Zeta Tau Alpha

Ten days after my 40th birthday, I had my first mammogram, and they found a suspicious lump. I was a busy working mom of a 2-year-old and 4-year-old, so when my biopsy came back as benign, I could have just let it go. But something just didn’t feel right.

I knew that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, so I went into education and self-advocacy mode. I spoke with the radiologist who recommended an MRI-guided biopsy. This new, experimental diagnostic approach was not widely available, so I was glad to have the option. The biopsy identified two 2+ cm tumors/ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in my right breast. I was “lucky” in that they found it early and I did not require radiation or chemotherapy, but I did have a right mastectomy and reconstruction.

Following my mastectomy, I had genetic counseling. I was only tested for BRCA, and my results were negative. Then in 2018, after a move to Denver, I started seeing an oncologist at a women’s practice and she recommended that I again have genetic counseling. I learned that testing was now available for many more genetic mutations. I was tested for 62 different mutations, and I found out I had a mutation called ATM, which can also cause breast cancer.

Then my challenges were to decide what to do with the information and to learn more about where the mutation came from. My mother was adopted, and my father was one of 13 children (who were all deceased by this point), so it was difficult to gather my family history. It was assumed because of family size and a history of cancer that it came from my father’s side.

To prove this assumption, my mom and sister also got tested. My sister’s test came back negative for all of the markers, but my mom tested positive for the BRCA mutation! This was a huge surprise, but it saved her life. She had just been diagnosed with cancer in one breast. With the knowledge that she was BRCA positive, she scheduled a bilateral mastectomy, and the pathology showed cancer was in both breasts. Armed with these genetic testing results, I saw a specialist and was prescribed Tamoxifen for five years as a preventative measure to minimize my risk of recurrence.

Many women delay or avoid having mammograms. Many women ignore their own health. Many women won’t agree to have genetic testing. The common factor is fear. As a widowed single parent, I live my life to the fullest and know it is critical to take care of myself and to be my own health advocate. I am a strong advocate of early detection and arming yourself with as much knowledge as possible. Knowledge is not only power, but knowledge is also empowering. Knowledge can reassure you, curb your fears and save your life. Live well, stay strong and Think Pink®!

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Her vote surprised a National Council member who knew of Mrs. Boettcher’s preference for the other organization. “I told her, ‘this is going to be very special—something every member can identify with’,” Mrs. Boettcher said. “It was the best choice for ZTA.” At Convention 1992, delegates voted to officially begin ZTA’s efforts in support of breast cancer education and awareness.

Four years later, Mrs. Boettcher was National President when a routine mammogram during her annual physical showed a lump in her breast. The week of Thanksgiving, she learned the lump was malignant. “It scares you to death when they tell you ‘you have cancer’,” Mrs. Boettcher said. “I ran to the bookstore to buy a book on breast health and read as much as I could.”

Pictured: Mrs. Boettcher, wearing the Purple of the Fraternity as National President, with National Council at the Centennial Convention in 1998

Mrs. Boettcher had a lumpectomy and the doctors also removed all lymph nodes in her left arm. Following surgery, she had 25 radiation treatments and she took Tamoxifen, an oral chemotherapy drug, for five years. She credits ZTA with getting her through her treatments and recovery. “It’s not good to sit around and have nothing to do every day but worry about yourself,” she said. “I stayed busy with Zeta work.”

Although she was diagnosed during her second term as National President, the quiet and thoughtful leader has never shared her breast cancer story on a national ZTA stage. She enjoys participating in survivor celebrations, including the parades at Convention. “There is definitely a connection between breast cancer survivors, whether you have met them previously or not,” she said. “Survivors feel a connection, having been through similar fears and decisions.”

She has shared her story in smaller settings, including an Austin, TX Alumnae Chapter Celebration of Life luncheon where, before modeling in a fashion show, she received a “hair makeover” from celebrity stylist, José Eber. “He was flamboyantly dressed in a big cowboy hat,” she laughed. “I became a redhead. It was great fun.”

Mrs. Boettcher admires the Foundation for its commitment and ability to communicate the cause to every member. “I had never seen the joy of philanthropy in our membership prior to our change in projects,” she said. “Collegiate chapters were the real surprise to me. They threw their whole effort and creativity into it. It also ignited alumnae chapters who had done the same events for 30 years. Everyone can embrace it because they know a friend or a grandmother or a mom or an aunt who had breast cancer.”

