Archive for July 2015

Home Archive for July 2015

What it means to be a Panhellenic Woman:

"We, as Undergraduate Members of women's fraternities, stand for good scholarship, for guarding of good health, for maintenance of fine standards, and for serving, to the best of our ability, our college community. Cooperation for furthering fraternity life, in harmony with its best possibilities, is the ideal that shall guide our fraternity activities.

We, as Fraternity Women, stand for service through the development of character inspired by the close contact and deep friendship of individual fraternity and Panhellenic life. The opportunity for wide and wise human service, through mutual respect and helpfulness, is the tenet by which we strive to live."

For most of you reading this it may not mean a bit of sense. If you were like me I only thought I was joining a sorority for my letters, my friends, my colors, my t-shirts, and my house. It was all about what Greek letters I would represent one day, never about anything else. When you are looking at the adorable pictures (yes, every chapters PR is fabulous) on social media and are thinking oh my goodness that could be me. Or even meeting up with girls and learning all about them and what their chapters represent. It’s an overwhelming feeling knowing that one day you will be a apart something so grand. I remember day dreaming about what cute shirts I would be wearing, who I would meet, and how I would have stories to tell (if you know me I am all about the story telling). I was more than ready to be a part of this. I was ready to make a name for myself, find myself a home, and be wearing letters with such pride.

I went through recruitment with this simple minded concept. Being so incredibly selfish, I only wanted what I wanted and I hoped one day the same chapter would want me. This was my entire impression of what Greek life was all about. Never did I think that I could be something more than that. But the hard truth is it doesn’t work like that. College is the time to be selfish; I will be the first to admit it. You have four years to be you, with no attachments and no ties, just you. But when you’re going through recruitment we all (including our chapters) get so wrapped up in our progress and forget what exactly you are joining. Every single sorority woman is not just representing their own letters but more importantly being a Panhellenic Woman. You are not just a part of XYZ chapter, you are now a woman representing all of Greek Life. When we are in college the individual letters mean so much, and forever will remain in your heart. But in the bigger picture we are all one. A unity of women whom “stand for service through the development of character inspired by the close contact and deep friendship of individual fraternity and Panhellenic life.” This is what you are a part of now, you are now a Panhellenic woman along with thousands of other women across the nation. This commitment is larger than SFASU, it is something more.

Fortunately for me I did find the chapter of my dreams, Tri Delta was my home. I knew the second I walked into those doors this is where I belonged. It was a relieving feeling knowing the stress was all over when I opened up my Bid day card in the fall of 2013. I have truly found my friends and sisters whom are helping shape me into the woman I am, and who I will become one day. I am so lucky to have found my home and hope that every single one of you find yours as well. I loved Tri Delta ever so much that this summer I have given up my letters (which I hold with so much pride) in order to help YOU have a better recruitment experience. I love being a Tri Delta, but I love even more being a Panhellenic woman. I know what you all are going through, every single Panhellenic woman you will meet this recruitment season also knows what you are going through. Every member is just as excited and nervous as you. So take a deep breath it’s all going to be just fine. Here are a few tips I have for you going through recruitment:

1. Be yourself: Bottom line this is the only thing that matters. Every chapter wants to know about you, nothing else. So be yourself. If you’re goofy, be goofy. If you're witty, be witty. If you’re quiet, then it’s okay to be. Do not change who you are for this, because no matter what, you can’t change who you are.

2. Ask questions: When you go through recruitment always ask questions if you have any. A lot of the time you will feel very overwhelmed and miss things that every chapter is telling you and forget to ask or are too nervous too. My advice is to listen, learn, and ask. If you are joining a certain chapter everything matters, you don’t want to join something thinking one thing and finding out another once you have committed to that house.

3. Ignore EVERY stereotype: I know sometimes it hard not listen to all the gossip that will be swarming the weekend of recruitment. Everyone has an opinion, an older sister, or friend that has done this before. Every one of those people have their beliefs, but you have to remember that the stereotypes going around are the homes of hundreds of women on your campus. These women love and respect their chapter and are giving you 100% in order to help you find your home. So please give them 100% back.

4. Use your Rho Gammas: Your rho gammas are your support system through this entire process. They have given up their letters to help you. We are all willing to help you, talk to you, and guide you to finding where you belong. We are here for a reason and are your best asset. Ask us anything and everything and I can promise you that you can rely on us.

College is the greatest time of your life. Soak it up. Enjoy every minute because one day it will be over (sadly). Enjoy this recruitment season; learn all you can about every house and have fun with it. From every Rho Gamma we can’t wait to meet you all and get to know more about you. Being a panhellenic woman has been the greatest journey so far, and I can’t wait for you all to experience this too.

XOXO,

Your Tri Delta Rho Gamma

By Chandler Gentry

Recruitment. The end all/be all of most incoming women's college experience. The emotions are indescribable, your excitement is uncontainable, and your mind wonders constantly... wondering who is watching and how all these girls you meet always look impeccably put together; beautiful.

