This entire year I have tried to deny the fact that I’m graduating. With graduation comes an inevitable string of goodbyes to the things that made up my college experience. Namely, my sisterhood in Alpha Chi Omega.
I can remember the days of freshman sorority recruitment vividly, although I was an entirely different person then compared to who I am now. The feeling of rushing a sorority was so exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time, like approaching the top of a rollercoaster right before it is about to drop. At the time, I only knew a select few of acquaintances that were going through recruitment. I felt alone in facing the challenge ahead of me, and I knew that the process was going to be a test of not only my character, but my confidence.
Despite the nerve wracking experience, all of my worries melted away when I heard the voices of Alpha Chi women sing to me on preference day. Tears pooled in my eyes that morning. I felt closer to some of these women after three short days than I had with most people on my campus in an entire semester. That’s when I knew that Alpha Chi Omega would be my home for the next four years.
Flash forward to senior year, when my last semester of college is already tarnished by existential dread and another four months of online learning. Remembering that I had to endure an entire weekend of Zoom recruitment felt like a kick to the stomach. In all honesty, I was regretting the fact that I hadn’t changed my membership status to early alumni so that I could have avoided the weekend altogether.
Despite my all around negative feelings, I made it through our practice weekend with little to complain about. This helped me approach the recruitment weekend with a more positive mindset. I told myself that I was doing this for the good of the chapter and its future, not my own personal enjoyment. Much to my surprise, I had many rewarding conversations with potential new members. I reflected on what it was like to be in their shoes and felt grateful for the privilege I had of going through the process in person.
On the last day of recruitment, preference day, I caught myself choking back tears as a slideshow of pictures played on my screen. Seeing all of the memories that my sisters and I have made with each other was heartwarming and nostalgic. It reminded me why I chose to become a panhellenic woman. More importantly, it reminded me of the strength that lies within the bond of sisterhood.
As cliché as that may sound, there is little that I wouldn’t do for a sister. I consider them the most kind and genuine group of women that I have ever known. Each of them have their own unique gifts and personalities that are cherished in my heart whether they know it or not. I choose to love them unconditionally for who they are, and in return they encourage me, accept me, and cheer me on in all of my accomplishments – big or small.
When I looked at my Zoom screen that day, I saw each of their smiling faces exude the special kind of joy that is only found when we are connected with one another. As we finished our ceremony, we left the potential new members with a few words about our sisterhood:
“We laugh, we cry, we laugh until we cry. And at the end of the day, at the end of the night, we all come back together. Because nothing is as good as it is when we are sharing it with each other”.
Whether we are together physically, or simply connecting by spamming the Zoom chat with TikTok references and favorite restaurant recommendations, everything is better when we are together. Recruitment weekend proved to me that our bond transcends distance. It gave me hope that even after graduation, I will be able to find strength in the sisterhood. Alpha Chi Omega’s are real, strong women. So, if I ever doubt my strength, I will remember that I was chosen to be in this sisterhood because of it.
