"Nobody knows you better than yourself", now let that sink in...

Line Number: #229

Big Sister: Thien-Y Nguyen *Solaria*

Little Sister:

Major: Botany

Year: Class of 2027

Ethnicity: Vietnamese

Positions held in Kappas:

About Me:

I love music and starting new crafty hobbies! Some crafts I do are burning cds, crocheting, letter making, making felt items, journaling, and making friendship bracelets. An aspiration I have is becoming a better person! I love talking about emotions and self improvement/love. I wish for a greener earth because I love nature!

Why KPL?

Growing up as a shy and quiet kid, one thing I came into college telling myself was to break out of my shell and to always try to be my authentic self. I was able to present myself without being judged and they created a safe space for me. They are the sxsters i've never had and gave me a girlhood i've always dreamed of.

“We accept the love we think we deserve”

Line Number: #230

Big Sister: Jalena Dinh *GOLDSTAR*

Little Sister:

Major: Health Education and Behavior

Minor: Disabilities in Society

Year: Class of 2028

Ethnicity: Vietnamese

Positions held in Kappas:

About Me:

Hiii! My name is Victoria and I'm from Clearwater, Florida! I currently want to be a pediatric or surgical PA, with the goal of retiring early and opening my own my bakery or cafe in the future. My love language is actually cooking and baking for the people I care about and one of my favorite things to make is pistachio macarons. If I am not locking in for school, my extracurriculars or VSO, you can catch me crocheting, reading or rotting on my comically large beanbag with my roommates. Fun fact: I love to travel and being spontaneous, so I did 24 hours in New York with my sister for my 20th birthday. I'm also a really bad swimmer despite how much I love going to the beach and I have really bad fomo (even when my friends laugh without me I feel it).

Why KPL?

Coming into college, I never thought I would be the type to join a sorority. However, going into this school year I knew it would be my last one at UF so I had to make the most of it, even if it meant trying to do everything and putting myself out there. I did not think about rushing until AASA when my big sxster tried to table me and she handed me multiple fliers throughout the night. I was hesitant to go to the recruitment events, especially alone, but I decided to go anyways and I ended up talking to very interesting people that made me want to apply. I have met some of the most genuine, funny and caring people through Kappas and they constantly push me to be a better version of myself. KPL has given me the opportunity to not just grow as a person but professionally as well. I am so incredibly grateful for my sxsters and especially my line, I would not be here without them.

“The day that you plant the fruit is not the day you eat the seed.”

Line Number: #231

Big Sister: Magnicel Pulido *RAPACITY*

Little Sister:

Major: Neuroscience

Year: Class of 2029

Ethnicity: Korean, Chinese, and Irish

Positions held in Kappas:

About Me:

I think of life as a pie, each aspect of myself is something different and contrasting, but somehow when each piece is brought together it makes me whole. I love being active through playing soccer, running, rollerblading, and volleyball, and I also love to sing karaoke and write short poems. My favorite karaoke songs include "No One Mourns the Wicked" by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and "Best Part" by Daniel Caesar. I adore listening to music whenever I can; I unironically enjoy all genres (except heavy metal so maybe not all), and my favorite artists are The Weeknd, Young Miko, Thee Sacred Souls, and SZA! I also collect and listen to music primarily through CDs because it helps me focus on my work without going on my phone for music. Other than a delicious meal, my two favorite things in life are going to concerts and spending my day at the beach. I love the thrill of hearing my favorite songs live, and I find so much peace in lying on the shore listening to the waves. I am obsessed with collecting seashells and I have even found a couple of sand dollars! Moreover, I have worked two customer service jobs: one at a post office and one at a shoe store. I love working with people and being able to help them while learning their stories. I think laughter is one of the best things in life, and being able to experience new jokes and wit is so fun from kind strangers. A couple fun facts about me include that I love the Lorax and the Minions (my favorite is Bob), I LOVE the Hunger Games and all of the theories associated with it, and I love ending the day drinking mint tea and oatmeal with raisins. Some of my aspirations are to get more into research on neurodegenerative illnesses and to finish getting a degree in neuroscience. Following that I hope to either take a gap year or go to law school and practice medical malpractice or patent law! I have always felt strongly towards advocacy and expanding my ability to help others through informational awareness and action-based change. I am pretty involved in social media-based positions because I believe using and mastering digital platforms is the key to creating accessible forms of awareness and educating others.

