Girl with the Arrow

The Kianu Class of 2009 (May 2009)

Profiles

For this month's GWTA, each senior was asked three questions. 1. What are you planning to do after graduation? 2. Where do you see yourself in ten years? and 3. What have you gotten out of Kianu that you didn’t expect when you pledged?

For some of the seniors, we have some thoughts they wrote about Kianu when they were pledges. When available, that information is also included below.

Their responses are below. Good luck to all the seniors! We hope life after graduation treats you well.

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Kelly Davis (Psychology and Sociology major)

1. I graduate in December, but after graduation I plan on moving back to Columbus or somewhere down south. I will hopefully find a job working in the counseling field. I will go to grad school and become a certified counselor.
2. Wow... in 10 years... hopefully I will be married and thinking about children. I will probably be living back around Columbus, be finished with grad school, and be an actual counselor or working with adolescents or adults with substance abuse issues.
3. Kianu really is an organization with sisterhood, friendship, hard times, FUN times, and so many diverse girls. I never thought I would become so close with so many girls and actually understand them and them understand me. To be accepted no matter what is the best feeling in the world. I have so many differences yet no matter what someone was always there even if they didn't understand at that time. I never thought that each and every girl in this club would affect me in someway. I have so many memories and I am so proud to say that it is with each girl that I have met in this club. Kianu is the sister I never thought I would have. It is a place with people that not only myself but also my family can trust and be proud of a club so great.

Written by Kelly as a pledge sister: "I love all the girls in Kianu and cannot wait to share a true sisterhood with all of them. I am so happy to be pledging this sorority and hope to get lifelong freindships out of this. Pledging is very stressful and demanding though I am willing to give my all for this club. I know in the long run I will never regret what I have done for this club or what it will have done for me."

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Nancy Fisher (Political Science/Public Affairs major)

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Megan Haig (Special Education major)

1. I am planning on teaching and getting my own apartment. I do not know where I will be living it as depends on where I get a teaching job. I do not plan on moving back to my hometown.
2. In ten years I see myself getting married to the man of my dreams, raising a beautiful family, being successful with my job and enjoying all my students. I see myself still being very close to my parents and sister.
3. I got out of Kianu so many wonderful sisters and memories. I never thought in a million years that I would have a close relationship with all my sisters like the relationship I have with my real sister. I have learned so much about myself through the experience of Kianu. I learned not to take my friends for granted and to live life to the fullest. I learned to have fun and relax and enjoy the company of my sisters. Kianu is not all about partying on weekends; it is so much more. It is my back bone. I do not like the thought of graduation because I know I will not have Kianu. Kianu made my college experience the best it could be and I am so glad that I joined this amazing club.

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Karlye Himmelspach (Special Education major)

1. After graduation I plan on hopefully getting a teaching job.
2. In 10 years I see myself with a full time teaching position and possibly with a family.
3. In Kianu I have gotten lifelong friendships that I did not expect when I pledged.

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Lindsay LaFollette (Business and Economics major)

1. I graduated a semester early so I am already out in the workforce being a big kid! I am currently working at Nationwide Insurance in Dublin.
2. In ten years, I see myself still working at Nationwide, starting a family, and going back to Muskingum for my 10 year reunion!!
3. I didn't expect to build friendships as strong as the ones I had all my life with my friends from home, but I did. Some of the friendships I have made through Kianu I consider as strong as my previous friendships if not stronger. I love all the girls in the club and I definitely won't forget a single one!

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Keah Monroe (Special Education major)

1. I will stay in Cambridge for the next year because I student teach in the fall. After that I plan to move to the Columbus area.
2. In ten years I hope to have a teaching job in the Columbus area or NC. I also hope to have my own home and to be starting a family.
3. I got out of Kianu much more then I could have ever dreamed off. I am a bridesmaid for my best friend in the club and I have friendships that will last a lifetime. I have shared my tears, laughs, fears, and my best memories with these girls. I have learned that even though we may not get along 100% of the time we have a love and a common bond through being sisters that will never be taken away from us. I love these girls with all of my heart and it may be sad leaving them at the end of the year but it puts my heart at ease because I know that even though we are not together in person we are always together in out hearts.

