I apologize for not keeping up with my blog, but this semester has gone by in a blink of an eye. I am actually really sad that I will be done with school in 7 days. For once in my life I’m dreading summer because I will not be with my TU family for 3 months. Also, I do not even want to try and imagine life next year without the seniors. This campus has great people and something I love about the size is I am able to be friends with quite a bit of seniors who become your life mentors essentially. Well enough about what I will miss, and I think I will give a quick rundown on what I have gotten myself involved in this semester.
First of all, Tri Delta came in second place, TU alumni got first as usual, for Relay for Life. I was blessed to be a captain for such a great team that really put their heart in the cause. Being on Panhellenic has been another rewarding organization where I have gotten closer to other houses on the row by meeting with such fun delegates each week. As a baby University Ambassador, I have enjoyed giving tours every Saturday morning and enjoying brunch in the cafe. Yay for Belgin Waffles!!! I do look forward to finishing out a couple of my officer postitions at the end of next year, to move on to putting my focus on different organizations I am involved in…including academics as well 
Something I enjoy about college that is different than high school is knowing your class schedule far in advance in order to prepare mentally. In the fall I will be taking: Stat 1, Accounting 1, Principles of Advertising, American Sign Language 1, and Business Law. Holla at me if you ever need notes from those classes in the future. I’m also super pumped for Football season in the fall. GO GOLDEN HURRICANES! This year has been a blast. I have loved every minute spent at TU, and if I had to do it all over again…I would not change a thing! Hope to meet a bunch of new freshmen next year that are ready to love The University of TUlsa as much as I do!
Tag Archives: greek life
Winding Down
What a semester it’s been!
I guess you wouldn’t know, though, since I haven’t been on here in, well…awhile…
So. Extended leave of absence behind us, alot has been happening. Like I said in earlier posts, I’ve spent this semester serving as president of my fraternity. What a job! I now know three phone numbers by heart – my house, my mom’s cell, and Stanley Security Co., the operator of the fraternity house’s fire alarm. Let’s just say their operator and I are on a first name basis… Other than that phone number, the main thing I’ve learned through my stint as executive in chief is that foreigners know NOTHING about American university Greek life. That is, fraternities and sororities. These collegiate “social societies” are wholly American concept. The other day i had to attempt to explain to my Spanish teacher, a Spaniard, what exactly a fraternity is. In Spanish. No small feat, especially when all she knew of fraternities was the typical mainstream cultural reference – Animal House. Luckily for me, that’s not the fraternity environment here at TU, so I was able to tell her otherwise without lying to her face.
Apart from my presidential duties, most of my time is spent on school work. Classes are going well, for the most part. I’ve learned quite a bit this semester – how to build an information database, why Americans are so much more opposed to taxation than in other countries, and how to say fun things like “inflation rate” and “mortgage lender” in Spanish. Finals and end-of-semester projects are creeping up all too quickly, so honestly, I don’t want to talk about classes any more.
For Spring Break I headed two hours east to the Ozark mountains in Arkansas to go caving, hiking, and camping with my girlfriend and her family for 4 days. I know – that sounds awful, but fortunately, I have awesome “in-laws,” and the time was fantastic, especially at a true natural gem like Devil’s Den State Park just a couple hours away.
As school ends, summer kicks into gear, and I’ll begin my first real job as an intern at Tulsa-based Williams Companies. Williams is one of the nation’s leaders in the natural gas industry – one that’s going to do nothing but grow in the near future. I’m really excited about it – I’ll be working in the Economics Department doing research on energy markets and the like. Again, I know, that sounds awfully boring to some. But to be the right hand research assistant to the executives of a 3000-employee company like Williams is a fantastic opportunity. It’s also great to be a TU student, as Williams HQ (which is located in Oklahoma’s tallest building, BTW) is a ten minute drive from campus. It’ll be a great summer here in Tulsa.
Like I mentioned before, finals are fast approaching, and the biometric facial recognition paper I’ve been putting off for 2 months is due in 6 days. Considering I didn’t know what “biometric facial recognition” meant until earlier today, I had better get started pronto.
Later!
