If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, Initiation Week is my favorite week of the semester. It was before it was my responsibility as Vice President Member Development, and it will continue to be. It's a week all about the sisterhood that has brought together so many different women together in the past, present and future. I really enjoyed getting to share this week with my entire Gam Fam, especially my littlest little one, my great grand little, my "nieces", and my Rho Gamma Group 5 babes.
Red, Buff and Green Ceremony:
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| McKay |
Pinning of the Petals/Our Living Purpose:
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| Ploggs and Megan |
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| Thing One and Thing Two |
My senior fireside speech, my love letter to the chapter, my sisters:
"During my first active semester, one of my favorite seniors ended her speech with this poem, and it stuck with me- so I wanted to start mine with it:
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk
Congratulations new members! I am so excited for you all. I hope you’ve enjoyed your first I Week. They get better each year though your first and your last are especially special. Get excited for tomorrow morning! Make sure you make the most of this experience. It’s cliche but you get out of it what you put into it. Show up. But I don’t just mean come to events, bright and cheery while that’s important too, it’s more than that. Drop by the house some afternoon and stay til the wee hours of the morning. Go on random out of the box adventures with your sisters. Get involved, because it's over before you know it.
I don’t have many shout outs because you’re all amazing and I hope you know how much you all mean to me… But there are people don’t that get enough recognition or don’t take compliments seriously, so listen here:
McKay- you are seriously one of the most genuine people I know. I loved that we’ve gotten closer this semester, I wish it had started sooner. But I know our friendship will continue because you are just too bright and brilliant a personality to have around for a fleeting moment. When you’re lucky enough to meet people that inspire you to be kinder and see the world in a new way, you can’t help but what to keep them around. McKay, I’m so excited to see what you do in AGD and in life. You’re a firecracker and you’re going to set the world on fire.
Megan- my little bean, you are perfect and amazing and I love and admire you so much.. You are so important in my life. You never fail to crack me up and you are always thinking of others. I hope that one day you will see yourself the way that I see you: you are beautiful inside and out. You can and will accomplish anything and everything you set your mind to do. Be confident in that. Know that your presence is important. The world isn’t ready for the immense greatness you’re going to bring it.
Maria- You are a fabulous person. I miss you immensely, living in the house and simply being in the house without you has been strange. You don’t get nearly enough recognition for being the amazing friend and sister that you are. I’m so happy to have you in my life. To steal the words from the wise, Taylor Farley, Maria is a boss ass bitch. If you don’t know her- meet her. If you do know her, cherish her. Because to find someone so pure-hearted and good natured is rare and I know that I’m a better person for having known her these last 3 years.
Austin- I absolutely adore you. You are one of the strongest people that I know, things that would simply destroy me- you fight back from them. You never fail to put aside anything that is going on in your life to take care of others. You my friend, are a rockstar. You are the perfect embodiment of an Alpha Gamma Delta.
Haley- my perfect little babe, my one and only, to barely scratch the surface- so as to keep from blubbering… Haley, I love you! I say it constantly but you made my irrational and genetically impossible need for a ginger child- a reality. We are totally different and completely similar, the perfect compliment for our Big/Little ship. I wouldn’t want to watch our tv shows on this couch with anyone else and I’m going to miss you so much. I’m sorry I text you my incoherent ramblings, about tv, celebrities, and life, constantly- but buckle up babe, it’ll only get worse from here. You make me proud every day and I’m so happy to know even though i’m leaving, you still have your perfect little weirdo and our littlest weirdo to keep you company. I could not imagine 3 more perfect people to continue on this legacy.
To you, the rest of the chapter: As one of the seniors that has seen each and every one of you be initiated— it’s been an honor and a privilege watching you all grow up and into the women you’ve become and are becoming. Thank you for growing up with me. You’re all amazing individuals and whether or not we know each other well, I see you and I appreciate you. I want you all to know how special you are. Alpha Gamma Delta didn’t make you special, but I hope it helped you realize what was inside you all along. This chapter saved me when I was going through a hard time. If you’re going through a hard time, as cliche as it sounds- it really does get better and this sisterhood will support you if you let it. You’ll have your ups and downs here. Sometimes you’ll hate it as much as you love it, but there’s beauty in the struggle- know that this is a real sisterhood and eventually you'll come out of it. i’ve always been proud to be an Alpha Gamma Delta. So it’s really hard to leave but I know this isn’t goodbye but see you later, because this is a lifelong bond. Our collegiate time is only the length of college but our alumna status is infinite, and i’m so excited to find out what that means exactly. So while I’m away please remember every day but especially the bad ones, that there is someone that loves you, I love you. You are beautiful, smart and kind. To quote TSM, “each and every one of you will move mountains, each and every one of you is a force to be reckoned with.”
You are going to do great things and thank you so much for being my sisters.
This shall be my purpose that those who know me may esteem Alpha Gamma Delta for her attainments, revere her for her purposes and love her for her womanhood."
Initiation:
Feast of Roses:
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| My beautiful Gam Fam |
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| My littlest little one |
It's strange to think that the next time that I see this ritual, I won't be a collegian anymore, but I could not have asked for a better last week. It was exhilarating and exhausting and the perfect way to get ready for Thanksgiving, because I am so blessed to be an Alpha Gamma Delta and have these amazing women in my life.
May you always have roses on your table and pearls around your neck!
xoxo
KJB
