Go G(r)eek!

Fashion Statement of the semester: Go Greek! Whether your signature style is a black tee emblazoned with these words in pink, or a strapless beach dress with 'Go Greek!' scrawled across the chest, we gotcha covered (mostly)! You and the several hundred other girls involved in sororities on campus that are dying to look just like you.

I was struck by yet another element of my life on the perimeter, and no, not the fact that I live out of my truck during the week. The two little words 'Go Greek' showed me my extremely limited involvement in university organizations, academic or otherwise. I am a member of the TSU Premed/Predent Society. I considered joining the Non-Traditional Student Organization (NTSO) but I got the strange feeling that there would be much whining about the woes of scheduling, families, and not fitting in (heh, that's what I do here!) And as a requirement for a class this semester, I am a member of the new Arabic Cultures Club -- we'll see how that goes, but methinks it'll be interesting.

I've never really had the desire to rush a sorority, even when I was a traditional university student 18 years ago (gulp!) There's a bit of non-conformity in my DNA that involuntarily scoffs during rush week. But I see the human need, even in me, to belong to something bigger than oneself, to have a group with which to identify.

That group, for me, would wear a tee-shirt that boldly pronounces

GO GEEK!

No, really!

Actually, the group I most readily identify with is the one for whom I am the most responsible: my family. While I feel a touch of pride in my Premed Society membership (read: I pay my annual dues and attend as many meetings as I can squeeze into my packed schedule) and I tend to wear my Mature Student Martyr patch prominently on my shoulder, the ones that depend on me the most are the three boys (hubby included) that live in my house.

I'm good with that. But I still struggle with the involvement issue. No, not to belong to a sorority or any other social clubs on campus, to make sisters for life. Medical schools look at involvement beyond your GPA when assessing potential students. They want to see more than just premed society membership, they want to see involvement such as holding office. They want to see diversity of interests and the discipline shown by fulfilling and maintaining commitments, all while holding a solid GPA in the toughest sciences and math classes.

My family is made up of four multi-faceted individuals, with far-ranging interests and passionately held viewpoints. Debate around the dinner table is common, as well as silliness and raucous laughter. We read up on diverse subjects, we study much, we experiment with art and music, we enjoy exotic and eclectic cuisine -- Luke loves ahi tuna, and Nate continuously requests Moroccan lamb stew -- and we exercise our bodies with many different activities (we get bored easily.) While we may not see eye to eye on everything, we all agree on one thing: We're a bunch of geeks! I'm a firmly committed member of this geek society, a fixture in the family landscape. I hold offices, such as Head Buyer, Executive Chef, Domestic Administrator, and Secretary of Schedule-State. While I defer to Wes as President, I tend to think I hold a lot of pull in the decision department. All while staying on the Dean's List, and stretching myself to the outer limits intellectually with 15 hours of university-level classes.

Surely, this will be enough?!

I'm hoping that the committees at the med schools I apply to see it that way, at least.