Connecting People—Beyond Sorority and University

Connecting People—Beyond Sorority and University
by Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

If I’m honest with myself, when I first considered matriculating at San Jose State University, it was only because it was convenient, affordable—and had a kick-butt dance team. I didn’t think of it as a college filled with an illustrious history or famous figures. With the exception of the Tower, most buildings were 1950’s semiconductor chic—about as appealing as the ones I’d just left behind at Willow Glen High School.

When I pledged Delta Zeta Sorority, it was due to my fellow dancers on the SJSU Spartan Spectrums Dance Team—those who were already members, along with my new buddies. I chose Delta Zeta because the ladies were different – enthusiastic, go-getters who’d networked together and sacrificed time, energy and sleep to build a new chapter from the ground up in one semester. (I seem to recall they had to get phenomenal numbers to even qualify – 50 founding chapter members and there were about 30 of us in the Alpha pledge class.)

I just thought they were the most interesting, cool and fun group of people I’d ever met. Again, I didn’t choose them because of their social status, (we were actually “low man” on the Greek totem pole being the new sorority on campus), connections, or future career help.

Yet in the past week, almost every day, I’ve been made aware that through my relationships at SJSU, I’m connected to some fabulous, and even famous people.

Take Earth Day, for example. Earth Day’s founder, Gaylord Nelson (what a name, you can’t ever forget it) graduated from San Jose State. (Thanks to the SJSU group on LinkedIn for alerting me.)

As I began doing some spring cleaning, I finally stopped to read my sorority’s magazine, The Lamp of Delta Zeta. In it I learned DZ’s 2008 Woman of the Year was Hala Gaines Moddelmog, who’s president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. As my mother passed away of breast cancer in 2005, my heart warmed to know that one of my sorority sisters (although she graduated at Southern Georgia University) is leading the way to increase breast cancer research as well as connect various cancer organizations. Especially as one of my DZ sisters is persevering through the cancer journey right now – Go Carol Kreig Walter!

Tracy Langley, another Delta Zeta sister from a different college, and a teacher here in San Jose, has written the first in a new series of children’s learning and adventure books entitled Dimitri Discovers England. Maggie Rose Bartz Crane published Amazing Grays-A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the BEST 50 (Regardless of your hair color!).

The Soloist, a new movie out this week, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx,
also has an SJSU alumni connection. Journalist Steve Lopez cut his teeth at the Spartan Daily News while a student there, later working at the San Jose Mercury News before moving on to the Los Angeles Times. The story of the L.A. Times columnist and street musician Nathaniel Ayers is a powerful one—again, echoing with the same theme of connection.

I truly believe nothing happens by chance. With some luck, prayers and good choices at San Jose State University and Delta Zeta Sorority, this week I’m privileged to re-discover I’m connected to some amazing people—energetic, go-getters putting their education and efforts into make the world a better, more connected place for all of us.

Michelle C. Carr-Crowe leads the Get RE$ult$ Team of real estate consultants at Altas Realy. A licensee for over 20 years, she is a Multi-Million Dollar Producer, as well as an internationally-published freelance writer with over 1,100 articles to date in publications such as the San Jose Mercury News, the San Jose Business Journal, San Jose Magazine, Cupertino Courier, the San Mateo Weekly Times and Inman Real Estate News Service. She has just completed testing as a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)*, to help clients dealing with foreclosures and pre-foreclosures, short sales, bank-owned homes and loan modifications. Visit her online at www.michellejudycarr.com. She attended San Jose State University and belongs to the Gamma Lambda chapter of Delta Zeta Sorority.