Dear readers,
Our spotlight series is going strong! Delta Delta Delta president Weslie Warmink is a rising senior in PC ‘23 majoring in Journalism on a Pre-Law track. She leads a chapter of 317 members and works with 14 officers. Wes is currently studying abroad in South Korea and studied abroad in England last summer. Keep reading to get to know her!
Blog Editors: What inspired you to serve as president in your chapter?
Wes: I was interested in pouring back into this chapter how it had for me, and that started with the leadership I came into Tri Delt under. They had set such an environment of welcomeness and a standard of being super open and involved and that's what I wanted to continue to do.
Blog Editors: What goals do you have for your presidency, and what legacy do you want to leave on your chapter?
Wes: I would say keeping stable connections with other organizations, budget, and other things like that, so they can worry specifically just about the girls and the chapter. That would be something I want to continue doing.
Blog Editors: What’s the most rewarding thing that’s come out of your term?
Wes: A difference in my relationship with the chapter has been really cool; being in leadership gives more of an excuse for a connection, like getting to show up for every girl, and there's nothing more rewarding than that. Getting to have a hand in the culture and the energy of the chapter, whether it be at chapter or other events, is something I take very personally, so that's been really fun to get to grow into and learn from on the other side of female leadership.
Blog Editors: How would you describe a Tri Delt in 3 words?
Wes: Warm, Authentic, Intentional.
Blog Editors: What is your favorite tradition?
Wes: At the end of chapter, we do shout-outs, and girls can write in things that they want to congratulate their friends on. It's always really fun and really hyped up at chapter. They’ll be like “Congrats on running a marathon!” and everyone screams and cheers, it’s really cute.
Blog Editors: What’s your “must-see” when you have visitors in Austin?
Wes: I would say Barton night hour, where it’s free the last hour because it’s a completely different crowd — it’s definitely “Keep Austin Weird” energy, which is so fun.
Blog Editors: What is the best thing Tri Delt has given you?*
Wes: Oh, literally everything. I owe my whole college experience to this chapter and the women in this chapter, because all of my best friends are here. I didn't even know if I was going to go through with recruitment until I got here and was really doing it, and then immediately it felt so easy to be at Tri Delt. My big, she just graduated, but she was a Journalism major, so she was genuinely my role model through everything — still is.
Blog Editors: What is your favorite activity to do with your sorority sisters?
Wes: We love to try new cafes and breakfast places, like when (Shug’s Bagels) came to town we were like, “This is huge.” Some of my girls are super into thrifting, so we’ll go and find cool new vintage shops, too.
Blog Editors: What’s one thing you wish you knew about UT?
Wes: Everyone stresses the importance of getting into some kind of organization, be it Greek life or not. UT is so big that having an organization that makes campus feel a little smaller sometimes, just having people that you recognize and see all the time is a nice safety net at such a big school. Tri Delt has really been something for me to lean on, and it's way easier at UT to grow and learn if you know people have your back. It’s such an awesome school that it’s worth it to be as involved as you can.
Blog Editors: What’s one thing you wish you knew about recruitment as a PNM?
Wes: It's not worth it to go in and try to be anything other than who you are all the time, because that's not going to be a fair representation of who you are going to be for the rest of your four years, or however long you're at UT. It’s so worth it for you and for everybody involved to just go in and be as authentic and real as possible, and then follow your gut.
Blog Editors: Any general advice you have for girls on the fence about going Greek?
Wes: Recruitment is very fast paced and overwhelming, so find the pockets of where it's easy. I've always said, I walked into Tri Delt and it was a breath of relief, so look for that kind of energy. If you find that, it's worth it to continue. Especially being on the fence, it's worth it to just try it out and see if you do find that.
We loved getting to know Wes! See you next week for another spotlight.
All my love,
Shreya