“I think I can, I think I can”
Right now my mentality towards school is like “The Little Engine that Could”; I have to tell myself I can do it! With a full week off of school due to inclement weather, tests and quizzes seem to be everyday. Although lately I have been swamped in all my classes, the professors have been going above and beyond to meet what it is best for me rather than for them.
Valentine’s Day was a nice start to the week because of a fun dinner with my pledge class at the Full Moon Cafe off Cherry Street. The California Burger topped with guacamole and chipotle mayonnaise is definitely a great choice if you like a tex-mex flare to your burger. The week before Valentine’s, all the sororities came together and made Valentine’s cards for the children at St. Anthony’s Hospital. That event was really rewarding, and a justified study break.
Tri Deltas’ big philanthropy event is next week, “Hoops for Hope”, which is a 3 on 3 basketball tournament where all the proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I can not wait to be a part of facilitating this event because basketball is my favorite sport. That being said, I hope everyone is ready for MARCH MADNESS! March is pretty much a great month because of NCAA Basketball, I turn 19, and say whattttt?… SPRING BREAK! But for now, getting through February with not a lot of damage done to my grades is all I can focus on.
Here We Go Again
Hi all!
So… I haven’t been on here in QUITE awhile. A ton has happened since my last post. Last semester wrapped up well; grades, body, and mind are all still intact – no small feat, as you’ll soon learn, for your average college student.
Many new developments have taken place in the life of Taber in the past few months, most notably being elected practically out of the blue to be president of my fraternity. That may not sound like too much, but given I hadn’t even entertained the idea of being in charge of/ responsible for a large group of college guys until it was announced I had been elected to do the job. SO, I’m now living in the fraternity house (my fourth living arrangement in four semesters…) and fulfilling all the duties that go along with the new position. As much work as it is, though, the pros far outweigh the cons.
Another development, I think (I can’t remember exactly when I last blogged), is my new mentorship at Will Rogers High School, just a couple blocks east of TU. A new organization here on campus is working with the underprivileged school to develop mentor and tutor relationships between students from each school – kind of like a localized Big Brothers Big Sisters. My “mentee,” Ta’andre, and I meet once a week for after-school tutoring/catch-up, and then I go two times a week to sit in on classes with him. It’s a great experience, as I can see his grades rising every week and see our relationship developing as his trust in me grows. It’ll be my goal over the next two years to convince him how important it is to graduate high school and to help him actually achieve that goal. Wish us luck!
Classes are looking good this semester. I actually like every one of my professors. Very few students at any college could say the same. Even the boring subjects like Management Information Systems aren’t that bad with a good teacher at the helm.
That’s it for now. Off to the gym so I can fit back into my pre-Holiday jeans. Later!
One Down 3.5 to Go!
So basically my first semester at TU has flown by! I almost hope they start to slow down from here so I can really enjoy the next couple years. I had 5 finals, which is apparently unusual for a freshman, and although it has been a stressful couple weeks, it has prepared me for the semesters ahead. I will be glad when I touch down in Houston tomorrow and put an end to all-nighters full of studying. To add to the joy of being home, my best friend is picking me up from the airport and I know our ride home will be full of interesting stories.
Tri Delt Formal was this past weekend and boyyy was it fun. Spending the whole night with my sisters happens often, but getting the excuse to help each other get ready and take a bajillion photos does not happen quite as much.
I am not a big sushi fan, but me and a couple of my friends went to a restaurant called “In the Raw”, and it was out of this world. If you get a chance to try it, I suggest you get the sauces on the side..they can be a tad hot! I am now starting to get the hang of things directionally and can rattle off most of the main roads in order. The grid system Tulsa has is much more user friendly then the highways and frontage roads in Houston.
I’m going to try to fit in a nap and study for my last final of my first semester I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday and safe break!!!
TUrkey!
The joy of break is slowly fading, due to the stress of finals approaching. Going home to Houston for a week was much needed, and seeing my family and dogs were great. I always have a good time cooking the turkey for my family, and I owe my brother fudge this Christmas since I didn’t have time to make him any during this trip. Seeing old friends and teachers from high school was also a nice pick-me-up to help stay motivated as I returned to the reality of college. The couple of weeks ahead to finish out the semester are jammed packed with both fun and academic events.
