Favorite Event in Pi
Phi:
My favorite Pi Phi event was probably Founder’s Day. I loved
feeling connected with the history behind the organization and remembering why
I joined in the first place. It always felt so special to be surrounded by my
absolute best friends and feel thankful for the organization that brought us
together. Some of us would give little speeches at the event, and it was just
cool seeing my friends get up in front of the crowd to honor Pi Phi. So many
proud friend moments at Founder’s Day!
Best Memory in Pi
Phi:
I could never name just one, but some of my absolute best
memories in Pi Phi are the simplest. My senior year, we decorated the house for
the holidays one day and blasted Christmas music - it may not sound super
memorable, but I had the most incredible time and laughed the hardest I ever
have for several hours. All my favorite memories come from living in the house
- cooking pasta in the kitchen with Jamie and Casey at 2am, jamming to Panic at
the Disco with Abbey in our tiny room, building a nook in my room with Maddie…
my favorite memories are countless.
Tell us a little
about yourself!
Hi! I’m Kelly K! I’m Cincy born and raised and joined Pi Phi
as a sophomore after transferring home to UC. I studied Communication and
Marketing, and I moved to New York City two weeks after graduation to do
promotions for iHeartMedia, and I now work in sales for a company within iHeart
called Katz Media. I love music, singing, and seeing bands at cool venues
around the city. Most of my free time is spent exploring the city, discovering
new music, and cooking a lot of pasta.
What made Pi Phi
stick out to you throughout recruitment? How did being a member of Pi Phi make
a difference in your time at UC?
Pi Phi honestly seemed the most genuine and natural during
recruitment and I really felt like I could be completely myself (everyone says
that, but that’s because it’s so true). I couldn’t be happier with my decision
to go Pi Phi. I joined at the exact right moment; I had just transferred to UC
and I felt lost, stuck, and clueless. I found people who made me feel like
myself again, and that is something I’ll always be grateful for. I found people
who dragged me out of my comfort zone when I didn’t even think I could get out
of bed, people who encouraged me to try harder in my classes, people who
blasted music and scream-sang with me throughout the
house, people who encouraged me to move to my dream city. In Pi Phi, I found
everything. Most important of all, I found myself through every single one of
those girls.
As an Alum, how has
Pi Phi helped you in your life outside of college? How did it help you grow as
a person?
Pi Phi has helped me grow so much. I rely on my Pi Phi
sisters everyday, even if that just means being able to call them after a busy
day or snapchatting them pictures of my double chin. It was so easy to feel
lonely after moving to a new city by myself, but my friends were there to
remind me that I’m never alone, even if they couldn’t be with me physically.
And not only did my OH Kappa Pi Phi sisters help me, but on the day I moved
into my NYC apartment, I walked in to meet my random roommate - and she was
wearing a Pi Phi sweatshirt. To my complete surprise, she was a Pi Phi at
UConn, and it was amazing having that connection and being able to bond with
her over something so special to both of us. I’ve grown so much because of the
girls I’ve met (both OH Kappa and Connecticut Beta); they’ve all made me a much
better version of myself. Everyday I try to emulate their compassion, support,
and positivity to everyone around me.
Any advice to those
of us still making our way through the wonderful college years?
DON’T WISH IT AWAY! Enjoy this amazing chapter! It sounds
cliche, but college really is the best time of your life. It’s the perfect time
to grow - there’s room to mess up a little bit, get back on your feet, and
learn from your mistakes. My best advice is just to immerse yourself into it
completely; dedicate yourself not only to getting good grades, but to truly
learning and soaking up all the information that’s given to you. Get to know
the people around you; take advantage of all the social events that college has
to offer. Spend as much time with your friends as you can - grow with them,
support them, learn from them.