Pictured: Mrs. Boettcher (far left) with fellow breast cancer survivors at Convention 2010

Now a survivor for 24 years, Mrs. Boettcher is a proud and staunch advocate for assessing your risk, early detection and educated awareness. Usually a soft-spoken lady who carefully measures her words, she is passionate on this subject. “All women should be diligent in keeping up with developing news about women’s health. Rely on yourself, not just your doctor. If your doctor is not keeping up with new research, you should seek out one who does. If you suspect a lump or if your family history indicates a concern for breast cancer, you should discuss it with your doctor.”

Mrs. Boettcher cherishes her years as a survivor and National President, but more importantly as a wife, sister, mother and grandmother. “I have been a lucky little gal. All said, we still lose members to breast cancer, so our outreach is definitely not over.”

What is happening right now?

Racial injustice and police brutality, which stem from a history riddled with systemic, structural, institutional and individual racism and white supremacy, plague this country. Why should Zetas care? Well, as a fellow sister once said in her blog, Cultures are not costumes and why Zetas should care, “caring for others is the foundation that our sisterhood is built on.”

Pictured: #SayTheirNames: This graphic displays a portion of the people of color who have died as a direct result of police brutality since 2014. (source)

Yes, historically, like many other predominantly white organizations, our sisterhood and organization did not welcome black women and other women of color when it was founded. But, our sisterhood and organization has changed since 1898. And I’m proud of the steps, however small, because but for those steps, I wouldn’t be a member; I wouldn’t be an advisor; I wouldn’t now be one of the first black National Officers for our organization. 

I hope that Maud, Della, Mary, Ethel, Helen, Frances, Ruby and the Alices would be proud of the progress we’ve made as an organization. I hope that they would look at our membership of over 275,000 women strong and beam with excitement at the diversity we’ve achieved thus far and push us to continue to do better—to make the stand that #BlackLivesMatter. So, while we historically were an organization built by and for a single race, my friends, “times they are a changin’,” and as Zetas we owe it to ourselves and our organization to evolve.  

I realize you may have questions about how to be a good ally. I’ll answer a few key questions in each of the following sections.

What key terms should you know?

So, let’s learn some key words/terms you’ve probably heard but never had broken down for you (at least not like this).

What is individual racism?

This is most easily explained as the default definition when you think of “racism.” It is the individual beliefs or behaviors and racist assumptions, which are often reinforced by structural racism (see below). Examples are often seen in the form of racist jokes or comments that someone believes in the inherent superiority of white people over all people of color (source) —which leads us to….

What is white supremacy?

If you’re like me, graphics are always easier to process, so here’s the best way I can explain it, with some help from the experts. The graphic addresses white supremacy through the lens of social norms. Note that all examples in the graphic fall under the category of white supremacy and are unacceptable practices. 

(image source)

What is systemic/structural/institutional racism? 

These are policies and practices in established institutions resulting in the exclusion of designated groups. (source) 

What does this mean?!?

Well, in layman's terms, it means that as a result of U.S. history and continued ideologies, your black sisters are set up (unless something changes), to be forever marginalized as a group within society.

Don’t believe me?

Here are the facts:

The black unemployment rate is twice that of whites. (source)

Job applicants with “white sounding” names get called back 50% more often than applicants with “black sounding” names, even when they have identical resumes. (source)

Black students are three times more likely than white students to be suspended for the same infraction. (source)

Blacks make up 13% of the population and represent 40% of the prison population. (source)

When black people are convicted, they are 20% more likely to be sentenced to jail time and typically see sentences 20% longer than those for whites who are convicted of the same crimes. (source)

More than 7.4% of the black population is disenfranchised (stripped of the right to vote) as a result of felony convictions versus 1.8% of the non-black population. (source)

Black women are four times more likely to die from childbirth. (source)

For every $100 in white family wealth, black families hold $5.04. (source: New York Times via the U.S. Census Bureau)

For every $100 white families earn in income, black families earn $57.30. (source: New York Times via the U.S. Census Bureau)

Black drivers are 20% more likely to be pulled over than whites. (source)

I’ve included a graphic from @theconciouskid, designed by @courtneyahndesign below, which further demonstrates what systemic racism looks in society. Click here to see the full series.

