Spirituality in Tau Beta Sigma

by Kristen Ulloa, NED President, TBΣ |

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #0099FF;”]W[/dropcap]e had reached the topic of religion during a Philosophy class I was in this fall. One student admitted that she was not religious, but that she thought of herself as a spiritual person. I personally identify with the same thought, and it got me thinking about the differences between religion and spirituality.

My personal goal in life is to positively impact as many people as I can and to make their lives better by what I do. It’s why I want to be a teacher – to be the teacher that can change someone’s life, the way I was so lucky to experience with a teacher I had. It’s why my love for Tau Beta Sigma is so strong – it is humbling to be part of an organization that prides itself on serving its members and others in the community.

Having religious beliefs is something I have never explored as part of my life, but my experience of Tau Beta Sigma has opened a spiritual part of me that I did not have before .The 8 essential factors and 5 qualities are always on my mind. There isn’t one part of my life that the 8 and 5 cannot relate to.

If you think about it, the 8 and 5 are just a written representation of lessons on how to lead a good life. You’ve probably heard other representations of these lessons before; sayings or ideals you have been taught throughout your life. For example:

• “Treat others as you would like to be treated” – Qualities 3 and 4, Factors 2, 6 and 7.
• “Crying doesn’t solve anything; action does” – Quality 5, Factor 4.
• “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all” – Factor 2.
• “G*d helps those who help themselves” or “You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself” – Qualities 1 and 5, Factors 1 and 4.
• “You can’t succeed if you don’t try” – Quality 2, Factor 8.

What I’m saying is, these ideals are not new to us when we join Tau Beta Sigma. We know how we should act and what to do to lead good lives. It is through Tau Beta Sigma and the 8 and 5 that I have become more conscious of these ideas, and I feel that I can appreciate life, others, and myself more because of it. This is how I see spirituality in my life.

These ideals help me see the big picture, to be more empathetic towards others experiences, and the ideals motivate me to be a leader and activist for my personal beliefs.  It’s through this awareness that I can feel a stronger sense of direction and purpose in my life. Honestly, this is something I was missing, and I am a different person now because of it.

Every time I think about “an achievement of and the personification of lofty spiritual ideals,” I am reminded of my goals to be a positive influence in people’s lives, and to always strive to do – and be – the best I can.