Missing Alpha Gam

Sometimes things that are most important to you start to fade, and you need a new experience to remind you why you loved them in the first place. I haven't participated with Alpha Gamma Delta in a significant way since I graduated from college in 2010, and I had sort of forgotten why I ever loved it. I think that can happen easily during your last years of college and early years of adult life, if you're not careful. In my case, on top of being burnt out from being on the organization's Executive Council, I had a bit of drama with some of the sisters around my age, and it was easier to stop being around than it was to try to deal with the drama. The last bit of college sorority life I experienced left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, and I had started to forget all the wonderful things the organization had done for me. But that's the great thing about a sorority - it's a lifetime commitment so there are women of every age group still actively involved.

That's what really hit me last week during International Convention. Alpha Gam provides opportunity to really get to know women of all ages, and you already have something in common to start you off. Not many girls I know are friends with women 10, 30, or even 50 years older than they are. And I, and every other Alpha Gamma Delta, have the chance to make those friendships. Some of the most meaningful relationships I have had in my life have been with non-family members who have significantly more life experience than I, and I don't think enough people have friendships like that. At International Convention, I ate dinner with the International Council, sang songs with women from all over the world, and even got to share my experiences with a few collegians. It was so neat to get to know them and their stories. The overwhelming sense of acceptance and sisterhood felt just like the very first time I attended an Alpha Gamma Delta event as a college freshman. I made some really great connections over the course of the week, including getting reacquainted with a few women from my own area. While I love my cosplay friends, sorority sisters are totally different, and it will be great to have women like that in my life again.

The whole point of going in the first place was that I got to sing! Aside from a few mishaps, everything went pretty smoothly. Supposedly someone filmed my songs during Feast of Roses, and I'll post the video as soon as I've got it! Getting to perform for 600 of my sisters really reminded me of how much I love to sing, and how decent I actually am at it! I had forgotten how good singing can make me feel about myself, and I never want to forget that again. Bringing half of International Council to tears just with a song was a really powerful moment. So if you know of any classical or musical theatre gigs in Nashville, send them my way!

I want to say thank you again to the ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta, and especially to the International Council, for welcoming me as the weekend's soloist. It was an amazing experience to participate in Convention at all, let alone the excitement of the Ritual. If you are inclined to ask me back in 2014, I would be honored to say yes.


 

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