What can you do?

You’ve got the hard facts. Now, what can you do to help effect change?

Educate yourself

If you’re a collegian…

Read books/articles/watch documentaries. This list from Time is a great place to start. Check out these films: 13th on Netflix (Ava DuVernay), When They See Us on Netflix (Ava DuVernay), and The Hate U Give on Hulu (George Tillman Jr.)

Have conversations. Proactively talk with your family, friends and community leaders about these issues. Hold your friends and family accountable when they perpetuate anti-black ideologies.

Utilize the upcoming resources from ZTA’s Inclusion Committee.

Hold events on campus with National Pan-Hellenic Council groups that bring awareness to these issues. For anyone who is unsure what organizations are under NPHC, here you go.

If you’re an alumna, your life looks a little different than a collegian’s, but what you can do to effect change includes all the above, plus ONE MORE THING…

Talk to your children early. There it is: Educate your children and raise them to be advocates.

This graphic explains how children learn about race and can help guide your discussions.

This article gives great advice about how to talk about race with children.

Recognize your privilege

Understand the definition of white privilege. Again, here I have to defer to some well-created graphics to easily explain this concept. Check out the graphic below for a quick explanation and see the full series here

Like this article says, “Accept the reality of this country’s dynamics.” The sooner we accept it, the sooner we can change it. Let’s not be ostriches with our heads buried in the sand.

Use your privilege to fight with and for those who are marginalized.

STOP appropriation

The Cambridge Dictionary defines appropriation as “the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture.” 

STOP picking apart pieces of black culture whenever you want to benefit yourself financially or gain likes on social media.

Examples: Wearing darker/tanner makeup to make yourself look darker, putting your hair in cornrows, wearing a weave or any historically black hairstyles.

Check out this article and this article with some more specific examples and explanations of what has been called “blackfishing” on Twitter.

LISTEN!

Listen to podcasts like “The Nod,” “Code Switch” and “Come Through with Rebecca Carroll.” Check out this list to find even more options.

“Uplift the voices and experiences of people of color so that we are not continuously drowned out and ignored.” (source)

Remember, it is NOT our responsibility to educate you on these topics simply because we are black. 

Donate

https://blacklivesmatter.com/

https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home

https://www.naacpldf.org/

https://www.themarshallproject.org/donate

https://bailproject.org/

https://www.cuapb.org/what_we_do

https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/

And many others….

Stay informed

#RocktheVote and choose to support and elect officials who have a track record of ensuring the most marginalized among us are heard and advocated for.

Follow social media pages like: @theconsciouskid and @rachel.cargle

Follow the relevant hashtags: #BlackLivesMatter #AhmaudArbery #JusticeForFloyd

Still have questions?

Here are some more great resources for you.

Join our Panhellenic friends at Delta Gamma Fraternity for a talk about the impact of microaggressions on June 10 at 8 p.m. EDT. Register here.

Read about white anti-racism in this Q&A style article.

This is a list of 75 things white people can do for racial justice. 

Learn more about being a strong ally with these racial equity tools.

Pictured: Allie and her husband Ryan touring Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea FC stadium.

A month and a half later, we started sheltering in place for what’s now been 64 days and counting. Just two weeks into our social distancing, we were forced to cancel our upcoming June Alaska cruise—another bucket list trip for my grandma’s 80th birthday. Her last planned vacation—ever—deemed no longer safe to embark on.

Chances are, my story is not so different than yours. Zeta Days across the country were canceled or postponed (including the first joint Iowa and Nebraska Zeta Day my sisters and I had been excitedly planning). Convention trips moved virtual. Girls trips with Zeta sisters and vacations with family canceled or postponed indefinitely.

While we can’t go on our ideal vacations yet, we can get away while sheltering in place and minimizing the time we spend in public.  

Plan your dream trip virtually with your sisters.

We can’t physically go to our dream destinations, but we can still research them and plan all the activities we’d do there. Grab your favorite snacks and host a video call with your travel buddies. You’ll be set with a plan when it’s safe to travel again. If you’re searching for inspiration, the Zetas Who Love to Travel group is a great place to start.

