PERSONAL

I have been a member of my sorority for five and a half years. I can honestly say that this time in my life has been one of growth. I can see the differences in the person I was as a freshman to who I am now. I attribute all of this change in my life to my sorority.

Once I joined my sorority I realized how important it was for me to be more active on campus, to get better grades, to involve myself in the community, to help others, and to be a better person all around. I know that many of us feel the same way about our sororities. Until recently, I did these things because it made my sorority look better. I love all sororities, but at the end of the day I am a ____ and I want to see my Sisters and national organization be successful. If we are successful individuals, our national organization will be successful. If our national organization is successful, Panhellenic is successful. 

However, I recently dealt with something that made me reexamine the values that my sorority instilled in me. One of my non-Greek friends was in a bad situation. I did everything within my power to get her out of this situation and talked to her to make her realize the error of her ways. An acquaintance learned of the situation and talked to my friend, telling her that she should be careful who she trusts, referring to me. I'm not sure why this acquaintance would tell my friend this, but she did nonetheless. 

When I learned that she had this conversation with my friend, I immediately began to consider if I did anything wrong. No. I got my friend out of a bad situation. Then I considered why I knew this to be the right thing to do. I know that my sorority instilled in me the desire to help others who are in need. My friend was definitely in need, but when do the promises we make to our Sisters extend to our personal lives? 

For me the answer to that question is that my sorority and the promises I made are personal so they are a part of my personal life. Even though thousands of women have made the same promises you made to your sorority, they are a personal responsibility that you take on. Our oaths and obligations have a personal meaning to all of us. Our affiliations do not extend only to our Sisters or other sorority women, they are a part of who we are. It is our responsibility to communicate our oaths and obligations to those we come in contact with, even if they cannot know the words of our oaths and obligations. 

This reminds me of a lesson taught at UIFI - Make your Ritual your ritual. Make your oaths and obligations a part of your daily and personal life.