Written by Keah as a pledge sister in 2007: "Reasons why I picked Kianu: I knew most of the girls from last year and I already had great bonds with them. The girls that I did not know would welcome me with open arms every time they would see me. I felt at home with Kianu which is something I have never felt before because I moved around so much when I was younger. I knew joining would only bring me that much closer and I would be able to make bonds with a group of girls that could never be touched. I love these girls with everything I have and I’m so proud that they would accept me into their family."

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Sarah Morgan (Middle Childhood Education major)

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Michelle Nichols (Early Education major)

1. After graduation I am moving to Nashville! I will be living with two other Muskingum grads in the Bellevue area. I do not have a job yet but have submitted several applications and am hopeful =) It is a really fun city and I'm really excited to move!
2. In ten years I hope to have secured a job in a good school district and plan to have my master's degree. Hopefully I will be married and have started a family of my own. I feel like I will still be living in Nashville but that's a long time away so who knows! I plan to stay in touch with many of my Kianu sisters as well.
3. When I pledged I knew that Kianu would give me friendships that would last a lifetime and crazy memories to hold tight to. However I did not know that would include me constantly being surrounded by the unconditional love of a club made up of the most amazing group of women I have ever known. The ladies in Kianu have taught me so much. They have helped shape me into the person I am. They have been there to help me appreciate when life is good and have shown me that no matter what is going on in my own life there is always someone else dealing with something worse. I have learned through Kianu how to love, how to fight, how to compromise, and how to let go. This club has made me such a stronger woman, a better friend, and a proud alum! I know that Kianu is something that I will talk about and remember for the rest of my life. I know there are girls that I will still talk to and keep in touch with for many years to come. I know that I will be that crazy alumni that still comes back to every possible event. Kianu has undeniably been a life changing experience and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

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Lindsay Redlin (Sociology major)

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Elyse Schumacher (Speech Communication major)

1. After graduation I will not be done with school yet because I still have to take one class in May Term. However, after I am done with that I plan on moving home and finding a job somewhere around where I live. Then hopefully if things go well I would love to move to Columbus where there is more of an opportunity to use my degree.
2. In ten years I see myself hopefully with a good steady job in the Columbus area. I also would like to be happily married and possibly starting a family.
3. When I joined Kianu I had no idea that I would find a home away from home. These girls are not only my family, they are friends that I will have for the rest of my life. I have found future bridemaids and made memories that will last a lifetime! I had no idea that joining a sorority could be so rewarding but it has changed me into the young woman that I am today. I am so thankful to have been part of this experience while attending Muskingum College and would do it all over if I could!

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Kylie Snyder (Early Education and Special Education major)

1. Since I am a double major in intervention specialist and early childhood intervention I have to student teach two semesters instead of the normal one. I will be completing my second semester in the fall of '09 and graduate that December. I am going to be moving to Columbus to live with my cousin to finish out this second semester and look forward to this whole new chapter in my life. After I graduate in December I plan on subbing in the area school districts in Columbus until I can find a teaching job. I will more than likely find something in special education rather than early childhood, which is great because I love them both! Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I can't wait for my teaching career to begin=) My plans after I graduate are to be moved into a house with my boyfriend of over three years, Scott Ringhiser. We plan on looking for houses beginning in January of '10. Hopefully we can find something suitable and nice for the both of us.
2. In 10 years, well I have a lot of plans! I want to have my masters degree, maybe in speech pathology or a masters from Muskingum College in a program that they offer at the graduate level. I would like to be married to my Ringer and have a family started with him. I will hopefully have the perfect house somewhere out in the country in the outskirts of Columbus/ Grove City. I hope to be in a stable teaching position in a good quality school district. I hope to still be close with many of my pledge sisters. I know I will keep in contact with those that I have formed the most incredible bonds with: Michelle Nichols, Sarah Morgan, Megan Haig, and Nancy Fisher. I would like to have play dates with them and meet all the time for lunch, dinner and to go out like the old "creekside days"=). I hope Michelle is still in Nashville because I want to go visit her every summer!!!! =)

Written by Kylie as a pledge sister in 2006: I would like to start out by saying that I am so honored to be a pledge of the Chi Alpha Nu club. Already this club means so much to me. I have met so many great friends and people that I know will always be there for me. I know this was the right decision for me. The memories and friends I make here will be unforgettable and will always be special to me...
This pledge class is very unique and special. We really stick together and are always there for each other. I love these girls to death and I would do anything for them. They really are an amazing group of friends. Thanks guys!!

