ACCOMPLISHED ALUMNA
Unexpected Adventures BY LINDSAY DUBE (GAMMA RHO, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY)
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f you had asked me what I would be doing my senior semester of undergrad, a 170-mile bikepacking trip over spring break would not have made the list of possibilities. But nevertheless, there I was – on a six-day trip on the Monumental Loop in southern New Mexico. In a class called Adventure Media at Texas Tech University, I was camping under the stars in the desert, riding long miles over mountain ranges, and documenting the entire experience through a camera lens to turn into a documentary. Much like my adventure into bike-packing, finding the sisterhood of Alpha Chi Omega was not something that I ever pictured when I started college. No one in my family had ever been a part of Greek life, and none of my high school friends were planning on participating. I came to Texas Tech in the fall of 2019 eager to soak up any experience I could. Heavily involved in yearbook and journalism in high school, I quickly found a job working for our college yearbook, La Ventana, as the social media editor. Midway through my first semester, I was assigned a story about Bid Day. This was my first exposure to Greek life at Texas Tech. It was my job to interview all kinds of women involved in Panhellenic sororities about their Bid Day experiences. I was quickly fascinated and dove into a YouTube rabbit hole about all things Greek life and learned everything I could about the process. When registration finally opened for fall 2020 recruitment, I was PNM #35. Like the rest of the world, I never imagined the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on everything. Recruitment was fully transformed into a virtual experience, but in the end, I found my home at Alpha Chi Omega! Like many of my sisters, I could feel the authenticity and sincereness when talking to older members about their experiences. I never had to question if I was welcomed or accepted for who I was at Alpha Chi Omega. 60
ALPHA CHI OMEGA
LINDSAY DUBE DURING HER TREK PHOTO CREDIT: JEROD FOSTER
I don’t have any biological sisters, just a younger brother who means the world to me. Nevertheless, I found true sisterhood in the relationships I built with my Alpha Chi Omega sisters – in my Greek family, all my roommates in the house we lovingly called the “A Chi Home,” the executive board I served Gamma Rho with and every other sister who touched my life. The same year I joined the sisterhood of Alpha Chi Omega, I was also officially diagnosed with muscular dystrophy – specifically facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). I say “officially” only because this did not come as a total surprise. My father, uncle and grandmother are all affected by this disease, so I always knew the possibility I would also have it. I won't bore you with all the details, but FSHD is a genetic neuromuscular disease that is degenerative and currently incurable. Essentially, when my muscles break down, there is no getting them back. Eventually it will likely affect my mobility, strength and appearance. While I was prepared for the diagnosis, it doesn't make the reality any easier – it’s hard knowing that my body will eventually betray me.
