I came into college not the most confident with myself and definitely not the best at making connections prior to that. I tried and joined different organizations, but it still just felt like something was missing. Fast forward to spring quarter my sophomore year when ASK was founded at UCSB, I made the tough decision to give another organization a shot. And looking back as a fresh graduate now, I have to say that joining ASK was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my undergrad career at UCSB, because I have found a sense of community with the fun sisters who are just as genuinely passionate about STEM and sisterhood as I am. I have also made friends who I know have my back and that I will be able to do things with post-graduation. As my undergrad has come to a close here at UCSB, I can safely say that I would not have had a nearly as fulfilling of a time at UCSB if I didn’t end up joining this sisterhood. ♥️
Written by Claire Qian Claire recently graduated from UCSB this past March with a B.S. in Statistics and Data Science. She is a member of the Alpha Class and served as PFC chair last year. Claire will be working at a startup post- graduation!
0 Comments
If you came up to me and asked about my favorite memory from ASK, I could tell you about the spontaneous boba run we did after that one event, how competitive we got at the sisters scavenger hunt, or our retreat to LA where we tried to make cookies without a recipe. I could tell you about the seven straight hours we spent together during our installation or go into length about how my sisters planned a surprise party for my 21st birthday. I could talk about that moment when I installed a girl from my floor my first year who quickly grew into my best friend and became my current roommate and confidant. I could show you the video of the moment when I got my little and couldn’t stop smiling. I could even tell you about the time me and the former president freaked out about whether or not our interest group could ever be as a big as we hoped.
I could tell you all those memories and more, but to me those are just memories. To me, ASK is so much more than a bunch of highlights strung together throughout my years at UCSB. It isn’t about the events we hold, the fundraisers we run, or academic enrichment events where we teach each other what being a woman in STEM means to us. To me, ASK is made up of all the little things, the daily reminders of what it means to be a part of this sisterhood. It’s the fact that although we are in different majors from distinct backgrounds with different career goals, we’re always there to support each other. It’s when my sisters brought me snacks and caffeine when I had to miss Bid day to spend 20 straight hours writing a pharm lab report. It’s waiting an extra ten minutes before we can start a meeting because even though we saw each other last week, we can’t help ourselves from catching up. It’s the pride I’ve felt as the Big Little coordinator making those first Big Little parings with Emi and seeing those pairings grow into families, each with their own distinct personalities. It’s seeing family lines posting Instagram stories about them cooking dinner together, going on a hike, or just studying together after I spent the last five weeks and a couple of mental breakdowns to find the perfect fit for each new candidate. That’s what ASK is to me. It’s the community new sisters join and immediately find a home in. It’s the constant empathy and understanding from fellow sisters who know that sometimes academics come first and sometimes you just need to hang out with your sisters. It’s knowing that although this was something I spent the last three years of my life building, this is something I’ll always have with me to support me as I graduate from UCSB. That’s my favorite part of ASK. Written by Sophie Mulligan Sophie is a fourth year Pharmacology major on the pre-PA route and is the current Vice President. She’s also the head course assistant for SOC 152A, a scribe for a local nephrologist, and is working in the Montell Lab at UCSB to publish her research on drosophila melanogaster. Before my time here at UCSB began, I was always a part of some sort of team where I truly felt connected to everyone involved. I thought that part of my life ended when I stopped playing sports at the end of my junior year. That feeling grew a year later when I decided to move away from my hometown to attend UCSB. It wasn’t until I rushed ASK that I felt a sense of community again. Although I’ve only been a part of this amazing sorority for a few months, I found my place in the academic community and formed lifelong friendships with the wonderful ladies of ASK - including my amazing future roommates!
