All work and no play makes Pipa a dull girl. So while I am not cramming the books or writing the papers, I am having a little fun here at MIT. Life just isn't worth it if you aren't having fun.
One of the most important things that I am involved in is my Fraternity. I am sister in the ZM chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Though I don't actually have an officership or an "official" position in the chapter, I am very involved as a sister. Indeed, I even have a twin star and a little sister this year. My Twin Star is Heidi and she lives in Baker House. My Little Sister is Tamara, and lives in MacGregor. Like the rest of their pledge class, they are really awesome and I think that both will contribute to Theta in a very special Way.
Another Greek organization that I am involved with is Alpha Phi Omega, a coed service fraternity. I am a brother in the fraternity, and with them do many service projects. Our service program is threefold, service to the chapter, service to the school, and service to the community. Community service is something good, and should be promoted everywhere.
Perhaps not all MIT students are computer geeks, but I seem to be dumped in that category anyways. Not only to I work for Information Systems, but I am a full-fledged member of the Student Information Processing Board (SIPB). SIPB supports many computing services on Athena, including Linux and Netbsd. My desktop machine, purple-pipa-ether.mit.edu runs linux. My laptop, a brand-new NEC 5060x (which better get delivered really soon now), will also be running linux. As part of being involved in SIPB, I am the SIPB CokeComm. I buy Coke and Chocolate for the office. I do it, because I think it is important to have Caffeine and Sugar on Hand at all times.
Physical activity seems to decline as the term progresses, as more students are sitting at their desks then physically being active outside. To combat the inertia, I partake in a sport here at MIT. I ride horses for the MIT Equestrian Team. Not that I am the best Athlete, but that I actually get out and move is what is important. And I enjoy riding alot, for it give me a workout that feels great, and the people who also participate are some of the most dynamic and motivated women here at MIT.
Perhaps now you are thinking that I am involved in way too much, but it is just the begining. The MIT Lecture Series Committee (LSC) which brings movies to the MIT community every weekend, is yet another activity I am involved with. I used to make slides, and was known as the Slides Assistant. I have since changed duties, and now work for LSC as their Negatives Maker. As the title says, I make Negatives. These negatives are made for the Production Committee, to be used to make the advertising posters seen all over campus. Recently however, that job has been dissolved. So, I am currently in limbo. Maybe I will take a term off, and then run for a Directorship.
Although I am here at MIT, being a student first, being involved in these Activities makes me more involved in the community, as well as keeps me sane. The pressure is on you here at MIT, and unless you have something to relieve the pressure, a valve if you will, you can explode into bits.