To start, I love my sorority so much. Joining Alpha Delta Pi was one of the best decisions I’ve made in college. I have so much appreciation and respect for all of my sisters who organize these events and who make these events run smoothly.
In no particular order, here are my top seven events my sorority has done!
- Parents Weekend
-
Spring Parents Weekend is such a fun experience. Generally, sororities partner with fraternities for Parents Weekend because most sororities do not have a house to host these events at.
I’m a first generation college student, so when my mom came up last year, it was her first time at a frat. Hands down the best part of Parents Weekend is all the dogs that come to town. Friendly dogs that want attention are the best and always make my mom and I happy.
I also love Parents Weekend because the merch for the weekend is sorority merch that my mom feels like she can wear, since she went to the event. It makes me happy when I can involve her in my college experiences, since she doesn’t have any of her own.
- Big/Little Reveal
-
Throwing it back majorly to when I was a little! Big/Little is such a special experience.
It’s literally like Christmas, and that goes for when you’re a little and a big. Whether it’s receiving gifts or giving them, you just feel so much love. Blood, sweat and tears get poured into paintings, whether they’re art canvases or letters.
It’s an incredibly special bond and it is so helpful to have someone older to help you out, both in the sorority and in life. My big Savannah has always been so kind and helpful — I always wear our Big/Little shirt when I’m sick or having a bad day just because it’s a comfort, and it wouldn’t be a comfort if she wasn’t such a great person. My little Kelsey is so special — it’s always so exciting when I run into her or get to chat with her.
- Black Diamond Spring 2022 Formal
-
This was the first formal I went to as an initiated member. This was incredibly special to me because I didn’t go to prom in high school. There was COVID, but I also had no desire to go to prom with my high school class.
I cried when I got dressed up in my pretty sparkly dress and heels and got to have a fun night with my sisters. It’s been a year and I still remember lots of hugs, lots of smiles and lots of giggles.
I cried again on the phone with my mom after, because I was just so happy with the life I had now. This formal healed my inner child in ways I never would have imagined, and I’m so thankful for it.
- Mallard Ball
-
I didn’t think I was going to have any fun at a barn in the middle of nowhere. I’m so incredibly happy my pessimistic self was wrong.
The bus ride out to the barn was so special. There were lots of laughs and giggles, it felt like a middle school field trip but so much better. A bunch of us stole little ducks that were used as decorations (I’m guilty of it too).
There was also a slideshow going on a projector screen with a bunch of group photos, which was adorable. The attention to detail that goes into these events, like the banners and balloons and silly little ducks, makes this so incredibly memorable.
Shoutout to my friend Shanna who went as my date and definitely played a part in making this so much fun.
- Formals In General
-
Every formal in general is special. My sorority has two every semester, and I love a great excuse to get dressed up and go out.
Every theme is so unique and cute and I’m so excited for the last formal of the semester (I already ordered a new pair of shoes). And of course I’m looking forward to all of the formals left in my next two years.
Shoutout to my platonic plus one Jay. I love that all of my sisters are so sweet that I have no problems or concerns about bringing any of my friends to sorority events.
- Initiation
-
Initiation is a bunch of rituals that are over 100 years old, since my sorority was founded in 1851, so they’re definitely a little silly. It’s a great way to bond with other sister, it’s definitely something you’ll never forget.
It was incredibly special to get initiated with my friend Sam last year, and this year we initiated our littles in together. I love tradition, so initiation is always a special time of year.
- Bid Day
-
Bid Day is so special. It’s so special to welcome all of the new members home. It was also really refreshing to be in pajamas after all of the time in dresses and heels for recruitment.
My sorority has violet sisters: the sisters who welcome the new members. I was a violet sister for this past Bid Day and I adored the two girls I got to welcome home. Kelsey ended up being my little, and Laura is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.
I love how relaxing bid day is, and I also adore that Laura was down to go to Sheetz for slushies after.
- Honorable Mention: Things You Don’t See
-
There are so many little moments I don’t have photos of but deserve to be spoken about.
My big Savannah offered to bring everyone in our recruitment group Starbucks as a nice morning wake up.
My friend Sam and I shopped for big/little things together which was such a special experience for me.
I watched the first Penn State football game of this season in the sorority suite with some of my sisters and that was such a special time.
At every formal, I have sisters that come up and give me a huge hug and strike up a conversation and it means the world to me.
I recently did a sisterhood event with my friends Sam and Madi and we decorated cookies and I laughed a lot.
Any time I think of my sorority, and my sisters, I’m usually laughing. I have so much love in my heart for my sorority and my sisters.
There are definitely some assumptions about sororities and what it’s really like, and I will swear up and down that it has been one of the most wholesome experiences of my life.
Alpha Delta Pi has given me life-long friends and life-long memories, and I could not be more grateful.