Go on an adventure in your own backyard.

Get out of the house and explore nearby nature that’s new to you. State and local parks, outdoor botanical gardens and bike trails can all be great places to explore while keeping an appropriate distance from others (as long as they’re open). If they aren’t, maybe now is your chance to become a plant mom with a houseplant or a backyard garden.  

Take a virtual vacation.

There’s a great big world out there, and you can reach it from the comfort of your home. Virtually visit a national park, a zoo or aquarium, or one of the many museums that make their collections available online.

Pictured: A photo Allie took from one of London’s tallest buildings (The Shard) if you want to virtually visit that too!

Treat yourself to a staycation.

This one requires a little preplanning, but you can replicate many of the fun things about traveling right at home. Order takeout from a new-to-you local restaurant. Put on your go-to travel attire (Okay, let’s be real, we have that on already.). Then, settle in for an afternoon or evening with your go-to travel activities. Read a book on the deck instead of the beach. Replace a museum trip by watching a documentary. Treat yourself to an at-home pampering session (complete with face masks and bath bombs) instead of a spa trip. You get the idea!

Escape in a good book.

My favorite way to “get away” is curled up on my couch, immersed in a fictional world. As Mason Cooley said, “Books give us some place to go when we have to stay where we are,” and I couldn’t agree more. Pick up a childhood favorite that brings you comfort (I’ve been rereading Harry Potter.) or explore something new from a genre you know you love. Looking for a good read you can talk about with others? Check out the ZTA Virtual Book Club group on Facebook!

Pictured: Leslie stands next to a C-17.

“The perfect combination of academics and fun”

Leslie’s ZTA story began when she received a letter from Salisbury University about “these really cool things called sororities” as a high school senior. All she knew about them was what she saw on TV, and she wasn’t about to get involved in that.

When she arrived at college in 1986, she discovered several of her roommates were Zetas. They left the dorms in their whites for Recruitment and always came back with smiles on their faces, which is when Leslie started to give ZTA a second thought. She decided to check it out the following spring, and when she did, she found a sisterhood that was “the perfect combination of academics and fun.”

Pictured: Leslie poses in Greece with her husband, Jack, and her kids, Heather and James, in 2018. She and Jack got married between her junior and senior years of college.

“A couple things changed.”

Leslie hit the ground running as Director of Social Events and went on to serve as Theta Delta’s Membership Chairman, Treasurer and President. She learned how to navigate sensitive topics and different perspectives as well as how to adapt her approach based on what an individual needed rather than what she would want.

“As I moved up and felt more responsible for people, a couple things changed,” Leslie said. “It wasn’t all about me anymore; I had people to take care of. I had to face ethical questions about things like hazing. I was in situations where I had to separate my personal feelings about my friends from what I knew had to be done.”

Leslie’s leadership in college earned her the Campus Life Award two years in a row, and she received the Best Female Greek recognition her senior year of college. She credits the leadership skills she learned in ZTA with preparing her for the military.

Pictured: Leslie's Air Force headshot

“How hard can it be?”

After leaving Salisbury, Leslie continued to exemplify what we now know was ZTA’s Nine Key Values. As a Lifelong Learner, Leslie started med school at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, where she decided to specialize in family medicine. She got bored after two-week rotations in the other specialties and found that as a family physician, she could perform minor surgery, treat both adult and pediatric patients and deliver babies, which was her favorite part of the job.

She also earned a flight surgeon rating, which requires a six-week class and six to nine months of experience, which includes flying with the pilots, and spent four years as an adjunct assistant professor at University of Nebraska Medical Center. “My whole life has been a result of my asking ‘How hard can it be?’ and then trying it,” Leslie said.

Pictured: Leslie stands next to a T-38

“What can I do?”

Dr. Knight has lived the Leadership and Responsibility Key Values throughout her career in the U.S. Air Force. During her deployment to Kuwait in 2002, her prior experience with mental health cases allowed her to treat patients on-site rather than having them evacuated to another location. She later deployed to Afghanistan as a commander of a medical operations squadron but also volunteered in the emergency room and operating room to assist in surgeries, freeing surgeons to go to other rooms.

