Scholarship: Bianka Bubic

     In the past year, I was appointed by my sisters to be the Scholarship Chair for Alpha Phi. I was able to stress the importance of scholarship within the daily lives of my sisters as well as to emphasize the positive side of this pillar with chocolate treats and small rewards during our weekly chapter meetings. Scholarship and academics have always been something that I have held close to my heart since it relates both to my future and to my sorority’s values. Internationally, Alpha Phi is recognized by its three essential pillars and ideals: service, sisterhood, and scholarship. Over the past year, I have been able to transform the image of scholarship to my sisters and positively help our girls improve our chapter’s academic rank amongst the fellow Greek chapters on campus.

     Recently in December of 2013, I was honored by LMU Greek Life by being initiated into the Order of Omega Greek Honors Society on campus. I was recognized amongst other Greek sororities and fraternities for my academic standing and my dedication to both leadership and service within my time at Loyola Marymount. I am very excited to join an elite group of young men and women who are passionate and driven leaders within their respective Greek communities. I am also very proud to represent Alpha Phi within the Order of Omega Society as I begin my membership in the upcoming semester. In the next year, I hope that more of my sisters will join me in this amazing opportunity to promote interfraternalism and excellence in the Greek Life community on campus.

     Scholarship is an important value that all Alpha Phi members cherish and strive to maintain during their years within the collegiate atmosphere. I hope that our chapter will continue its amazing growth as the girls reach their own academic successes each semester. As the late Nelson Mandela stated so eloquently, “Education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world.” And I know, for a fact, that my sisters all have that power to make a dramatic difference. 

Katie DiTomaso: Sister Abroad

A year ago I would have never pictured my life the way it is now. I remember it was Thanksgiving of 2012 and I was on my way to my family’s huge, Italian Thanksgiving get-together like we do every year. That was the first time I brought up the idea of studying abroad to my parents. Little did I know the adventure that was ahead of me.  

I applied and, in April 2013, I found out that I gotten into the Gonzaga-in-Florence study abroad program for the Fall 2013 semester. There are only few instances in my life where I can remember being this excited. This is something I had hoped for and dreamed of for so long. On September 9, 2013, I embarked on what I can say with absolute fact is the journey of a lifetime.  

We began with an opening tour through Paris, Strasbourg, and Garmisch all the way to Florence, Italy, where I have lived and studied for the past 3 months. I still remember the moment when the reality of studying abroad really hit me. It was the first time I saw the Eifel Tower. I remember I was eating a Nutella crepe surrounded by some of my best friends in complete and total awe of my surroundings. The months that followed were full of these “is this real life” kind of moments.  

In Florence, I am less than 5 minutes walking distance to some of the most historical and incredible pieces of art and history in the world, like the Statue of David and the Duomo. Italy is amazing not only because it holds about 60% of the world’s most famous pieces of artwork, but also because its central to most places in Europe.  

Every weekend I have the ability to travel somewhere new. So far I have visited over 50 cities and 10 different countries! Some of my favorite experiences to date have been Oktoberfest in Germany, boating around the Amalfi Coast, experiencing the nightlife in Spain, paragliding in the Swiss Alps, getting a blessing by the Pope in Rome, and walking through the Christmas markets in London. It’s so easy to forget that I’m actually abroad to study.  My biggest stress of the semester was whether to visit Barcelona, Ireland, or London over Thanksgiving break.  

Still, I feel like I’ve learned more in just these three months abroad than ever before. I’ve learned that you’re stronger than you think. I’ve learned how much I appreciate my family, friends, and Phis. I’ve learned that you can’t wear neon or American flag T-shirts in a crowd full of Italians. I’ve learned that late night gelato is always a good idea. I’ve learned that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but instead where you water it. And above all, I’ve learned that your 20s are your selfish years. It’s a decade to immerse yourself in every single thing possible. So as Mark Twain so beautifully put it, “Throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. And don’t be sorry.”