I think it’s important for people to surround themselves with people who share the same values and life goals. It really helped me find my place at UCSB, and my self confidence and ambition have greatly benefited from being a member of this sorority. It’s always nice knowing that I have so many sisters who have my back and continue to inspire me. I couldn’t be more honored to be one of ASK’s women in STEM! Written by Mia Bartolotti Mia is currently a first year Pre-Chemistry major who is intending to declare Biochemistry. She is a member of the Delta Class and plans on running for leadership positions in the future. Like most freshmen, I entered into college excited to meet new people and make new friends. By spring quarter, I had met a lot of people, but I hadn’t found a group I truly belonged in. I decided to rush a sorority, something I never thought I’d do. Expecting to find a group of fun girls who I could hang out with, I ended up with more than I thought possible. I found a group of girls who I could have fun with, but who would also support me in my academic and professional goals. From the very beginning, my favorite part of ASK has always been our integration of sisterhood and academics. I love our strong sisterhood bond because far from detracting from our goals, it motivates us to strive toward them. Desiring to promote this aspect of our sisterhood, I became the Academic Chair, and I have found so much fulfillment in taking on this role. From planning fun study events with yummy food to hosting professional development events, I have been able to promote our sorority’s goal of encouraging women support each other in their academics. Thank you ASK for giving me this opportunity to grow in sisterhood with these amazing women!
Written by Hannah Nawrocki Hannah is a third year Biopsychology major and is currently our Academic Chair. I decided to rush ASK during my spring quarter of my freshman year because I wanted a home away from home. When trying to find where I fit in, I realized that many organizations and fraternities on campus didn’t quite tie sisterhood and academics together. I wanted to be a part of a group of girls that were passionate about their education and career, but also emphasized relationships with one another. ASK is the perfect sorority for me because everybody is encouraged to succeed academically, while valuing the importance of genuine bonds with one another. I can count on all of my sisters to catch me when I fall, and also help me develop as a student. Having a diverse range of STEM majors means that everybody can benefit in one way or another. My sisters have helped me gain insight on my education journey, provided me with professional opportunities, and of course, a sisterhood that’s like no other.
Written by Valerie Htun Valerie Htun is a second year pre-biology major and philosophy minor on the pre-medical route. She is currently the Apparel Coordinator, and future Treasurer for 2020-21. When I decided to rush ASK this past fall, I had no idea how much it could change my college experience. Like many others, coming into my freshman year I was filled with nerves and excitement to meet new people and form the lasting bonds we all hear about with college friends. Yet, I soon realized it wasn’t everything I imagined it would be, and meeting new people in college was a lot harder than I expected. Joining ASK changed all of this for me as I was welcomed by a group of amazing girls that made me feel as if I had a place on campus where I belonged. I rushed with my best friend in the fall, and we both got initiated into the Delta class and met so many incredible girls. ASK is a group of strong women who support each other both academically and socially, and I could not be prouder to be a sister. I love them with all my heart, and now I know I not only have college friends for life, but I have my entire sisterhood.
Written by Marisa Gauna Marisa is the Delta Class president and currently a second year Psych and Brain Sciences (B.S). major. She is following her passion of mental health activism on campus and in her studies, and she hopes to get a master's in mental health counseling. I never thought sororities were “for me.” I’m pretty much the opposite of the stereotypical “sorority girl,” and I’m a member of the LGBTQ community. I thought that I would never “fit in” in a sorority. Some friends invited me to rush ASK during my first year at UCSB and I was very skeptical, but I decided to try it out. The rush process was very welcoming and very different from anything I had pictured in my head. Everyone was very welcoming and very genuine. I joined the Alpha Class of ASK and have been involved in recruitment since. As one of the current recruitment chairs I try my best to reach out to girls that don’t think of themselves as conventional “sorority girls” and show them how accepting and one-of-a-kind ASK is. My years in ASK have challenged me to look beyond my preconceptions, and this has led me to form many very meaningful friendships at UCSB. I can very honestly say I love my sisters and I love ASK.
