Finding Home

Hi my name is Carol, I will be the Royals President this semester. I joined Royals my first semester during my freshman year. I wanted to take a full swing into college life and join an organization to meet more people. I realized that for me college was going to be pretty boring without a flurry of activity. Like most girls looking into spirit groups, I went to a variety of tables, but the Royals info session and meet & greet was where I felt at home. Royals stood out to me because girls took the time to actually get to know me and remembered my name each time I came to an event. This made me feel included and important as an incoming freshman who did not know much. 

Completing my Jewel semester was so much fun! I met so many girls and went to every event with them, my freshmen year was a blast due to my Jewel Class. I loved getting to know all of the active members through Royal rounds and other fun events. It was especially great to finally have a group of people I could go out with and get to know Austin. Royals is where I found my best friend, grew in my leadership skills, and had a ton of fun. I’m so fortunate to have found a group so special in college. 

Enjoy your semester #livingroyally! 

Carolina Vergara Silva

Fall 2020 President

I Made It

Hey hey hey ladies! I am Sophia Garza and I have the honor and privilege of being Texas Royals Fall 2020 Recruitment Chair! A little background about me, I am a Junior Supply Chain Management Major and a Communication Studies Minor, from Carrollton Texas (a suburb of Dallas). I joined Texas Royals second semester of Freshman year, Spring 2019, and it was the best decision I have made in college. Since joining Texas Royals I have made some of my best friends, made some amazing memories and have truly found my home here in Austin, but you'll hear more about that later on.

My biggest piece of advice to anyone in college is to join something, whether that be a spirit group, sorority, academic organization or anything in between, find a group where you feel comfortable and where you know you belong. It can get pretty lonely here on the Forty Acres, trust me I know. My first semester of college I applied to every spirit group (literally all of them) and got dropped from every single one of them, but don't worry this story has a happy ending, clearly! That first semester, I was devastated and pretty lonely, I knew I wanted to be in a spirit group but unfortunately I didn't get that opportunity. However, that first semester I was able to focus on my academics and join other organizations like WBA and HBSA and make some amazing friends there, but part of me still longed to be part of a spirit group.

First semester ended, winter break flew by and there I was at the start of second semester with a choice to make, do I apply for a spirit group again or do I accept defeat? It would have been very easy to just say “I give up, no one wanted me last semester so why bother” but for some reason Royals kept popping up in my mind, probably because my roommate at the time, Cecilia Sanchez, was in Royals and still is (Nasty Casty 1319 forever). So I decided to only apply to Royals that semester and honestly I am so grateful I did. Everyone in Royals is so genuine, cool and so talented, I knew I wanted to be associated with all of these amazing ladies. I went through the recruitment process and guess what? I MADE IT!

I can't imagine how life would've been if I chose to take the easy way out and accepted defeat and not applied to Royals again, for one I wouldn't be here writing this letter to yall! Like I said Royals is my home here in Austin and I am so incredibly grateful for this organization. Because of Royals I have met girls who are willing to take a massive study break during finals to go see the Jonas Brothers- shout out to y'all Amy, Nuha and Cecilia, that was the best study break ever and I stand by that. I have met my roommates, past, present and honorary- love yall so much Cecilia, Anika, Dany, Manya and Ryen. I am also constantly surrounded by incredibly talented, intelligent and compassionate women and make me want to be a better person.

Now I didn't tell you this story so yall could pity me or to scare yall about the recruitment process, but rather to encourage you to apply and reapply if necessary! I 100% stand by joining any organizations you can and I hope you find what I have found in Royals somewhere on campus. I encourage all of you to come out to an info session or drop by virtual tabling just to hear about what we as an org have to offer. I can’t want to see y'all there have a wonderful fall semester!

Sophia Garza

Fall 2020 Recruitment Chair

Find Your Girl Squad

Hi lovely ladies,

My name is Anika Pal, and I have the privilege of being the Spring 2020 Recruitment Chair this semester. When they tell you acclimating to college is a struggle, I never understood just how much of a struggle it would be until I got to the Forty Acres. As a first semester freshman who left her friends, family, and everything she ever knew behind in Sugar Land, I was overwhelmed by the opportunities and lost in terms of where I felt like I belonged.

Several of the girls I knew from back home had joined spirit groups. Although I did not quite understand what a spirit group actually was, I knew I wanted to be a part of one. So there I was the first week of classes, hopping from information session to information session trying to figure out which one was the right fit for me. After feeling like none of them were the perfect fit, I thought maybe I would give up and come back to the idea later on in college. That’s when I bumped into my friend and fellow Royal, Mycah, who told me she was going to check out Texas Royals later that night. Even though I was feeling defeated, something inside of me screamed YOU NEED TO GO.

And when they say always listen to your gut, listen to your gut. Because as soon as I left that information session, I knew Texas Royals was exactly where I needed to be. The second part of the information session was mingling and getting to know all the active members, and I thought they were incredible (and still do!!!!). Royals has some of the kindest, funniest, and most intelligent girls on this campus. We come from all different cities, backgrounds, majors, you name it. They just made me feel welcomed from the moment I met them, and I really enjoyed every single conversation that night. Later that night, I couldn’t even focus on my homework and began writing my short answer responses. In the morning after class, I got straight to work on my creative project. Next thing I know, it’s almost 5PM and I’m running to turn in my application before the deadline. And after all that: WE MADE IT.

Since then, I have grown extremely close to these girls. During my Jewel semester, I met Manya and Victoria, who are truly my best friends. They have seen me at my lowest of lows and are always down to go get milkshakes at Chick-Fil-A when we should be studying. That’s true friendship right there. And If you still think I’m joking, I decided to live with two of them – I love you Cecilia and Sophia! Thanks for always baking yummy things. And to all the other girls I failed to mention right here – thank you for being some of the best friends I could ever ask for.

All of these wholesome friendships I’ve made are due to this organization, which is why I feel so passionate about recruitment. I was able to serve on recruitment committee the past two semesters and loved every second of it, so I am thankful for the opportunity to be the chair and find our next set of best friends (also known as Jewels).

With lots of love,

Anika

P.S. If you are even the slightest bit interested in applying, please come out to an info session and say hi! We really would love to meet you <3