Within Our Grasp: My Journey to Zeta Tau Alpha

My name is Sera Guerry, and I am from Moncks Corner, South Carolina. This fall, I will begin my senior year at Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in upstate South Carolina. Coming into college, I had no desire to join a sorority. I did not know anyone from home whose parents had been involved in one, and I wasn’t particularly keen on “paying for friends,” which is what I thought being in a sorority was.

However, Wofford has this neat practice of only offering fraternity/sorority Recruitment in the spring semester; so as a freshman in my fall semester, I had the opportunity to see what ZTA members on my campus were involved with, how outspoken they were, and what organizations they were leading. I became more and more intrigued with the thought of joining the ranks of the sisterhood I admired so dearly.

Pictured: At Bid Day 2020, Sera (left) poses with Anna Lee, a new member who would become Sera's ZTA Little Sister and chapter Historian-Reporter.

While all of this growth and admiration for sorority life was transpiring, my identity was increasingly becoming the topic of many conversations on my campus. I am a transgender woman. I began my transition in the early years of middle school and fully transitioned long before coming to college. However, I have never been one for silence or complacency, and my story had become the topic of several news articles which anyone could easily find by searching my name on any search engine. Thus, my attempts at life as a cisgender^ woman on my campus quickly crumbled just as I was gaining confidence in my ability to remain incognito while still staying true to my outspoken nature. The reality of being outed^^ on my campus quickly came crashing down, and my ability to conceal my identity became impossible. My closest friends abandoned me, and my social life became seemingly nonexistent.

Before the news of my identity reached all corners of the campus, Recruitment was upon us. I had done my research and found that ZTA was one of the only organizations which had clear guidelines for extending membership to transgender women. During recruitment, I immediately knew ZTA was where I belonged, and running home to Theta Zeta was the easiest choice I have ever made.

Pictured: Sera (right) attended Wofford's Black and Gold Ball with her roommates and ZTA sisters, Haley and Maggie.

About two months after I became a member, my sisters stood up for me. When my identity as a transgender woman was brought up, my chapter's Executive Committee and women serving ZTA on the national level responded that my membership was completely within the provisions of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity and that this chapter was honored to have me as a member. I have known from the beginning of my sorority experience that ZTA was the only place for me. After this experience, I grew even more confident in and proud of my decision.

Since then, I have had the honor and privilege to serve my chapter as co-Ritual Chair, Director of Sisterhood and Inclusion Chair. Through all of these roles and throughout my time in this sorority, there have been countless women who have inspired me to be the best version of myself and have been the driving forces behind my dedication to give back to this organization in any way possible. From advisors to alumnae to current members, Theta Zeta has provided me with countless women who love and support me for all that I am and in every way possible. I am a proud transgender woman who has found endless love, support and belonging in this irreplaceable sisterhood to which I am eternally grateful.

Pictured: As Director of Sisterhood, Sera helped plan a "ZTAs & Food Truck" event with Shaina (right; Ritual Chair) and Payton (left; VP I/Coordinator of Committees).

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All Zetas have their own identities, experiences and stories, and this blog shares the unique perspective of one member. While this blog may not encompass every Zeta’s identities or experiences, we hope it resonates with those who want to learn more about another member’s experience. If you are interested in sharing your story, contact us here.

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^ cisgender: of or being a person whose gender identity corresponds to that traditionally associated with the anatomical sex the person had at birth

^^ outed: when a person’s status is revealed against one’s knowledge or will