She recalls a time when there was an attack on base, and all three orthopedic surgeons were in one room. She asked, “What can I do? Can I free one of you guys up?” Her knowledge and rapport with the other doctors allowed her to step in to clean a wound so another doctor could attend to a more urgent surgery.

“It doesn’t get boring.”

In addition to her current position as Deputy Command Surgeon of the Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, Dr. Knight has been a member of the Military Health Service’s Council for Female Physician Recruitment and Retention since 2012. She also served as chairperson for the council from 2013 to 2016. In her “spare” time, she competes in athletic competitions and triathlons and completed her first 50K Ultramarathon in 2019. She enjoys the extra obstacles ultramarathons in the woods provide because “it doesn’t get boring.”

Pictured: Leslie competes in the PPD Beach2Battleship triathlon 

“I just can’t figure out which one I’ll do.”

Later this year, Leslie will move to Texas to serve at Joint Base San Antonio in the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgery Center, where she will spend two years doing clinical work before retiring. After that, her dream retirement job is to open a bike-book-coffee-chocolate-beer shop, where customers can read a book and enjoy refreshments while having their bikes repaired. In reality, she’ll likely continue to practice medicine part time until she fully retires.

Pictured: Kristin’s collegiate ZTA journey, from Bid Day to graduation

Our last socials were canceled. Our final chapter meeting, where seniors pass down some of their ZTA apparel and best advice, was canceled. Senior week, Greek Week, our final late-night dinner for Think Pink® Week—all canceled.

To all of the seniors: There is no way to sugarcoat the disappointment. We’ve been dreaming about celebrating these “lasts” with the new member class we’d befriended and loved for years, and in one email, all of it was gone thanks to COVID-19. These losses are painful, and this grief is valid.

Pictured: Beta Nu Chapter

But the thing about grief is that it’s reserved for what matters most to us. It was in this grief that I truly realized how grateful I am for the almost four years I spent as a collegiate member of Zeta Tau Alpha. 

I can still recall the relief I felt as I stepped in the door each time I had a recruitment party with ZTA. It was a breath of fresh air because I didn’t feel like I needed to rattle off my resume to be valued. Looking back at a Bid Day photo, I remember my elation on that hot August day when we all wore hot pink tank tops and had our own Candy Land-themed event.

Pictured: Kristin’s first Bid Day at Mizzou

That Bid Day photo also reminds me of my nerves as I took in the unfamiliar faces of my new member class, but my worries were unfounded; over the next four years, these women would become my dear friends. We’d eat lots of ice cream, cry over broken hearts, win Greek Week and have a year-long slumber party. Together, we shared many meals, pomped homecoming boards, shouted more ZTA chants than we could count and planned the best sisterhood events. I didn’t know it on Bid Day, but today I can confidently say joining Zeta Tau Alpha was one of the best decisions I made in college.

As abruptly as the end of this semester came, and while an official commencement ceremony is still a question mark, there’s one big silver lining: When it comes to Zeta Tau Alpha, this isn’t goodbye.

Pictured: Lambda Gamma Chapter

These friendships will continue long beyond graduation, and our commitment to philanthropy and sisterhood doesn’t end once we turn our tassels. We get to celebrate each other’s engagements, job promotions, pregnancy announcements and world travels. We have opportunities to make more memories with an alumnae chapter and invest in the collegiate chapter that supported us. 

It took me four years and this deep grief to truly understand that Zeta Is Forever. Sure, we seniors missed out on some events we were looking forward to, but we can take heart in the fact that our ZTA experience does not stop here. 

1. It’s fun!

Whether we’re serving the community, supporting breast cancer survivors, connecting with collegians, celebrating our Founders, competing at a game night, attempting axe throwing, sampling a new restaurant, visiting a museum or learning how to salsa dance, alumnae chapters focus on FUN. 

1.5  Food is a must.

Every fun event includes food, right? Much like our Founders, who made sure to budget for snacks at their meetings and events, we love to form a community around food. We are brunch buddies, ladies who lunch and sisters who sip!

2. We’re flexible.

Alumnae chapter membership is designed to fit your needs and schedule. Attend an activity once a year, attend every event or participate whenever you can. That’s the ZTA alumnae way—no points, no fines, no mandatory events, no judgment. While we encourage your active engagement, your level of participation is flexible and based on your availability.

