Zetas Take Flight

Mackenzi Mills

September 2020

Have you ever wondered what its like to go skydiving? Have you been saying you are going to go but just haven't yet? This past week we had not only one, but THREE girls in our chapter got skydiving, so we wanted to share their experiences with you: interview style.

Who are you?

Claire: Hello, my name is Claire O’Brien. I am in the new member class of 2020 and I am an international relations major! I love to travel and would say that is one of my man hobbies.

Ellie: Hi my name is Ellie Mumaw and I am in MC '19. I am a human development and physiology double major and ZTA's Panhellenic delegate for this year. My hobbies include Tik Tok and napping :)

What made you decide to recently go sky diving?

Claire: I decided to go because it was my roommates bday! We went to celebrate and I was excited to tag along!

Ellie: It was a complete spur of the moment decision! Courtney and I had gone out and when I got back, I had the thought to go sky diving and started looking up places. Courtney was completely on board and we put the deposit down that night, set our alarms for 8am and started driving at 9am the next morning! It was about a 2.5 hour drive and we split it to make it easier!

Where do you go and how was the staff?

Claire: We went to piedmont skydiving in North Carolina the staff was so awesome, energetic and funny.

Ellie: We went to Piedmont Skydiving in North Carolina! You’re able to sign up online, which honestly makes it a little too easy! The staff was INCREDIBLE! My tandum person was Derek Abernathy (definitely request him if he’s there!!) and he made the experience so enjoyable. The guys were so funny and kept making jokes about how they were inexperienced, which would normally make people scared but I was cracking up. He said he went sky diving on his 18th birthday and started skydiving school two days later! He now has jumped over 6,000 times. A literal dream of mine.

Have you ever gone skydiving before and how was that?

Ellie: I had never been sky diving before, but it’s been a dream ever since I was younger. I went indoor sky diving at IFly in northern Virginia, but the experiences don’t even compare. I’ve always loved riding in planes and making crazy spontaneous decisions, so it wasn’t shocking to anyone that I randomly went on a Tuesday.

What was it like leading up to your jump? How did you feel? How did they prepare you?

Claire: I have gone skydiving before. That time was also so fun, but this time was a really different experience. The fall felt so different and I felt more in control and aware leading up to the jump I was super hype. They didn’t really do anything to prepare me just strapped me on in and said jump!!

Ellie: I had been wanting to go for so long that I wasn’t nervous at all. I was beyond excited and was ready to jump as soon as we were in the air. They didn’t walk you through many steps which I liked because I had a fear of forgetting to do something, but they guided you through every move you needed to make.

What did you think about when you were falling? What did you see?

Claire: While falling I wasn’t really thinking about anything, just taking in all the air and amazing view of my surrounding.

Ellie: I thought about how it was something I wanted to do again and again. I’ve never had such a crazy adrenaline rush before and I just didn’t want it to stop. The day we went was so clear and my guide pointed out the skyline of Charlotte, North Carolina- which was crazy to see!

How did it feel to finally land?

Claire: When I land, I get such a natural high. It’s literally the best feeling ever so much adrenaline and life

Ellie: When I landed I had tears in my eyes, not just because I was so happy but also because the wind lol. But I gave him a huge hug and wanted to go again.

Would you go again?

Claire: Absolutely doing it again forever!!

Ellie: I would definitely go again and wouldn’t be surprised if I went before the end of 2020 hahaha catch me in skydiving school