Meet Landon and Clara, our September Leading Women!

Congratulations to our VP of Membership, Landon Berry, and our Recruitment Director, Clara Leamer, for such a successful recruitment season this year! Hear more about Landon and Clara, their roles in recruitment, and their love for Theta below!

Name: Landon Berry

Major: Civil Engineering

Hometown: Parkville, MO

What did you love most about being VP of Membership for Theta?

As Vice President of Membership, I loved watching our active members grow in confidence as they represented our chapter throughout work week and recruitment. I have never felt as connected to everyone in our chapter as I did during this part recruitment, and it was so rewarding to see potential new members fall in love with Theta just like I did.

What was something you learned and grew from in your role this year?

In my role, I learned to accept that not everything is within my control. Recruitment is so fast-paced, and when little things didn’t go as planned, I had to learn to quickly adjust and keep moving forward.

What are your career and life goals?

After graduation, I’m pursuing a Master of Science in Civil Structural Engineering. Beyond college, I hope to become a licensed Professional Engineer and live close to my family.

What is your favorite part about your major and why did you choose it?

My favorite part about Civil Engineering is that it constantly challenges my problem-solving skills. I enjoy knowing that each day will bring something new and different. I was initially drawn to engineering because it is rooted in math and science, two of my favorite subjects. My dad also influenced my decision to pursue a Civil Engineering degree; he has always loved teaching me about his work, and his passion inspired me to follow in his footsteps.

What does Theta mean to you?

To me, Theta is life-long friendships with kind, driven, and leading women who I am proud to call my sisters.

How has your experience in Theta changed you?

Theta has made me so much more comfortable and confident as a leader. Serving as a Homecoming Head Liaison, Panhellenic Assistant, and now Vice President Membership has challenged me in countless ways, helping me grow into someone who leads with consideration and kindness. Just as importantly, being surrounded by such supportive and driven women has made me become more encouraging, and to push others to reach their potential the way other Thetas have encouraged me.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

Big Little Reveal is always a highlight of my year. My pledge family has truly been one of the best gifts this sisterhood has brought me, and Reveal is such a special way to celebrate a new member of the family! I love any opportunity to spend time with them throughout the year!

What advice do you have for our new member class?

Say yes to as much as you can! Trying new things as a new member helps you discover your interests, both within our chapter and in college, and it is the best way to meet people. Committees, sisterhood events, late night dinners – you never know when events or opportunities will be the most meaningful!

Name: Clara Leamer

Major: Health Sciences on the Pre-Med Track

Hometown: Chillicothe, MO

What did you love most about being the Recruitment Director for Theta?

I loved being the Recruitment Director for Theta because it truly felt like a full circle moment for me. I am introverted, and going through recruitment was really hard for me, and honestly mentally exhausting, which I believe it is for a lot of people. So, being able to help lead our chapter in recruitment allowed me to share that experience with active members as well as potential new members, in hopes that we would make Theta the most comfortable environment possible. One of our goals throughout the week was to make the potential new members feel welcomed in our home, and like they could be their true selves! Additionally, leading recruitment alongside one of my very best friends, Landon, was so much fun and has been one of the biggest highlights of my college experience!

How did this role challenge you in a new way?

This role was very challenging, but one of the most rewarding things I have ever done! Although I have been involved in other ways in Theta throughout college, this position put me in front of a lot more people than anything I have done before. I really enjoyed getting to know the members of our chapter on a new level and lead them through recruitment. Landon and I put a lot of thought into everything we did during recruitment, which came with its own challenges. But all of the hard work and late nights were worth it as soon as the PNMs walked through our doors and we got to see how excited they were to be in Theta and hear about all of the great conversations we had!

What are your career and life goals?

I will graduate in May with my Bachelors of Health Sciences on the Pre-Professional track, and I intend to go to medical school post graduation. I grew up in a rural area and would love to go back to a rural area again to serve a community like the one that raised me. But I am still undecided on which speciality I would like to work in. I have worked in a few different fields throughout college as a nursing and medical assistant, and have loved them all! Luckily, I still have plenty of time to decide, and I believe as I go through school, it will become clear what I am meant to do!

What is your favorite part about your major and why did you choose it?

My favorite part of my major is that I have been able to learn about healthcare from several different perspectives. I think that other majors on the pre-med track, which are more science oriented, are very important for medical students, but are less valuable to patient interactions. Being able to learn about all of the different sides of healthcare has helped me become more knowledgeable about my own healthcare, and I believe it has also helped me have more personable interactions with patients. I chose this major because I’m interested in the public health aspect of medicine, as well as becoming a physician, and I felt like this major allowed me to explore those interests.

What does Theta mean to you?

Theta has easily been the most influential for me in college. Through Theta, I have not only met my best friends that I know will be around for a lifetime, but I have also learned so much about myself! I am constantly being pushed by other members to be a better version of myself and step out of my comfort zone. Theta will always be somewhere I call home and an organization that will hold a very special place in my heart.

How has your experience in Theta changed you?

Theta has definitely allowed a lot of personal growth for me. I have never been surrounded by more driven and involved individuals, which have also encouraged me to become more involved and passionate about what I am doing with my time in college. There is no doubt in my mind that Theta has helped me become a better student, leader, and just person in general.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

One of my favorite Theta memories was Bats and KATs my sophomore year. I did a group costume (Scooby Doo and Friends) with some of my roommates and it ended up being such a fun night! Even though we had been friends for over a year at that point, that is a memory that sticks out to me where I remember just laughing all night and thinking to myself, “These will be my friends forever.”

What advice do you have for our new member class?

Step out of your comfort zone! This is such a simple piece of advice that my mom has been giving me for years, and I did not realize how beneficial being uncomfortable was until the last few years. I have really tried to step out of my comfort zone in college, and I have yet to regret it. It seems like it isn’t worth it to be uncomfortable, but being uncomfortable is what allows you to meet new people and have new experiences which you’ll be able to fondly look back on for the rest of your life! No one is judging you like you think they are, so just take the risk and put yourself out there.