Plus, alumnae membership dues are budget friendly; a year-long investment is typically $30 to $50.

3. It’s easy to make new friends.

Have you ever found yourself with too many friends? No? Us either. When you join an alumnae chapter, you find a built-in circle of friends made up of women who are diverse in age, professions, life stages and interests. We’re here to cheer you up and cheer you on, no matter the circumstances. Who knows, you might even connect with a new best friend or a path to your next career move!

4. You get to focus on the bucket you need to fill.

The beauty of joining an alumnae chapter is that it opens the door to new opportunities and offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of life. Whether that means taking on leadership roles and serving as mentors, making the time to relax and enjoy some sisterhood time, or joining a Crown Connection group for book club, fitness fanatics, or art appreciators, the options are limitless.

5. We’re forming the future together.

Full disclosure, I didn’t graduate during a pandemic; but that doesn’t mean you should wait to join an alumnae chapter until life “gets back to normal.” Right now, alumnae are shaping what the post-college ZTA experience will look like. We’ll spend so much more of our time in ZTA as alumnae, and I’ve found that we get out of it what we put into it. Help us create the experience you want.

When I walked into my first alumnae chapter event a few months after graduation, I had no idea just how much ZTA would continue to complement my personal and professional development. If you’re looking for fun, flexibility, a network of sisters, somewhere to focus on your needs and the future of ZTA, an alumnae chapter is the place to be. I promise it will change your life for the better.

While we have made attempts to move the first two on that list to “virtual” engagements, the third is often thought about less because it presents a larger challenge. Service generally requires interactions with people who we don’t know or haven’t met—interaction that, right now, jeopardizes our health and the safety of others. However, I truly believe that there are ways we as ZTAs can continue “the nobility of serving” without sacrificing health or safety and foster engagement with communities in a real way. 

Here are five thought-starters on how you can begin the process of giving back to “those within and without our circle”:

1. Support local business.

Many collegiate and alumnae chapters hold “giveback” nights in their local communities. Even though collegians may not be in their college towns, almost everyone has a favorite local pizza place. Hold a virtual pizza night where sisters can select a local restaurant of their choice to support. Have members post a picture of their pizza with a specific hashtag and tag the restaurant for some extra publicity for both your chapter and the restaurant. 

2. Send a smile.

The elderly are one of the most impacted communities from the novel coronavirus when you look at the fact that they are limited from their normal activity and from the visitors they once had. Find an assisted living facility or nursing home in your town and write letters of encouragement to the folks there. The upside? You get to be artistic and you’ll also brighten someone’s day. 

3. Heart somebody.

The very act of social distancing is a selfless act. First responders, medical staff, grocery workers and other essential staff put their health and safety on the line every day to keep our communities functioning, and showing them some love and appreciation is a simple but powerful way to give back. Communities have unleashed their creativity in how to recognize these impactful people from filling their windows with hearts for passersby to find as they walk by every day to making signs to welcome home these heroes.

4. Partner up.

Giving back can be FUN. Organizations like the GetItGals host events like muzingo (musical bingo) where you can sell tickets and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice. Whether you are interested in hosting one or merely participating, you can have fun and do good together at the same time. 

5. Learn a new skill.

If you’re looking to broaden your skill sets and happen to have a sewing machine, get into the mask-making game. The CDC has several easy-to-make mask tutorials on their site. Make them for vulnerable loved ones who may not be able to secure them, or use this list to find a facility that is in need of masks for their employees or patients. 

Be positive (Lifelong Learning)

As you look for learning opportunities through this experience, remain positive and continuously pursue new possibilities for navigating this unfamiliar virtual leadership experience. You never know how the solutions you create now might help you later!

Be adaptable (Leadership)

You have to think critically to make sure sisterhood continues while you and your sisters are away from school. Looking for a starting point? Ask your Program Council to look over the events and programs they already had planned to see if they can be adapted to an online format.

Be accountable (Responsibility)

It may be hard to start new projects or change plans that were already in progress, but it is important to persevere and follow through on your obligations as a leader. Hold each other accountable in your weekly Program Council and Executive Committee meetings using these updated virtual EC meeting and all-PC meeting agendas.

