With the year coming to a close, I have been thinking a lot about all of the things I am grateful for in my life. There are big things like my new job, my close relationship with my family and all of my friends near and far. But there’s also one big thing that I’m thankful for in my life – my sorority membership. My membership has given me a lot and I truly am thankful for so much.
The Sisterhood
I’ve said it plenty of times throughout the years, I joined my sorority in search of a strong sisterhood. I was lucky enough to find what I was looking for in Delta Gamma. I have never been so thankful to have so many strong women to look up to and grow with. I watched my roommate as she went from someone being nervous to speak at chapter to her becoming the new president of our sorority. I watched my friends as they studied nonstop to pass their classes. And, even though in-person graduation was canceled for May 2020, I watched as my fellow seniors finished out their time at NIU and at the sorority, and watched as they received post-grad jobs, started grad school, and so much more.
The Abundance of Opportunities
The sorority life is what you make of it. There are so many things you can do if you just go for it and put in the effort to succeed. Throughout my time as a collegiate, I was given so many opportunities to grow within the sorority and the fraternal community. I was given opportunities to show the people around me what I was made of and everything I could do. The sorority experience also brought me to TheSororityLife.com, and I am so thankful I get a chance to do write and help women figure out their path in life. Now, as an alumna, I can’t wait to continue to see what opportunities come my way.
Confidence Building
I wouldn’t say I was a super shy person before joining a sorority, but I also wouldn’t say I was the most outgoing. During my two years of membership, I truly saw myself grow as a person and as a student. Surrounding myself with all of the women in my sorority helped me overcome my fears. It also helped me work on becoming a more outspoken person and to chase after whatever I wanted. As I have grown beyond college, that confidence has followed me and continues to be a skill I still use.
Philanthropic Opportunities
It’s not just the season of giving thanks, but also the season of giving. This is why I am thankful for my sorority philanthropy.
Delta Gamma’s philanthropy is Service for Sight. Year-round Delta Gamma members raise funds to support the needs of the visually impaired. I personally love that our philanthropy was shaped by a Delta Gamma alumna who was visually impaired and suggested the organization adopt Service for Sight as the official philanthropy.
My love language is giving and it is so fulfilling to be able to give my time and my energy year-round, not only to Service for Sight but also to the people that I see out and about in the community every day.
Like all fraternal organizations, we hold fundraisers throughout the academic year to raise funds. What I love about the opportunities provided by the sorority experience, is that sorority women help our organization and volunteer in the community. This allows women to see the national impact and show how sorority women help community members in need.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been so heartening to see how many sorority women have worked together to provide for others, and I can only hope that we continue after everything is over. I’ve loved being able to see the official sorority social media accounts showcase the women who have done food drives and toy drives. I recently saw on the Delta Gamma EO Instagram the Louisana State University Delta Gamma chapter hosted a hurricane relief drive to help those affected by Hurricane Laura. Acts of service like this show just how much good sorority life can do for others.
So, whatever you are thankful for this year, whether it be personal or sorority related, I hope that you are able to spend the rest of this month, and every month, enjoying every moment of it. I know that I am thankful for all of your reading this and I can’t wait to continue doing what I love for the people I love.
