I've worked in Student Ministry at two different churches for the majority of the time since I've graduated (I had a brief stint working in fundraising for a Christian camp before heading back to Student Ministry). I love working with middle school and high school students and feel like I'll eventually teach middle school/high school English. If not that, I don't really think I care what I do as long as I get to work with all kinds of people.
Tell us a funny/awesome Tau Beta story? My roommate my sophomore year in Allen was potluck--she was a freshman and not in band, but worked in the SUB with one of the K-Psis. He somehow convinced her to bring my pledge book to work one day...I got a call from one of the boys asking me if I was missing anything. I checked my keys, my wallet, my phone (clearly, he called me)...nothing was gone. Then he said, "Are you missing anything important to Tau Beta?" I ran to my closet and it was gone. I wasn't even mad. I was impressed. All I wanted to know was when I would get it back. The things the boys wrote in my book are pretty funny. :)
Sincerely,
Tara