'They became my village'

Growing up, my main source of inspiration was my mother, Rosalyn Pope.

She is a Zeta (Fall 1983 at Clark Atlanta University) and would often take me with her to different social, civic, and community activities.

I participated even though I really did not understand what was going on or the importance of attending a walk for breast cancer or passing out information on voter registration. This is where I was introduced to this great organization and the women that were members.

I became close to the many women of this organization as I grew into a young lady. They were my mentors, role models, teachers, counselors, and cheerleaders. They became my village. They encouraged me and supported me in whatever I was involved in whether it was a school activity or an extracurricular activity such as Girl Scouts.

As educators, lawyers, doctors, judges, computer experts and just good-all-around professional women, they always encouraged me to do great things.

I learned what it meant to strive from perfection.

When I was in the ninth grade I was a member of one of their youth auxiliaries, Zeta Archonettes. I remember preparing for a regional step show. I was really nervous because this was a show that I would be doing alone. One of the members who I consider to be one of my mentors taught me what it meant to be great and how you should do your best in whatever you do.

She made me practice and keep doing the same thing over and over until it was perfect.

While no one is perfect, I saw these women strive for perfection daily in whatever they were involved in.  She said you are representing Zeta and you must do it with PERFECTION!!!

That remains with me to this day. They reminded me what being a “finer woman” was all about.

As I grew older, I began to reflect on all the things that I saw growing up and how hard these women worked in the community. I began to want to look deeper into the meaning of what they expressed about being a Zeta.

I started researching all the activities, the strides that they were making in their communities and the world as a whole.

These women continuously remembered their individuality while working as a team.

Often I would hear one say that “the organization doesn’t make you, you make the organization.”

So when I came to college, my mind was pretty much set.

But I still kept an open mind about other organizations of the Divine Nine.

When I decided to attend Clark Atlanta University I made up in my mind I wanted to leave my mark on this campus and became a member of Zeta Phi Beta in the spring of 2014.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has been one of those avenues.  My eyes have been opened to so many things from the importance of prenatal care for unborn children, children with autism, social activism, helping others during a tragedy or natural disaster, and how to care for our elderly citizens.

It has been instilled in me that a Zeta Lady is always in her community seeking opportunities to help her fellow man in whatever way she can.

While at times it's hard doing the work of Zeta with only two members in the chapter, I am constantly reminded of our five founders and all the work they did for this organization. This is a working organization and that is what I embrace.

In being a member, I realized that I am my sisters’ keeper.

We should all look at how we can serve others. A person can’t become great until they learn how to be a servant and to serve others.

I am reminded often of the poem, “The House by the Side of the Road” by Sam Walter Foss.

I want to be that friend that he talks about in this poem who is a friend to mankind as I live my life daily.

I  have loved Zeta since my very first step show. Now that I'm a part of this wonderful organization my love has grown past that desire to step. It's a love that cannot be explained.