Be open (Being Rather than Seeming)

Be open with all your members about how you’re feeling and check in to see how they’re doing. The new normal is uncertain for everyone, so do your part in being genuine and authentic with others. There is no such thing as overcommunicating right now. Give regular updates and share what you know with others.

Be helpful (Service & Philanthropy)

Give freely of your time to help out your fellow officers and chapter members. If you find your position is having a hard time transferring your ideas into the virtual world, ask other officers if they are feeling overwhelmed and see if you can help. You could also hold “office hours” for members to reach out to you.

Be collaborative (Seeking Understanding that We Might Gain True Wisdom)

Seek out opportunities to brainstorm new ideas with others! Take advantage of the chance to talk with sisters you don’t know very well and those you normally don’t get to see due to conflicting work and class schedules to get a fresh perspective. We are all working through this together, so don’t be afraid to reach out for input from your sisters; that may help lift a sister’s spirits and spark some new ideas.

Be honest (Humility)

Adapting to this new reality may be harder for some than it is others. Be honest with others about your struggles and successes and encourage your officers to do the same. Sharing mistakes as you learn to juggle tasks in this “new normal” affords everyone (including you!) a little extra grace.

Be resilient (Loyalty & Commitment)

Now more than ever, it is important to show devotion to your chapter and ZTA. Just because you left your campus does not mean that sisterhood stops. Go above and beyond to find ways to celebrate your sisterhood from home.

Be a sister (Love)

Take the last line of The Creed to heart by continuing to show love and support to your sisters in this challenging time. Sometimes the most important part of your role as a leader is simply to be a shoulder to lean on or a listening ear.

Supporting each other is the most important step to sustaining your sisterhood. When you find yourself wondering what to do next, just remember to be:

Positive

Adaptable

Accountable

Open

Helpful

Collaborative

Honest

Resilient

A sister

1. Stick to your normal class schedule.

Whether or not you have real-time lectures or lessons for your classes, try to structure your week the same way you would if you were on campus. If you have a M/W class at 11:30 a.m. that normally lasts an hour and a half, spend an hour and a half at 11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays working on that class at home. The same principle applies to Tuesday/Thursday classes and even the dreaded Friday classes.

This might also mean setting boundaries with your roommates/family/anyone else living in your space.

2. Create a study space.

Speaking of setting boundaries, creating a physical study space will help you mentally differentiate between “school time” and free time (if there is such a thing). If you can manage it, don’t work in your bed. A desk is best, but even using a lapboard while you’re sitting on the couch or arranging pillows to sit on by the coffee table helps increase your focus.

3. Give yourself a break.

…and no, not of “that KitKat bar” (at least not every hour).

Separating your time and taking regular breaks actually increases productivity. If you’ve never heard of the pomodoro method, now is a great time to try it out. Here’s the gist:

1. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on one task.

2. Take a five-minute break.

3. Reset your timer and start on a new task.

4. Take a longer break after every fourth timer reset (10-15 minutes… not a “I’ll just watch one episode” break that turns into watching 10 episodes).

Treat these breaks as the time you would spend walking to your next class or grabbing a coffee from the student union building.

4. Don’t multitask (because you can’t).

In the age of the internet, we’d all like to think we can do multiple tasks at one time. Unfortunately, it’s impossible. The speed at which you can switch between tasks might seem so fast that it feels like multitasking (for example, watching something on Netflix and scrolling through your favorite app), but you are still only switching from one task to the other. When it comes to studying, you definitely can’t engage in learning and watch your favorite show on your tablet.

5. Stay in touch with your professors.

It’s especially important to fully understand assignments and expectations when you don’t have the benefit of hearing or asking questions in person. If anything is unclear to you, reach out to your professor via email or, with their permission, call them during their office hours. Remember, they’re having to adapt their routine also; give them some grace when it comes to recreating half a semester’s worth of educational content.

Bonus tip: Staying in touch with instructors includes making sure you understand all requirements of participation, group projects and/or discussions, and assignments. Don’t let “not knowing” be the reason you lose a letter grade on an assignment. Chances are online discussion posts will factor more heavily on your final grade, and there may be additional virtual discussion spaces to address questions others are asking!