Tri Delta is having our philanthropy event, all-you-can-eat pancakes basically throughout the night. The proceeds are for St. Jude, and the pancakes will be LEGIT. Preparing for the event has been memorable, including chalking the campus with my sisters in the what I think is freezing cold. Native of Houston, this weather has been outrageous. For proof to that previous statement, I went to class in 27 degrees this morning so getting out of bed was a struggle. Not yet sure how I will handle these ice storms people speak of!
Organizations are hosting their Christmas parties, and one I am especially looking forward to is bowling with TEMSA. Also, Tri Delt formal is quickly approaching, yet I am no way near ready for it to happen. Campus is buzzing with holiday cheer, especially on the “U,” considering Christmas lights are wrapped around every tree branch, and on buildings in TU Blue. Every night I walk back I put something else on my holiday to-do list during break, including gingerbread house making, sleep, sleep, and more sleep.
Time Flies
My oh my, this first semester is flying by. The weeks have been filled with tests, projects, and of course fun activities. Initition was last week and I am an official Tri-Delt. I am also super anxious because Thanksgiving is less than a month away, which means a visit back to home sweet home in Houston. I have to admit I am not necessarily homesick but college has made me realize how much I love my mama.
My classes are getting more and more enjoyable with fun projects to finish out the semester. I am currently working on a group math project, and I have been able to incorperate skills from my MIS class to make the presentation more professional. Also, making next semester’s schedule was definitely an experience. My advisors helped me out a lot due to me lacking in technological skills. I am looking foward to the new subject material, and the fact I can meet more people in my new classes. This summer I am looking into study abroad, maybe in Spain. That way I can finish out my language credits while being emersed in the culture.
Another aspect of the Fall I am so excited about is….BASKETBALL SEASON starting. The first game = free t-shirt!! This weekend Student Association is also hosting a Notre Dame vs. TU watch party in the football stadium. It will definitely be neat to be on the home field and support them at their away game.
At Will Rogers High School, we are trying to enstill more school spirit into the students. In order to do so we are encouraging TU students to go, and decorating the halls with spirit banners, and have posters made for the game.
Hope everyone enjoys the Fall Festivities
Football!
Finally, it’s football season. It’s been far too long, and I’m pretty excited. The weather, the atmosphere, the excitement, the game – I love it. What I don’t love is getting beat by OSU. What I ESPECIALLY don’t like is paying $50 for a ticket, driving to Stillwater, and spending all day tailgating in the blazing heat only to see my team play badly and get heckled by a bunch of people wearing bright orange…
That’s all over, though. This weekend we host the U. of Central Arkansas, and I expect the Golden Hurricane to bounce back. If we don’t beat them, I may just quit coming to the games. No offense to you if you’re secretly a UCA fan, but it would be pitiful if we lose to them. Unfortunately, I won’t be here to see it (or fortunately if we manage to lose). I’ll be in Fayetteville, Arkansas watching my other team, the #10 Razorbacks play #1 Alabama. Win or lose, it’ll be a lot of fun and I’ll get to see all my old friends, but then I’ll be heading back after the game for our first fraternity function – “White Trash Bash.” Essentially, we all dress up like Dawg the Bounty Hunter and Larry the Cable Guy and invite all the sorority girls over to dance, play games, etc. We haven’t mowed the yard for a while (I’m sure there will be a couple of cars parked in it come Saturday), and I saw the Nascar flag that will be hung from the pole in front. Should be a classy event…
Speaking of classy, I got to go up to the OneOK Club Level of the football stadium yesterday for a Presidential Scholars dinner, complete with President Steadman Upham – the tallest university president in the nation (reason enough to come to TU, no?) Very fancy up there, and a great view, too. Not to mention TU’s awesome catering. If you get the chance to visit here during any program where they have a dinner, come! The food alone is worth the trip.
My accounting homework is calling my name, so I should go. Actually, nevermind. I left my book at someone’s apartment, so I’ll procrastinate a bit longer.
Tomorrow I find out how I did on my Microeconomics exam from last Thursday. I’m a little nervous, but pretty confidant, too. It was tough, but think I knew most of the material. Since I know you’re just on pins and needles waiting to hear how I did, I’ll include it in my next post.