You think to yourself: how did each of these girls go from frazzled freshmen to finding their forever home along with finding themselves? I can say from experience I was the definition of frazzled as I ventured from house to house on day one of recruitment. I returned to my dorm and thought to myself, Okay, did I just black out because I can't remember anything I talked about with these girls! I went from that feeling on day one to returning to houses on day two and speaking with the girl I spoke to the day before. I couldn't even remember her name, but boy did she remember mine. Next was making it to pref day, being so exhausted to the point where you don't know really why you're crying, but you are. It could be because you're finally done, or because you're in your forever home in deep conversation with possibly your future sister you clicked with, or just because you're taking your swollen feet out of your heels on your way back to the charter bus. When I stepped into the Tri Delta house on pref day, I felt relieved and accepted. Yes, I did shed a few tears ... okay, maybe a lot of tears, and felt perfectly welcomed to do so.

I am blessed to say, 3 years later, I am VP of Membership and in charge of one of my favorite aspects of Tri Delta.

Yes, recruitment brings out the frazzle in all of us. The words of wisdom I can give to you as you begin this journey are to keep an open heart and an open mind. As you are visiting different houses, picture yourself down the road and see if this house will encourage you to grow and expand yourself into a better woman. My next piece of advice is this: it’s okay to cry. Some won't and some will. Your heart will lead you to your forever home ... follow it. Be upfront, know where you stand, and know where you see yourself. This helps you focus your mind on the bigger picture (being closer to finding your home away from home). Lastly, enjoy every minute of recruitment; you only get this experience once in your lifetime, so take every expected and unexpected encounter happily and with open arms.

This is said to be the best four years of your life, so why make it anything else?!

By Tory Abshire

Going through recruitment was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I not only gained over a hundred new sisters, but I also gained over a hundred lifelong friends. I always knew that I was going to rush, so before starting the process I would talk to other people who had already gone Greek. Every single one of them said, “You will have these friends for the rest of your life." At first I didn’t believe them. Taking my high school experiences in to account, all of those friendships soon faded. Coming from a small private school I was very nervous to venture on to college by myself, but at the same time I was ready to start this next chapter in my life. The first week of school flew by and then it was time for recruitment to begin. That entire day my stomach was in knots, and once I stepped onto the bus I thought my heart was about to explode.

The bus ride over was very quiet because we weren’t allowed to speak to each other so that opinions wouldn’t be swayed between the five sororities. We were all given a nametag and our schedule for the day. My first two houses felt like they were joined together. I was asked the same questions at both of the houses. While I was walking to my third house, which was the Tri Delta house, I was hoping this experience would be different. While lined up outside of the doors I could see Tri Delts in the windows waving and throwing up their sign. I loved seeing this because they all looked so genuinely happy. All of those girls backed away from the window and the singing began. Even though it was my third house I was still so nervous. The doors opened, the singing got louder, and a new friendly face brought me into their brag room. I love to craft, so seeing all of the beautiful crafts was really exciting. I figured these girls would ask me the same questions like the last two houses, but this experience was so different.

The girls who were talking to me were not only beautiful but they were also so kind and down to earth. Within minutes of being there I already felt the awkwardness go away. The girls made me feel so comfortable, and I felt like I could be myself. Before I knew it, the time was already over and I was being escorted out of the door. As soon as I walked back to collect my things, I knew I wanted to come back to this house again. Day 2 was awesome because we got to learn about each sorority’s philanthropy. I absolutely loved Tri Deltas philanthropy which is St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While being told about the philanthropy, I could tell that each girl was touched in a unique way by it. I loved Tri Delta more and more as the party time went on. I was able to talk to different girls on this day, so I was able to see that they too were so down to earth and genuine. Just like day 1 flew by, so did day 2.

Day 3 is the final day to talk to each house before bids go out. I was a nervous wreck because I knew in my heart that I wanted Tri Delta, and I hoped that they wanted me just as much. I couldn’t wait to go back to the Tri Delta house because I knew that as soon as I walked in the door my nerves would ease and I would be able to relax and enjoy conversation. The house was decorated so beautifully and the girls looked just as beautiful. The same girls who I talked to on day 1 came back to see me. The conversations we had were light hearted and fun. I watched how the girls talked about memories and being the best of friends and I wanted that for myself. They cared for each other and complimented each other. The stories they would tell me about I wanted to be apart of one day. While the party progressed I noticed how some girls were holding hands and hugging on each other. I asked the girl talking with me what that was about and she explained that they were seniors and this was their last rush. The love and tears flowing from each Tri Delta towards their seniors was absolutely amazing. I didn’t even know half of the girls in that chapter, but I cried along with them. I knew at that moment that Tri Delta was the sorority I wanted to join. The bond that these girls have is a bond that I have been longing for. I felt comfortable to cry with the girls I was talking to and most importantly I felt comfortable to spill my life story, the good and the bad. By the time the party ended, I looked around the room and I wasn’t the only girl crying. Some girls were torn between two houses, but when walking out of the Tri Delta doors, I knew for a fact that on bid day I wanted to be walking back in them.