6. Keep an agenda/planner.

Online classes or not, a planner is a great idea to make sure you’re staying on top of all your assignments, personal responsibilities and requirements for graduation (looking at you, seniors). With so many events being canceled or rescheduled, including commencement in some cases, physically writing tasks down will keep you organized and on-track to maintain your GPA.

7. See your classmates every week (virtually).

Just for the sake of thoroughness, do NOT meet up with your peers in person. Now is not the time.

Now that that piece of business is out of the way, video chat with a sister or a classmate to hold each other accountable for assignments and make sure you haven’t missed anything. Technology makes it possible to study together, talk about questions you might have for your instructor (see tip #5), check in on each other and provide a little bit of socialization.

8. Get plenty of sleep and exercise.

We know the internet loves sloths, but e-learning does not give you a reason to move like one! Exercise plays an important role in maintaining focus throughout the day and helping you get more restful sleep at night.

And while you probably want to sleep like a sloth, 15-18 hours a day might be a little overkill. Aiming to get at least seven hours of sleep each night is a good goal.

9. Breathe.

We know school can be overwhelming even in the best-case scenario, and we know this is a stressful situation for those who were looking forward to their final months on campus before entering the “real world.” When it feels like nothing is going to plan (because it isn’t), take a few minutes for yourself and consciously breathe slowly and deeply. It doesn’t change the situation, but it will give you time to refocus and get back on track.

P.S., Don’t forget to review Crowning Achievements workshops online for tips on time management, studying and note-taking.

To recap, here are ZTA’s nine tips for online learning:

Stick to your normal class schedule.

Make your own learning space.

Take breaks.

Avoid multitasking.

Communicate with your instructors.

Use a planner.

Video chat with sisters and classmates.

Maintain healthy exercise and sleep habits.

Breathe calm and carry on.

1. Establish a workspace.

Whether you set up at your kitchen table, in a high bar stool by the counter or at a desk in the guest bedroom, having “a space of one’s own” is key to maximizing efficiency. If you’re sharing your space with a significant other, kids, pets or all of the above, working in a room where you can shut the door is probably best for keeping distractions to a minimum.

2. Maintain (or create) a routine.

It’s tempting to hit snooze five times and sleep until the last possible minute, but the closer you can stick to your regular routine, the better. Don’t forego your morning coffee or favorite breakfast item just to get some extra zzz’s. If you’re looking for some ideas to fill up the time you’d normally spend in your car, consider writing, drawing, reading or starting that project you’ve always wanted to start.

Bonus tip: Even if you don’t typically make your bed, try it out while you’re working remotely. There’s something about replacing the seven decorative pillows “just so” that tells your brain it’s time to get moving.

3. Wear real clothes.

Okay, that’s pretty obvious, but let’s go a step further. Since you have a little extra time at home to catch up on laundry *wink wink* now’s the perfect time to listen to your mom’s advice about choosing your outfit for the next morning before you go to sleep. You probably don’t have to dress as formally as you would in the office, but it’s amazing what simply changing out of your pajamas, sweats or yoga pants can do for your mindset.

4. Listen to music or podcasts.

Just because you don’t have the typical distractions to drown out doesn’t mean music and podcasts suddenly stop existing. You can still listen to your favorite tunes to help you focus, and if you’re home alone, you don’t even have to use headphones!

And don’t keep your old favorites or new finds to yourself—share what you’re listening to with your coworkers. Apps like Spotify offer the ability to create shared playlists with other people, so you can stay connected with the team through music.

5. Take breaks.

You might be surprised how easy it is to get sucked into work without realizing how much time has passed. Be sure to listen to your body when it tells you it’s hungry (not bored) or when your brain needs a breather, so to speak. You can set an alarm on your phone or use a strategy that categorically divides your work time, like the pomodoro method. Stretch, walk around or go to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Taking breaks also means eating lunch away from your desk! Don’t use working remotely as a reason to power through lunch so you can get more done. Working at home should not increase feelings of burnout.

Break it down.

And, just in case you scrolled all the way to the bottom, here’s the “too long; didn’t read” (tl;dr) version:

Establish a workspace.

Keep a routine.

Wear real clothes.

Keep the tunes rolling.

Give yourself a break every so often.