Really though, I need to do my Accounting, so I’m gonna get off. Make sure and read my next post here soon. In the meantime, don’t fret too much about my Micro grade. I understand that it’s stressful not knowing, but you’re better off learning to cope with it before college starts, anyway. Until next time,
¡Adios, amigos!
Opportunities Galore
Flipping through my to-do list booklet and looking over my social and academic calendars, I wonder how it will all get done. Lately I have been going nonstop but truly enjoying every minute. These past couple of weeks have been filled with many workshops, meetings, and even football practice. It’s the beginning of the hiring season for interns for most companies so the Collins College of Business has been buzzing. I have been able to attend quite a few informational workshops over how to dress, ways to network, and mock interviews are coming up. They have all given tons of helpful information, and I even won an Olive Garden gift card along with other fun goodies. Last week was also special because I interviewed for Student Association and received an associate position in Cabinet!
It’s officially football season, both to play and watch. Tailgating was something I had never done, and now I see why people put so much effort into their pre-game events. Student Association put on one, and gave out t-shirts, pizza, and drinks. Right after that, I ran over to the Tri-Delt/Sigma Chi tailgate where hamburgers were freshly grilled…Don’t worry I didn’t eat at both. Our Golden Hurricane boys just beat Bowling Green, and it was exciting to see classmates and friends on the field. Intramurals kicked off, and it was a bittersweet first game. Playing with the Tri-Delt girls was awesome, but losing in overtime..not so much. The intensity of all the girls was quite shocking, and our awesome coaches (from one of the fraternities) brought us kool aid and orange slices for halftime..they’d make great team moms.
I purposely almost forgot academics, because after awhile your brain stops functioning in school mode, and starts to feel like overcooked raman noodles. Although classes have been difficult, my major Energy Management has been quite educational in relaxed settings. My TEMSA mentor and I had a good talk over Hurricane Hut passion fruit smoothies (great college pick-me-up) where she encouraged me and got me back on track after some discouraging grades. We had our first official TEMSA meeting on Sunday Night which was sponsered by Williams, and the Vice President of Gas Marketing gave us an overview of what his job entailed. Again, great networking that I feel a larger school could not offer as well and as often as TU does. Something I’m looking foward to this weekend is going skeet shooting with the Director of Energy Management, Ted Jacobs, and some of my EM peers. Again a skill I’ve always wanted to learn and TU has opened the door in order for me to do so.
Laundry haunts me back at the house, and studying for upcoming tests and quizzes is not going to go away. I hope everyone has a fantastic week and I look foward to letting you know I’m alive after shootin’ some skeet.
Busy, Busy
¡Dios mio! So much Spanish! I better be getting closer to fluency as much as I’m reading, writing, and thinking en Español these days. Sure, it will pay off, but sometimes I just feel so busy. It’s a good busy, though. When I’m not doing Spanish, there’s ALWAYS something else to be done. Maybe that’s true at any college, but it’s most definitely true here.
Many college admissions brochures testify to the 3 “S” Rule. The rule states that in college there are three activities that you can spend your time on: Studying, Socializing, and Sleeping. You get to choose two. The one I most often forego is by far sleep, followed by study (I can say that here because my parents don’t know this blog exists), and almost never do I give up my social time, for better or worse.
At least fraternity rush is over now. During that period I spent every waking hour making sure all the new freshmen knew which frat was the best (I may be a little biased…). It paid off, though, as my house recruited a record number of new guys to go through pledgeship. Awesome. Look at me, being all fratty. But that’s the thing about Tulsa Greek life I love – we’re really not “fratty” at all. To be honest, a good proportion of the guys and girls in fraternities and sororities here are those who wouldn’t be in a house at a big state school, but would yearn for a better social scene at a small liberal arts college. Just another way in which TU is the perfect balance, I guess.
In other news, John Mayer is a ton more impressive in concert than on CD. I was a little hesitant to go see him at the BOK Center here in Tulsa last weekend, but my friend talked me into it, and I’m glad I went. Even though he didn’t play “Assassin,” which is indisputably his best song, I enjoyed the show.
Well, Spanish is calling my name, so I’m gonna call it a day here on the blog. ¡Hasta Luego!
