{Day 8} "I AM THANKFUL" 30 Day Thanksgiving Challenge

Day #8

I am thankful...for being a member of Alpha Omicron Pi (and the sisters I've met along the way).

*Pictures will be at the bottom of this post because they'll make more sense after you read what I've written about this day* 

When I went to college for the first time back in Sept 2004 I was BEYOND excited but EXTREMELY nervous of what was to come. I'd never been away from my family for more than a couple nights at a time, never had been away from my hubby (boyfriend at the time of course haha) more than a waking moment. I knew it was going to be tough dealing with not having any friends or family around but I was excited to get out there, make new friends, and experience what it was like to live on my own. 

Well, it ended up not being as wonderful as I'd hoped. I got VERY homesick for my boyfriend and my family. I had a room mate that was AWFUL. She wasn't friendly and was always gone hanging out with the AUAP (Asian students from overseas) Students and had the craziest sleep schedule. I wasn't making any friends (for those of you that know me, I'd never had a hard time being social) and after a few months had passed, all I would find myself doing was sitting in my dorm room, watching TV and eating myself to death. I ended up gaining 30lbs my first year at college. 

One day, I was sitting in the cafeteria at the condiment bar getting some last little items for my burger when I heard someone call out my name! I totally thought I was imagining it, then I heard it again. I turned around that there was my best friend, Tiffany, from high school, that I'd played fast pitch with for years. I almost screamed at the sight of her, left my tray at the condiment bar and SPRINTED at Tiffany trying not to cry! It was literally an answer to my prayers!

I know what you're thinking..."she's your best friend and you didn't know what college she was going to?" haha. Tiffany is a year ahead of me in school and when she left, last time we'd talked, she had plans to go to college out of state in Oregon. And with her being a Freshman in college and me being a Senior in high school, we didn't get a chance talk as often as we both would have liked. 

We sat down and started to catch up, Tiffany was telling me about how her and one of her room mates were going through the process of joining a sorority. Most of you know this as "rush" but we call it "formal recruitment" ;-) She made it sound really interesting but unfortunately it was far enough along where new people couldn't join the process so I couldn't join. Tiffany did end up becoming a member of a sorority and she had nothing but amazing things to say about it! Later on I learned that the sorority she joined had events called "continuous open recruitment" events so they could recruit girls throughout the quarter if they didn't get enough members from formal recruitment. 

Tiffany encouraged me to come to one of these events just to see if I'd like the girls and see what a sorority was like without obligation to join. Well, it only took me one COR event to become hooked and I wanted to join immediately. The girls were so friendly and amazing and I just felt like I could really start some life long friendships with some of these women. I went through the whole process, became a member of Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) - Tau Gamma Chapter on March 4th, 2005 and I've never looked back since.

I can truly say that if it wasn't for AOII and Tiffany, I would've dropped out of college to go home because I was so homesick and literally at the beginnings of having depression. I owe A LOT to the amazing women that made me feel like I had a home away from home. I formed amazing bonds with sisters and wonderful friendships that I still have to this day. 

When I graduated from Eastern Washington University in March 2009, I was very sad that my days as an active sorority member were over and I would now start my journey as an alumni of AOII. What I didn't know is that I would come to love AOII on another level. Since I've graduated, I accepted the position of  my chapter's Financial Advisor and have had the position for almost a year now. It has been truly amazing to meet so many new women and to see where the chapter is now and how it has grown since I was active. It also makes me feel amazing that when these girls see me, they are truly excited to see their advisor. We all know that when it comes to dealing with finances...it's not always the "funnest" subject and tensions can definitely run high at time so knowing that these ladies are truly excited to see me after some rough times, make this position so rewarding! It's such a great feeling to give back to my sorority in a way that helps the current members.

I can't help but continue to think that maybe someday my daughter will want to join AOIIhaha! 

Being a part of something so big and wonderful, never ceases to amaze me. It totally makes my day when I'm anywhere in the United States and I run into a sister from another AOII chapter. It's just incredible.

The picture above is the first "Bid Day" of the first formal recruitment I was able to experience after I joined (I put a red arrow so you can see me :-) I'm right in the middle haha). Since I joined shortly after formal recruitment in 2004, I wasn't able to attend it. That's the event that Tiffany was able to attending since she went through formal recruitment. This was also the first year we had a physical house to live in, so it was a big year for Tau Gamma! :-) I'm glad I was able to be a part of it!

This next picture, is a picture of from Bid Day when I was an active member and this year's Bid Day. Isn't the difference in members incredible?! I'm so proud! These girls did AMAZING at recruitment this year. The girls now live in a "new" house, that's bigger because they've grown SO much since I was an active member.

Courtesy of my sister Meghan (that I was a member with) at Shine On - Tales of a Twenty Something

Are any of you a member of a sorority?! I would love to know :-) 

What are you thankful for today?!