Three years ago, I opened my bid day card and ran home to Alpha Delta Pi at Texas Christian University for the first time. I have had the privilege to experience and be a part of the best sisterhood, and am now, officially, a proud alumna.
I never thought I would be the type of woman to be in a sorority; I just didn’t look like the“typical” woman most people think of when they imagine a sorority. And to be honest, I didn’t think I would find my place or really be pushed beyond where I currently was in my life. I could not have been more wrong.
Being a member, and now alumna, of Alpha Delta Pi has taught me so much more than I could have imagined about not just myself, but about what it takes to become an empowered and intentional member of any community now or in the future. I am the type of person who is very relationship-oriented and will go out of my way to make sure my friends are always supported and elevated to be the best version of themselves, and ADPi gave me the opportunity to build these deeply personal relationships and support my sisters whenever they needed it. The ability for a group of women from such diverse backgrounds to come together and shower a sister with love, encouragement, or advice when going through major life experiences is something I will not take for granted. Even just thinking about this now makes me tear up as I reminisce on the moments my sisters showered me with love when I needed it most.
Freshman year is a rough year for many college students, and it was definitely one for me as well. I was tested beyond belief and often contemplated how I was going to make it through the difficult moments. It was in these times that my sisters surrounded me and lifted me up. I can truly say that they made all the difference to me in those moments.
I may have initially been hesitant to go through the recruitment process all those years ago (after all, no one in my family had done so before me so this was uncharted waters), but I would not alter my decision to do so for anything. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and I know that these women and this organization were put into my life to help me grow and flourish into the person I am today. I am not perfect, far from it actually, but my sisters love me for who I am and that is the most important part.
To Alpha Delta Pi, thank you for taking a chance on me. Thank you for showing me the leader I could become. Thank you for highlighting my passions and my willingness to serve.
To my sisters, thank you.