Spirit of the Week: Katie Rodriguez

Katie Rodriguez

Hometown: Mission, TX

Major: Marketing

Spring '14 Weenie

What does Texas Spirits mean to you?

To be a Texas Spirit means embodying the four pillars of love, service, friendship, and spirit in all different forms. Texas Spirits itself is full of a diverse group of women that all share these common attributes. Every one of my Spirit sisters is passionate, motivated, and so inspiring in their own unique way, so to put it shortly: Texas Spirits means letting your own unique light shine through.

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

22 *cue Taylor Swift song*

If you knew the world was ending in 2012, what would you do differently?

I would have backpacked around the globe - to every continent.

Weenie of the Week: Victoria Garabedian

Victoria Garabedian

Southlake, TX

Radio-Television-Film

Fall '14 Weenie

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? 

Texas Spirits means that I have a community of girls that share the same standards as I do and will always push me to be my best possible self. 

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?
I would be five years old forever because I wouldn't have any homework to do so I could just watch Pokemon all day after school. 

If you knew the world was ending in 2012, what would you do differently?
If I knew the world was ending, I would make sure that everyone felt valued and loved.

Spirit of the Week: Kira Hamilton

Kira Hamilton

Hometown: Austin, TX

Major: Elementary Education 

Fall '13

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? Spirits means a bond that forever ties women of all generations, past, present, and future, with the UT community. It's a family that is there for you. It's a family that laughs with you, cries with you, brings you Tiffs treats, and give you hugs any time. Spirits is a home at UT.

What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? Jackie & Wilson by Hozier, Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon, anything Avett Brothers

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be? If I could witness any event, it would be seeing myself teach my first class as a full-time teacher.

Weenies of the Week: Liz Schasel and Riddhi Patodia

Liz Schasel

Hometown: Allen, TX

Major: Plan II and Business

Fall '14 Weenie

To me Texas Spirits is a place where I can be myself and be more than just accepted, but loved. It's full of such amazing, inspiring women and I'm so humbled to be part of it!

The soundtrack of my life consists of probably every song by The Avett Brothers because somehow all of their lyrics apply to my life and touch my soul. If I had to choose a theme-song though, it would either be Hang Loose by Alabama Shakes or Trashin' The Camp from the Tarzan soundtrack.

If I could witness any event it would probably be the discovery of America. It's possible that this is the first answer to come to mind because I was just doing my American History homework, but I'm also really big about adventure and I just think that experience would be so cool. Given how connected the world is today, it's hard to even imagine the thrill of discovering a whole new continent that your half of the world doesn't know exists. I think that'd be quite the adventurous experience.

Riddhi Patodia

Hometown: Round Rock 

Major: Nutrition pre med

Fall '14 Weenie

To me Texas Spirits means love and tradition! For the short time I've been in Texas Spirits, I've already made unforgettable memories and gotten the opportunity to be apart of an amazing tradition. 

Soundtrack of my life: Let me blow your mind - Eve; Can't tell me nothing- Kanye west; Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers 

If I could witness any event, I would go back to the Woodstock era.

Past Spirit of the Week Spotlight: Alex Lawrence

Alexandria Lawrence

Hometown: Clear Lake, Texas

Major: Human Biology Pathogenesis and Immunity

Fall '13

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? Texas Spirits has become a home away from home. Before I was accepted into Spirits, I had longed for a place where I could be myself, surrounded by people that I loved and doing good for the world. Needless to say, I was blessed more than I could have ever imagined. Spirits has been an instrument for me to cheer on my beloved school. It has helped me extend my hand to those in need. The women in Texas Spirits have encouraged and pushed me to do wonderful, incredible things. I wouldn’t trade these friends and experiences for anything.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Carl Sagan, hands down. What an incredible man who continued to marvel at the wonder of the universe even until the day that he died. I am not an astronomer, nor will I ever be one. But as a scientist myself, I can appreciate the unrelenting desire to know and understand everything about this beautiful world that you can until you reach the limits of what science has discovered. I look up to him for his popularization of science through his series Cosmos. Call me a nerd, but it’s been a goal of mine to start up a science blog focused on the awesome things that are happening in the scientific community as well as encouraging more girls to join STEM fields.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Call my mom probably. I’d probably pay off all of the debt they owe on the house, car, etc. to thank them for everything they’ve done for my sister and I. Then I’d put a big chunk of change in my slowly-growing travel fund. It’s been a life goal to travel to every single country that I can!

Spirit of the Week: Nisha George

Nisha George

Hometown: Lufkin, Texas

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Fall ’13 Weenie

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? I joined thinking I would be contributing to the organization; instead, the organization has contributed to me. The women in Spirits have impacted me in numerous ways and I have exponentially grown as a student, friend, and even just as a person. These beautiful women constantly push me to strive for more and for that, I am thankful.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? It would probably be Chris Pratt. He’s funny and all in TV shows and movies, but have you ever watched an interview with him? That’s the real Chris Pratt and he is hilarious. I think meeting him would be very enjoyable.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Honestly, I would give a large amount to UT. I went to the opening ceremony for the new stuttering institute at UT last week that was built from a large donation and will provide help to people for free. It got me thinking about how much UT has given to me and how much I’d love to give back someday. Also, they’d probably name a building after me and that’d be awesome. “Hey, wanna go study at the Nisha S. George Rotunda” “YEAH I DO, THAT PLACE IS AWESOME.”

Weenie of the Week: Brenna Embry

Brenna Embry

Hometown: Spring, Texas

Major: Economics

Fall '14 Weenie Class

What does Texas Spirits mean to you?

Texas Spirits means that I know I am surrounded by friends for life!

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?

Ellen Degeneres

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

I would pay for college first (boring I know) but after that I would go to Thailand for 3 weeks!

Weenie of the Week: Gracie Hopkins

Grace Hopkins

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Major: Bilingual Elementary Education

Fall 2014 Weenie Class

What does Texas Spirits mean to you?
Texas Spirits are my sisters who love me for exactly who I am! They welcomed me with open arms and I'm so excited to enjoy the next four years with them!
If you could choose anyone, who would you pick to be your mentor?
I would want Mother Teresa to be my mentor because she spent her entire life serving Christ and spoke wisdom that will permeate through the ages.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I wish I could learn to fly a plane because this summer I rode in the co-pilot seat in a little pond skipper over the jungle in Belize and it was crazy fun!

Spirit of the Week: Alyssa Kahl

Alyssa Kahl

Hometown: Kingwood, Texas

Major: Human Biology

Spring 2014 Weenie Class

What does Texas Spirits Mean to you?
For me, Texas Spirits means being a part of a diverse group of women that are all unique, driven, and passionate about what they do. You truly make some of your greatest friends in Texas Spirits who you can share your quirks and weirdness with, who will motivate you beyond what you thought was possible for yourself, and who will always be there for you.

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor? 
I would pick Daenerys Targaryen as my mentor. She embodies many things that I think are needed in a good leader such as standing for her beliefs, helping and empowering the less fortunate, and being compassionate. Although her path to learning to be a good leader has come with some ups and downs, I feel as though her mistakes are what make her character more dynamic and a better and more realistic role model. Her dragons are also pretty cool.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? 
If I could learn to do anything, I would want to learn to play the piano. I’ve loved the sound of the piano for as long as I can remember and I always gravitate towards songs that have piano accompaniment. Since I never had lessons when I was younger and attempts at teaching myself were not so fruitful, I plan on registering for a piano class for beginners next semester!