Hi! My name is Julia Caterson, and I'm super excited for you to get to know me! My major is Editing Writing and Media, and I'm from Tampa, Florida. My favorite Phi Mu snack is definitely just the chocolate ice cream... it's amazing.
I currently am considering applying to law school but I also am interested in pursuing a career in marketing. I am super passionate about all things entertainment, so whatever course I choose, I hope to be able to work within the film, music, or even sports industries.
My biggest inspiration would have to be my big, Zoe. She completely took me under her wing when I first got to FSU and joined Phi Mu in the fall of my freshman year. From helping me navigate my classes, to everything else, I don't know where I would be without her support and advice. Not only is she my big, but she is truly one of my best friends. As an only child, I genuinely see her as an older sister. She has an unwavering confidence that comes from a full sense of trust in her accomplishments and capabilities. Quoting Andrew Garfield here, she's "like a shot of espresso" to be around. At the same time, she's the person I call when I'm at my absolute lowest, and she's a calming presence in the face of any of my minor breakdowns. I feel that I have done a pretty good job surrounding myself with friends that inspire me, and Zoe is a perfect example of the type of friend that I aspire to be more like every day.
I decided I wanted to go Phi Mu during the preference round of recruitment. I was speaking with my now-big Zoe, and I remember she was crying. (Reminder this was when recruitment was fully on Zoom.) She was crying because of how much she loved the chapter, and I remember her saying she was actually sitting next to one of her best friends in the chapter. That person ended up being her friend Ashley, who at the same moment was talking to her now-little Annie. Fast-forward three years, Zoe and Ashley are still best friends, and their littles-- Annie and I now serve on the exec board together!
My favorite Phi Mu memory would have to be going on the Phi Retreat this past year as a member of the new member team. My PC never had a proper Phi Retreat because of the pandemic, so it has been so much fun for the past two years to attend the retreat with the new member classes. I had such a lovely time exploring and getting to know our amazing new member classes. The best part of this trip was after all the bonding activities and dinner filled with laughter. My friend Sarah Grace woke up a handful of us at something crazy like 6 or 7am the next morning to go watch the sunrise on the beach. I have always loved the beach, and a lot of my favorite memories with my high school friends were at the beach. So it was really cool to create such a heartfelt new core memory with the beach with my new and old sweet Phi Mu friends!
My love for phi mu goes back to the people. My big Zoe, my old roommate Kara, my littles Nicole and Gracie, my G-littles Kelsey and Grace, my exec girlies, the girls I spoke to only briefly in the hallway, the women I met from external organizations, the list goes on and on! I could write a whole book on all the incredible women I have met in this chapter. So many of them have touched my heart in ways they may never know. Phi Mu is exactly what a sorority says it is during recruitment; It's a bond of women who come together to uplift and love each other. I have nothing but pure love for this chapter and its amazing women.
Julia Caterson
Fall PC '20
Hi! My name is Vanessa Polidoro and I am a PC ’20 from Connecticut. I’m a double major in Actuarial Science and Economics and I am the president of the student organization Future Seminole Actuaries. A fun fact about me is that I am on the Phi Mu Line Dance team. I’ve been a dancer my whole life and even still like to take dance classes in New York City with my mom, who was also a dancer. My favorite Phi Mu dessert has to be the Snickers Ice Cream Bars, it always makes my day when the house has them in stock!
One thing that I am super passionate about is enjoying every moment. For a lot of my life, I have been so caught up in my grades and all my goals that I haven’t always taken the time to be present and actually enjoy what I am doing. I have had a lot of pressure on me to be successful, but being in a place where I am genuinely happy has helped me find my true passions in life.
My biggest inspiration is my mom. She pushes me to be my best and encourages me to follow my dreams. I’ve seen how hard she has worked while also following her passions, and I can only hope to achieve that in my own life. She was a professional ballerina for a few years before going back to college for law school. I really admire how she was able to make a successful career for herself while still following her heart. She is the true definition of a strong woman and has been the best role model growing up.
I chose Phi Mu because I felt like I could be myself here. Coming from out of state, I was looking for love and comfort in a sisterhood to support me in this new place. I went through recruitment during Covid and found it hard to connect with people over Zoom. However, When I visited Phi Mu I made the most genuine connections and felt like I didn’t have to rehearse my conversations. I felt as though my recruiters had an interest in getting to know the real me and made me feel wanted in the chapter. I could tell how supportive the sisters were of each other, and they had all the qualities I was looking for in my home away from home. Now that I’ve been in the chapter for three years, I can attest that Phi Mu really embodies all of the authentic values that initially drew me to the chapter.
My favorite Phi Mu memories are the times spent with my fam! We’re all super close and do everything together. I love going to grab kava, having paint and movie nights, going on study dates, and everything else we do together. Their support means everything to me, and I feel so lucky to have found the most wonderful, kindhearted people. They are all so hardworking and passionate, and being around them motivates me to work towards my own goals. They helped me find my place, and there are not enough words to describe what they mean to me.
All of the love and kindness that Phi Mu has to offer makes this place feel like home. When I’m feeling down I know I have a shoulder to cry on, and when I achieve something new I know that my sisters are there to cheer me on. The intentional connections I have made push me to be the best version of myself every day!
Vanessa Polidoro
Fall PC ‘20
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