Written by Angie Laguna Angie is a third year Biology (B.S) major and is currently our recruitment chair. In high school, I was always a quiet and reserved person. I was the person who sat in the back and was often overlooked, but I had my core group of friends who were always there for me, they were like a safety blanket, so the thought of going to college without them was petrifying. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited about college and the freedom that came with it, but I had so many questions running through my mind: will I make friends, what if I don’t like my roommates, am I in the right major, etc. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to do a research internship over the summer before my first year and I was able to meet some amazing people through the program. It’s through this program that I got to meet Shelby, ASK’s president, and Sophie, ASK’s vice president. They reached out through the research program to tell us that they were starting a sorority for women in STEM and I figured why not. I wanted to explore all the extracurriculars college had to offer. I admit I went into the meeting very skeptical; everyone knew the sorority stereotype; bleach blonde, fake tan, partiers, and I went in with this idea in the back of my mind. I remember walking into the apartment and all my preconceptions of them dissipated instantly. After talking with them and learning more about what ASK was, I realized the true impact these girls were making in creating a place for women who were pursuing STEM majors which have always been male-dominated. I realized that they were making their marks here at UCSB and I wanted to be a part of it. Helping expand an organization that empowered women and helped them achieve their goals inspired me. It hasn’t always been easy and we had, and still, have a lot to learn but I’m so proud of us for getting this far. I am so glad I went that initial day because I have been able to watch this tiny interest group grow into a full chapter, and it brings me so much joy and pride. I cannot imagine my life without my sisters. These girls have taught me how to open up and be more outgoing, they have taught me how to be resilient, and most importantly they taught me what true friendship (sorry that was cheesy).
Thank you ASK, I couldn’t imagine my life without you. Written by Claudia Do Claudia is a second year pre-biology major, a member of our founding class, and our current secretary. She is also actively involved in our campus community as an undergraduate researcher in the Mazer lab, an associate director of UCSB's Health Profession's Association, and a member of the Vietnamese Student Association. I joined Alpha Sigma Kappa’s founding class the winter of my freshman year (January 2018), and saw this colony through its initiation in February 2019! Within ASK, I have had the opportunity to serve as the Xi Colony’s Academic Chair, on the Recruitment Committee (fall 2018), on the Presidential Committee, and head my own academic committee. Throughout my experiences in ASK, I have gained innumerable memories and am so grateful for all of the wonderful people I have met through the organization. I owe much of my college experience so far to this sorority, and cannot wait to continue my time here as involved as possible.
My favorite part about ASK is definitely the connections I’ve been able to make and all my new friends that keep growing with every rush. I was recently talking with my roommate Cassidy about how my very first ASK event was the same event that we asked each other to live together, so my friends I’ve made through even my first day in ASK have stayed with me my whole time being in this organization. I feel as though the strongest bonds I have with ASK members have developed especially through our sisterhood events such as galentine’s day, the holiday party, or even the hours after events where I just get to chill and hang out with with my friends in an intimate environment. Written by Haley Bjursten Haley is currently a second year Environmental Studies (B.A.), History of Architecture and the Environment (Emphasis on Architecture and the Environment) (B.A.), and Studio Art minor. My experience rushing for Alpha Sigma Kappa was amazing! I was a little nervous going into the rush process, especially because of the stigma around sororities and hazing, however, after attending the first event, I knew I had nothing to worry about. Once I met all of the girls at the first event I attended, I knew I could fit in with all of them. They were all incredibly nice and welcoming, and it was obvious they were all excited to get to know the new potential Beta class. The rush process itself was demanding enough that it felt like a true commitment and gave me a sense of what being in the sorority would be like, while also being flexible with our academic responsibilities. I’m so excited to host another recruitment process in the Spring and meet the Gamma class!
Written by Julie Munoz Julie is a current third year biology major and the Beta Class President. She is also involved in undergraduate research through UCSB's Chemistry Department. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career as a biomedical researcher. |
About:Our blog was originally created in August of 2018 as a way for our Chapter to make sharing updates easier. Since then it has gone through many changes including serving as a tool for Members to connect during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Now, it has been turned into a resource for Potential New Members (PNMs) to learn more about our Member's time and experiences in ASK.
We hope you enjoy reading and we encourage you to learn more from these Members at our Recruitment events! Archives:
October 2023
|