Why KPL?

I chose to rush Kappas because I wanted to be able to meet and befriend people who shared similar values and backgrounds with me as I started my college life. I did not come to college with friends from high school nor did I have an Asian community in my hometown that I could connect with, so l decided to come to the recruitment events to see if I could meet people that I could see in my future. When I was at the speed dating event, I found out that many of the sxsters did each others nails and lashes, and also lived together, and I found their closeness endearing because I loved how close they all were. Two moments specifically stick with me from recruitment where I could truly visualize myself joining Kappas: 1. I had a negative interaction with someone at Club Fair and when I shared this with someone, she reached out and stood up for me- even when I had only recently met her!! I found this so sweet because I had not plan on saying anything and I was surprised to see that someone was willing to defend me when they barely knew me. 2. When a sxster drove me home from a recruitment event and we talked and laughed in her car for almost two hours! She was so kind for taking me home, and when we pulled up to my dorm we just continued to share jokes and back stories. I saw myself joining Kappas because I felt so connected and open to be myself with someone even if I barely knew them. Following recruitment, I gained a deep appreciation and a partial answer to my "Why Kappas" through Process. I looked forward to the weekly meals that I shared with my line sxster (LS) where I got to learn about their personalities, backstories, and which characters they would choose to be in several fictional universes. Over charcuterie boards, Korean friend chicken, and cold pizza, I got to hear about each of their days and collectively create spontaneous mini-raps about random subjects. Spending time during Process with my LS taught me about how each of them handles balancing the things that they love, whether traveling, dancing, or making music alongside classes and exams. I gained so much love for them during and after process because it felt like I had received a glimpse of what sxsterhood was going to be like. After Process, I still look forward to the silly videos sent in our group chat and also moments when our schedules align and we can spend time together. Choosing Kappas allowed me to meet and become close with people who I would have otherwise likely not met, and I am so grateful to be able to live life effortlessly with them from the weeks we spent together. Lastly, I chose Kappas because I had always wanted an older sister growing up, and I wanted to meet someone who I could have a good time with while also receiving advice for my future. Through choosing Kappas (well, truthfully at tabling), I met my big Magnicel! She is someone who embodies the "work hard, play hard" mindset, and has shown me that you can be accomplished and productive while also having fun and choosing yourself. Magnicel is someone who simultaneously makes any place feel like home while also always having a contagious enthusiasm and energy that makes everyday events feel exciting. Choosing Kappas has allowed me to feel like I have a home away from home, and that throughout college I will continue to be supported and have people to lean on while also providing me with opportunities to make a difference in my community through volunteering and leadership.

"Time is money."

Line Number: #232

Big Sister: Nidhi Ramkumar *Altalune*

Little Sister:

Major: Computer Science

Minors: Digital Arts & Sciences and Art

Year: Class of 2027

Ethnicity: Chinese

Positions held in Kappas:

About Me:

Haii😛! my name is Tina. I am currently an intern at the Harn and work remotely with contractors at the Denver International Airport. Some things I love are art, tattooing, traveling, and fashion. I am a very driven and ambitious person and put my all into everything I do. This includes the relationships I build! I love hanging out with my friends and side questing to make the most out of my time in college. I’m always down for an adventure or to try something new!

Why KPL?

I was scared I had become stagnant in some aspects of my life because I grew too comfortable. I wasn't pushing myself out of my comfort zone and meeting new people as much as I used to, so I decided to rush. Kappas were always so cool and a little intimidating to me but after meeting them, they made me feel so welcome right away! I've already made some lifelong connections in my time in KPL and look forward to meeting lots more cool people!