Theta Chi - University of Florida

PAGE 2 TAU TOPICS J oey Guay '15 is proud to be part of the Tau Chapter legacy. "The Chapter is one of the most prominent in both the state and the entire country," he said. "Our great history and future are all due to the years of work from our alumni, who remain heavily invested in our well-being." The pride Joey feels for Tau Chapter resonates through the work of his brothers, the alumni, and the Realty Board. As a former member of the executive board, he witnessed firsthand the efforts enacted openly and behind the scenes. "I appreciated the heartfelt concern for Tau Chapter and the alumni who took time out of their lives to help keep us afloat. The reality is, we are nothing without their support, both past and present. Some of my fondest memories as Chapter president were when an alumnus would randomly show up and ask for a tour of the house." Through his role as president, Joey grew a great deal professionally and as a leader. "Being Chapter president was probably the most stressful thing I did at UF, but I mean that in a good way." He notes gaining invaluable experience in time management, balancing his fraternity responsibilities with academic and personal time, problem-solving, and communication skills. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in sustainability and the built environment, Joey had planned on furthering his education with a master's degree. However, after working an internship with Aetna in his home state of Connecticut, he accepted a full-time return offer and experienced his dream of living and working in New York City out of college. Joey credits Theta Chi with preparing him for a career after college, and shares he was showered with vital career advice from both active brothers and alumni. "Thanks to my big brother, Mike Mamrak '14, and our Realty Board president, Brad Jones '96. They have years of experience in the healthcare field and have helped me learn about the potential of growth in the field." Remaining active with Tau Chapter is what keeps the legacy strong in the eyes of Joey. He notes it's vital to spend time with brothers from each class. "The closer our brotherhood is, the more we will accomplish as a Chapter." Every alumnus has a different view of what they appreciate about the Chapter and building relationships with them can in turn strengthen your appreciation for what it means to be a Tau. "It is important to be resourceful with our alumni in terms of professional advice." With such a large network of brothers, professional advice and career opportunities are some of the most invaluable parts of Tau's massive alumni network. To connect with Joey, shoot him an email at jguay97@gmail.com. JOEY GUAY '15 TAKES HEALTH TO HEART How Theta Chi Helped Him Accomplish His Dream K yle Soch '14 had already set the goal of going to law school when he arrived at the University of Florida, but he wasn't sure what it would take to become a good lawyer. What Kyle never envisioned as an incoming freshman at UF was joining a fraternity. After being convinced by his freshman roommate to go through fraternity recruitment, Kyle was in awe of the professionalism of Theta Chi's members. Tau Chapter not only helped Kyle fulfill his dream of going to law school but developed him into a resolute man. "I can't imagine how different my life would be had I not been persuaded to go through recruitment. I walked into Theta Chi on the first night of recruitment and was instantly captivated by the way the fraternity conducted itself," Kyle said. "While I stood there in pleated khaki shorts and a dirty polo, everyone in the fraternity was wearing a suit and using an earpiece and iPad to communicate between rooms. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be surrounded by these people for the next four years." Along with being a Class of 2021 juris doctorate candidate at the UF College of Law, Kyle has kept close ties to Theta Chi as Tau's house director. Kyle learned a lot from his term as Tau Chapter president and is thankful for the opportunity to keep developing his leadership skills in the fraternity. "The biggest lesson I learned from being president is that seeing something from another's perspective will always help guide me to the right decision when in a position of leadership," Kyle said. "There were many times when I felt I needed to be entrenched in making only the safest decisions possible, but branching out and learning the perspectives of alumni, undergraduates, or potential new members became invaluable to benefiting the fraternity." Kyle has thrived in several other UF organizations, often with the help of his brothers. This past year, Kyle was elected as the chairman of the Student Government Elections Commission, which is only available to law students. He wouldn't have known about SGEC if it weren't for Dakota Wall '12. The relationships Kyle has developed at Tau have allowed him to travel the world. Kyle spent six weeks traveling across the country and into Canada, rock climbing with some brothers after they earned their undergraduate degrees. The interest Kyle and his brothers found in rock climbing also led to him climbing Mount Toubkal in Morocco last spring. Law school has felt like climbing a mountain at times to Kyle, but when times get tough, he turns to Theta Chi's values. Kyle is keeping his fingers crossed he won't be the only member of the Soch family that embarks on the lifelong journey of Theta Chi. "My brother, Jake, is eying colleges as he approaches his graduation next year. I'm hoping I'll be here to see this brotherhood reach a new meaning for me and my family." You can connect with Kyle at ksoch96@gmail.com. A RESOLUTE MAN Theta Chi Experience Prepares Kyle Soch '14 for Law School

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