Kylie now: After looking over what I wrote when I was a pledge made me smile and made me sad. I'm looking forward to life after Muskingum, but sad about not being a Kianu active. It makes me feel better to know that so many Kianu alumni are still very active in our organization because I know I will still want to do my part.

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Kathleen Sullivan (Criminal Justice major)

1. After graduation, after I throw my cap in the air at the Kianu house, I am planning on going back to the east suburbs of Cleveland and living with my mother (Maureen Sullivan! love you mom!) and applying for job. I have not applied for a job yet (I know!) but I plan to stay with my mom for a little while to be with her before I start the real life. I am looking for a job in the criminal justice field. After awhile I plan to become a police officer. I have always been someone who has helped, protected and been there for people, no matter how close they are to me. I have wanted to become a police officer since I was 14 or 15 years old and now I plan to live out my dream! I know that my sisters and best friends will be there for me no matter what I plan to do with my life and I will always keep them close to me and in my heart when I am out on the job. They are the ones that have made me who I am and if it wasn't for them I would not have as much passion, courage, and class as I have today.
2. In ten years... it is hard to say. In a fairy tale life, I would like to settle down, have children, go to PTA meetings and drive them to their sports activities and be there for my family, friends and sisters! In ten years I would also like to be a police officer in a township or village so it is less risky for me because I want to be there for my family and watch my children grow up. I would like to be involved with Kianu still because no matter how AWESOME we are there is always more room for more passion and love for our club!
3. Oh man... What have I gotten out of KIANU!?! It is the corny quote everyone hears during rush. From the inside looking out, you can't explain it! but from the outside looking in you can't understand it! It is soooo true!
   I can't (don't want to!) imagine my life if I did not have Kianu and the girls I "grew up" with! The endless nights, the laughter about something so pointless, the tears we shed, the hugs we gave or got, the simple smile someone gives you, and the thing in the back of your mind when you think if something happens you know that someone will be there for you in a second no matter what!
   I grew up in an IRISH loving family, I have always been loved and cared about and I have always had someone there for me, even when my parents got divorce, but when I got to college and I pledged Kianu with the girls I lived with on Thomas Floor, I realized that I did not know what love really meant until I pledged! I realized that there are amazing people out there and they do really care about you! Someone I have known for one semester has got my back, is there for me to cry, vent, laugh and chill with.
   There is a difference between family love and sister love. Sister love is something that is unexplainable. It is something that every time you think about it, a tear comes to your eyes (for me, it is like a waterfall). It's a bond that is never broken, it is someone who "gets you", it is something that is craved by so many, and very few feel it.
   When I pledged Kianu I didn't expect what I feel today. I was a very independent person when I was growing up. Many of my high school friends did not expect me to pledge a sorority, but I did! Someone told me when I was pledging that I might understand what meaning of Kianu and sisterhood is but I wouldn't completely get it until it hit me. And oh boy did it hit me in the face, pretty hard. I felt the passion and love in Kianu my freshman year but I got hit in the face with the real true meaning of sisterhood when I was a sophomore. Everyone will understand it at different times, but I am blessed to have had to chance to be a part of Kianu and to have that feeling of being hit in the face with love, passion, class, heart, and truth. I would not have been the person I am today if it was not for Kianu.
   I would love to pour my whole heart and soul to the new actives and other Kianus about what this club is truly about. I want to teach them and give them the love I have gotten out of this club! We are the only women in this world to have XAN on our chests! Kianus are everywhere whether we know it or not. I wear my letters all the time because I know that there will be one day I will be walking down the street and someone will come up to me and say "HEY! I was a Kianu too!" Just having that connection with that person, even if you don't know them, would allow you to talk for hours about sisterhood, school, life and so much more. It is the feeling of home.
   I will cherish the time I have spent here at Muskingum College. But all the memories I have and will pass on to future Kianus and others are of my sisters and the times we have spent together!
   

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Jackie Vagotis (Business, Criminal Justice, Political Science major)

1. After graduation I see myself getting my master's in finance.
2. In ten years I see myself owning my own trendy fashion boutique.
3. I got sisters, bridesmaids and lifelong friends... these girls have shown me what life really is and that no matter what ups and downs I go through that I will have a support system that will stand the test of time.

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Millicent (Mickey) Yackey (Business Administration major)

Last Update: May 2009