Meet Our Woman of the Week | Maggie Beans — CHI OMEGA

Maggie Beans
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Major: History Education

"Chi O consists of the most accepting group of women that I have ever been a part of. You can have two girls with completely different interests and personalities, but Chi O brings them together by pushing them to be the best individual version of themselves, rather than conforming to what others think they should be. It doesn't matter how out-of-the-box or different you think you are, the girls in Chi O accept and embrace the differences; it's what makes Chi O so diverse and keeps things interesting!"
- Maggie Beans

About Maggie (submitted by Mary Parker):
There are a lot of things I could tell you about Maggie Beans. She loves broadway, dogs, and a good book more than any human I've ever met. She's fiercely passionate about everything she does, and that passion is infectious. More than that, her dedication to her friends is unmatched. One of my favorite things about Maggie is her ability to make others feel welcomed, which is unlike anyone I've ever met. At the beginning of freshman year, Maggie and I went to lunch at Big Blue Bagel and I genuinely don't think one second passed where we weren't laughing. I barely knew her, but it's one of my favorite memories because it was a friendship that came so easily. People crave to feel welcomed and to have those childlike friendships, and Maggie offers both of those things to people. I am incredibly lucky to call Maggie one of my best friends, and life would definitely not be as much fun without her in it.

How did you come to choose your major?
Being a military brat, I was able to travel the world and see many historically significant places from such a young age. When I would learn about the places I had visited in school, I would be so fascinated. I have always loved history--it's one giant story of how the world today came to be! I decided I wanted to be a teacher after spending a summer at camp with kids ages 6-15 where I realized the importance of kids having a good role model and having someone who cares about them. Combine the two and you get a history teacher!

How did you get involved with AUDM and what does the organization mean to you?
I got involved with AUDM my freshman year through the Freshman Leadership Program (FLP) I was a part of! I loved it so much that I continued to work the next year as the liaison between AUDM and FLP. I'm now the Vice President of Administration and I'm eager to get started working on making miracles again! AUDM means so much to me because you get to see a tangible difference made in the children's lives. Seeing over 1500 Auburn students, faculty and people in the community come together to raise money for Children's Miracle Network is something so surreal and getting to see the smiles on our miracle children and their families' faces makes all of the hard work worth it. Children's Miracle Network affects so many people and getting to be a small part in something that is so much greater than yourself is an incomparable experience. Not only do you get to make a difference in other people's lives, but AUDM makes a difference in your life through the friendships you make and the experience you gain from serving others. I could actually go on about AUDM for days, but to sum it up, being FTK (For the Kids) is the greatest feeling and will always bring a smile to my face!

What's the coolest place you've ever been?
My dad is in the Navy so I got to live in Germany for a few years and travel Europe. I think my favorite place I visited was Austria because I got to go on the Sound of Music Tour and ski in the Swiss Alps at Christmas time! All of the snow and twinkling Christmas lights was magical and looked like something out of a movie.

What is your favorite television series and why?
Wow, how do you pick just one? I'll go with How I Met Your Mother because I've watched it four times through and it still hasn't gotten old to me. It's witty and it's cool to watch the characters mature throughout the show. It can make me laugh and cry all within a span of 23 minutes.