By Hannah Love

As Fall Recruitment draws closer, I’m sure your mind is stirring with a million thoughts. Will anyone notice that I spent hours working on this outfit? Will my Kendras match this dress? What impression will I make? I wonder what house my roommate will pledge? Will we still be friends if we join different houses?

While these questions may seem important now, when recruitment is over and the makeup and fancy outfits are gone, you will wish you would have asked yourself … Which house will be the best community for me? What letters do I want to represent on campus? What girls do I see myself watching movies with on a Friday night because we are too lazy (and broke) to do anything else? Which group of girls do I want by my side through the ups and downs that may come in the next four years?

Far too often, we let silly questions cloud our minds from the ones that really matter. Don’t let recruitment come and go without asking yourself, “which house is going to be the best for me?” Here are just a few (out of countless) reasons why I chose to pledge Delta Delta Delta and why I am sure that I made the best decision possible for myself. I hope that I leave you with a better understanding of the passion that I have for my chapter and for the Greek community as a whole.

1. Diversity. The various personalities that make up our chapter keep things interesting and super fun. Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond (our founders) encourage, “to be kind alike to all and think more of a girl’s inner self and character than of her personal appearance.” Although we share thecommon bond of sisterhood, we have the ability to keep our originality and stay true to ourselves knowing that our sisters will always love who we are. This concept is one that our chapter happily takes pride in and one that is very reassuring when we’re all laying around without our makeup on.

2. Philanthropic Passion. We are so proud and beyond privileged to devote our time to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Delta Delta Delta chapters across the country are committed toraising $60 Million because we’ve successfully accomplished raising a goal of more than $31 Million already in such a short time. This philanthropy has touched so many of our hearts personally, and continues to be a source of unequivocal fulfillment. Going through recruitment as a potential member, this was something that I found particularly important. I wanted to be a part of an organization that stood for something worth all the countless hours of effort. Now as an active member, I see that St.Jude doesn’t serve as an obligation to our chapter, it means a chance to make a difference for the betterment of someone else’s well-being.

3. Community. My faith is something that I prioritize above all else. When going through recruitment, I knew that I wanted to find a group of girls that would be my community. When I pledged Tri Delta, I found this immediately. Our purpose states, “to develop a stronger and more womanly character, to broaden the moral and intellectual life, and to assist its members in every possible way.” My sisters were there for me when the struggles of freshman year were too overwhelming. My Tri Delta family attentively holds me accountable and pushes me to be a better version of myself, instead of asking me to be something that I am not.

4. Sense of Belonging. College is new, and honestly, a little scary (whether we want to admit it or not). The new times and new adventures that college brings, also call for new groups of people. I believe it’s important to find like-minded friends that will continuously help shape your future. You’ll meet people in your classes or in your dorms that you will form relationships with, but once you pledge a sorority, you automatically gain about one hundred new friends. The friendships that I’ve gained by becoming a part of Greek life have taught me so many lessons over the course of the year. I am forever grateful that Tri Delta has brought me thissense of belonging to such a priceless group of people.

5. Legacy. All of the women in my family have been Tri Delta women. Learning the principles and the lifelong lessons that Tri Delta is teaching me, and has taught them, I see the Legacy that I hope to leave for my children in the future. The way that Tri Delta encourages me to live life is the same way that my mother, and sisters have encouraged me as well. It’s important to share a bond with your sisters here, but when you can share this same bond with your family, it takes it to a whole new level. I love this chapter with my whole heart and it is encouraging to think that I have the opportunity to leave a legacy here that my family in the future will be able to share with me, just like I’m sharing with my family now.

6. Memories. Yes, I will remember that time I made an A in English. Yes, I will be proud when I remember that whole day that I spent at the library during finals week. But mostly… I will remember the times that I spent with my sisters. I will remember that we played our music as loud as possible and mattress surfed down the stairs in the chapter house. I will remember the countless times we went on late-night snack runs. I will remember the sisters that were there for me through the times that I thought were the end of the world. At the end of the day, I remember that I have the best friends around to help me make the memories that I will one day wish I could relive.

Wherever you decide to call home, make sure that it is a place that you can see yourself proudly representing anywhere you go, at all hours of the day. Ultimately you may feel as if you’re choosing the sorority that you want, but in all reality, the sorority chooses you as well. It is so important to take into account the morals that you hold yourself to, and base your decision on what you feel is best for you.

On my final day of recruitment when I knew that I would have to make my decision, I was overwhelmed with nerves. I was in the Tri Delta house when a member pointed out that I shouldn’t make my decision on any pre-conceived ideas that I had in my head, or by any superficial reasoning. She was right. I had been caught up in the hype of recruitment and wasn’t thinking about what this really all meant for me. Right then, I knew that I was at home. I knew that I was talking to a girl who would soon be one of my best friends. I knew I wanted to be a Tri Delta woman more than anything.

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