Pregnant and in a sorority

[ztaberry28]

Im sorry yall are so suspect, but yes this is all very true, as for the ring, it was my grandmothers designed by my grandfather who was a jeweler and since my mother is not married and doesnt plan to marry again she passed it on to me since we really cant afford a nice ring right now. Im young but I know what 3 carats looks like and trust me Im aware of the value. Just because I have a nice ring though doesnt mean we are not gonna struggle financially and that was the main reason i decided to drop. Dues of 1500 dollars really seems like a luxury when right now I need to focus on finishing as much school as possible and saving up money so my fiance and I can support our child, which in my opinion is a very mature decision, Im sorry that yall disagree. Im a college student and money isnt exactly growing on trees Im already in debt from student loans which i took out for both my sorority and my tuition and housing (about 6000 a semester) and when i think about whether I should spend a semester paying for dues and waiting to go alum or saving that money and putting it towards the baby as much as i love zeta to death it really wasnt that hard. Zeta has brought so much good into my life and I know that my friends are my friends no matter what. Im lucky I have another sister going through the same thing right now but thats not uncommon in a group of 100 plus girls. Someone is bound to get pregnant, we just happen to have 2 girls this semester and I feel better knowing Im not alone.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally Posted by ztaberry28

Im sorry yall are so suspect, but yes this is all very true, as for the ring, it was my grandmothers designed by my grandfather who was a jeweler and since my mother is not married and doesnt plan to marry again she passed it on to me since we really cant afford a nice ring right now. Im young but I know what 3 carats looks like and trust me Im aware of the value. Just because I have a nice ring though doesnt mean we are not gonna struggle financially and that was the main reason i decided to drop. Dues of 1500 dollars really seems like a luxury when right now I need to focus on finishing as much school as possible and saving up money so my fiance and I can support our child, which in my opinion is a very mature decision, Im sorry that yall disagree. Im a college student and money isnt exactly growing on trees Im already in debt from student loans which i took out for both my sorority and my tuition and housing (about 6000 a semester) and when i think about whether I should spend a semester paying for dues and waiting to go alum or saving that money and putting it towards the baby as much as i love zeta to death it really wasnt that hard. Zeta has brought so much good into my life and I know that my friends are my friends no matter what. Im lucky I have another sister going through the same thing right now but thats not uncommon in a group of 100 plus girls. Someone is bound to get pregnant, we just happen to have 2 girls this semester and I feel better knowing Im not alone.

Going alum doesn't cost money at all if you choose not to join an alum group. I can't see that your chapter would require you to pay dues for the whole semester at these are extenuating circumstances, but every organization is different. Perhaps you should speak with your advisers or your treasurer before you "drop". People here are telling you not to drop and to go alum, not stay active. If you drop that means that you will no longer be a ZTA, regardless of whether or not you still love Zeta.

You're not the only person this has ever happened to, nor will you be the last. However if you drop, you are no longer a Zeta. Is that something you really want to do?

[violetpretty]

Withdrawing from Zeta (which I am assuming what you mean by "drop") means you turn in your pin, membership certificate, etc. You are not a member in any capacity, and you never can be again. Withdrawl permanently severs ties with you and Zeta. Although I would expect that you'd still keep in touch with your closest friends from Zeta, you would not be a Zeta anymore. Your daughter(s) will not be Zeta legacies. You can't join a Zeta alumnae chapter 5 years from now.

Early alumna status is just that, early alumna status. With this status, you have the benefits of being an alumna without the financial responsibilities or time commitments of collegiate membership. This status is granted when a member leaves the university for any reason. For example, one of my sisters was severely depressed, and had to take a leave of absence from the University. She was granted early alumna status. Upon her return to the University, she was allowed to re-affiliate with the collegiate chapter or remain an alum. Her daughters will be legacies. She has the option to join an alumnae chapter when she is ready. I would think that being pregnant would make you eligible for this status.

If it were me in your situation, I'd want early alumna status. In fact, I can't think of any reason to not want early alumna status. The only reason to withdraw would be if Zeta won't grant you early alumna status.

In my chapter, if a girl chose to withdraw in the middle of a semester, she'd still be responsible for the dues for that sermester. However, yours are extenuating circumstances. You're not like "Wah I don't like ZTA anymore," you're pregnant! They should understand. Have you talked to an advisor, because I refuse to believe that they would ask for $1500 to allow you to take early alumna status while being pregnant!