The One and Only Thalian: Katy Alonzo
Pledging season has long passed, and prospective society members are now reaping the rewards of the initiation process. While societies such as the Palmers and Athenians had numerous students join their ranks, the Thalian Society had one inductee: fourth-year Katy Alonzo.
The Thailan Society, formed in 1929, is one of the five female societies currently active on campus. They are “composed of a large and diverse group of women who share a sisterhood and an everlasting bond of friendship,” according to the College’s website. Their three fulfillments are as follows: “friendship, loyalty, and festivity,” all of which contribute to their own motto, “Chance made us sisters. Hearts made us friends.”
But now the pressure of continuing the Thalian legacy has fallen onto the shoulders of Alonzo, who is majoring in Child Development with a minor in History. Coming to Whittier from Beaverton, Oreg., Alonzo did not expect to join any societies during her journey here at Whittier. “I never thought societies were for me; I never really had much experience with them in my other years,” Alonzo explains, reminiscing on the process that brought her to join the Thalians.
She stayed in that mindset until her third year at Whittier: “I attended the Pennete pledging and met a group of girls from almost all of the female societies. I had a great time with them, and agreed to go to Rush. I ended up really loving the community and what it stood for.”
No other societies were of interest to Alonzo like the Thalians were, even if she had connections with other societies such as the Athenians and Palmers. “I think if I had been interested in joining them, I would have, but they all pretty much knew if I had to go to one, I would go to the Thalians.” And that she did, all thanks to one of her friends, Isabella (Isa) Madera, a fellow Thalian.
According to Alonzo, Madera had convinced her to come to Rush events during the Fall semester, where Alonzo immediately felt welcomed. “They were just so easy to talk to; they were all so nice and really interested in me and what I liked.”
As Alonzo continued to attend their events, the Thalians made sure to keep making her feel welcomed. “During the entire Rush process, they would let me know, ‘Even if you don’t pledge, we’re still glad we got to meet you. Don’t feel any pressure from us to pledge, do what you want to do. This is your decision.’” Though apparently she was not the only one who was heavily influenced by the Thalians’ warm embrace, “There were a few girls that showed up for Rush events; every time they showed up, the Thalians remembered their names and fun facts about them,” Alonzo confirms. She continues ,“Our biggest point is that it’s a whatever kind of thing; once you show up, you’re going to be welcomed.”
It was a decision that left many people questioning why a student is joining a society in their final year of college.Ultimately, Alonzo decided to join the Thalians at the beginning of the Spring semester because she recognized the value in joining an exclusive community.
Being a fourth-year student is not stopping Alonzo from making sure that the Thalians remain at Whittier; if anything, she is striving to keep the sisterhood alive. “I know all of the societies are having a hard time right now with numbers. I can post a million things about how fun the Thalians are, because, I mean it’s great, but unless people actually show up and have interest, it’s kind of hard to get them in.” A solution she is hoping to achieve soon is the expansion of events for societies, with a way for more people to be aware and get the societies more involved on campus. In her opinion, she feels that it will increase the number of pledges.
Soon, Alonzo will be walking across the stage and becoming an official graduate of Whittier College. While she joked that the question of what she would be doing next was something she wondered about herself, she ultimately decided that returning to Oreg. would be the first step in the right direction. She is unsure of where she will go from there, but she knows and confides that, no matter what, she will have the support of her fellow Thalians. “One of the things about them is that no matter what you do, where you go, or how you’re doing, you’ll always have a sister somewhere,” Alonzo says reflectively. “Whatever I end up doing, I know I have that support behind me.”
While Alonzo was not expecting to become part of a society, especially so late into her college experience, she still wishes for everyone to “give something a shot” at some point in their lives. “If you’re like me and don’t think societies are for you, still go to an event because my mind was completely changed. We want to encourage everybody to do what they want to do, but we’d love to be part of it!”
Photo Courtesy of Katy Alonzo
