From the classroom to chapter business — Abigail “Apricus” Calderon never stops showing up

"The same woman who shows up for her students shows up for her sisters."

A Teacher, a leader, and a sister.

The school day ends, but Abigail never really clocks out. For Abigail "Apricus" Calderon, a proud sister of Delta Tau Lambda Sorority, Inc.'s (DTL) Epsilon Lambda Graduate Professional Chapter, showing up isn't a task on a to-do list. It's who she is. In the classroom, she's spent eight years pouring into third graders — building their confidence, meeting them where they are, and showing them what consistency looks like. Her dedication to sisterhood remains constant across both Epsilon Lambda and the collegiate Epsilon Chapter of DTL, where she continues to support her sisters with the same passion. And she has never missed a year doing it.

"Since crossing, I've been in Epsilon Lambda. I haven't missed a year."

Choosing DTL — On her own terms.

When most people think about joining a sorority, they picture a college campus. Abi's story looks a little different — and she wouldn't change a thing.

Initiated at the graduate level in Spring 2022, Abi came into Delta Tau Lambda as a working professional, a full-time teacher, and a woman who knew exactly what she was signing up for. "I knew whatever it was going to be, I was going to go through it," she says. "Because I did want to be part of DTL."

Her line of seven — one of Epsilon Lambda's largest — quickly became her people. Close in age, aligned in values, they built something real. Life has since carried her line sisters in different directions. 

What graduate chapter actually looks like

There's a myth that graduate chapter membership is a lesser version of the sorority experience. Abi is here to set the record straight.

"A lot of sisters, when they first graduate, think it's going to be a super time commitment — like how undergrad was," she says. "But it's not that."

Graduate chapter life is built for women who are already juggling careers, families, and everything in between. Meetings are biweekly — sometimes virtual, sometimes in person. Community service is a mix of chapter-organized events and individual opportunities. The expectation isn't perfection. It's presence.

"There's a lot more flexibility," Abi says simply. "It's important for sisters to know that."

"If you're feeling burnt out after graduation — take care of yourself. But don't count yourself out."

From secretary to New Member Educator — Leadership at every level

In nearly four years of membership, Abi has held various leadership roles Epsilon Lambda has to offer.

Secretary. Chapter President — twice. Risk Manager. Chapter Consultant. And most recently, New Member Educator (NME) — a regional role traditionally held by undergraduate members, which she stepped into after being personally nominated.

Each role built on the last. Secretary sharpened her organization. The Presidency pushed her to grow into her voice. "You're the face, you're the lead, and people are listening to you," she recalls. "At first that was a little challenging. But then you get more comfortable."

That same confidence carried her into her NME nomination. She gave her speech, made her case, and walked away at peace with whatever the outcome would be. "I said what I could bring to the table. And I know I would do a good job because of everything I've learned up to this point."

She was elected. And the partnership that followed — with her counterpart Raquel — became a model of what collaboration looks like when two people bring different perspectives to the same mission.

"DTL helped me become a lot more confident and comfortable in who I am — and in speaking to others."

Investing in the next generation

As Epsilon’s current Chapter Consultant, Abi is mentoring the next generation of phenomenal leaders. 

This semester, she's spearheading a professional development initiative for Epsilon chapter's undergraduate sisters. Mock interviews for graduating seniors. A career panel featuring DTL alumni across different fields. Real conversations about what the transition from college student to working professional actually feels like.

"When you go from being in college — where your priority is school — to now being in what you've been working toward your whole life, that's a really big transition," she says. "I want to help them with that."

For the sisters in Epsilon considering careers in education — one heading toward art, one toward elementary, one toward ESE — Abi doesn't just offer advice. She offers perspective from someone who has lived it. Eight years in. Still learning. Still growing.

"It doesn't matter if it's not your exact career path," she says. "There's always something to take away."

Service is the standard

Beyond the chapter walls, Epsilon Lambda shows up for their community — and Abi is always in the mix.

Every year, the chapter volunteers with Savage Race — an obstacle course event where they staff registration tents, cheer on thousands of racers, and raise funds directly toward chapter scholarships. This year, they partnered with the Epsilon chapter, turning a day of service into a day of cross-chapter sisterhood.

And every February, without fail, the chapter gathers for their annual Galentine's — no agenda, no pressure. Just sisters, food, a fun activity, and the kind of conversation that reminds you why you joined in the first place.

"I think one of the best times is just when you come together and talk," Abi says. "You have food. You do something fun. And you remember what this is all for."

Don't wait for an invitation. Just show up.

When asked what she'd say to a collegiate sister standing at the edge of graduation, wondering if there's still a place for her in this organization, Abi doesn't hesitate.

"The relationships you build along the way — that's what stays with you," she says. "Whether I talked to a sister yesterday or haven't spoken to her in months, when I reach out, she's there. That's what graduate chapter gives you."

It's not about going, going, going. It's not about being everywhere at once. It's about choosing — again and again — to be part of something bigger than yourself.

Abi has been making that choice for nearly four years. And she's just getting started.

"Membership isn't something you had. It's something you keep choosing."