How is everyone? I’m just getting
through my classes, starting my field experience for my elementary education
major, and trying to overcome this awful cold. Aside from that, I want to talk about my
sorority today. Too many times, people are so quick to judge when they hear I am in a
sorority. I am a member of Delta Delta Delta, some of you may or may not know
the name. You may have heard some negative stereotypes or maybe you’ve heard we
raise thousands of dollars for our philanthropy with St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital and Clinics. I want to talk about one of the many things that stood
out to when I was considering Tri-Delta and now being apart of it, what has impacted me the most.
When I was going through primary
recruitment and I was struggling with my eating disorder and body image. I
remember having a conversation with a friend of mine on how I didn’t know if I
could do this whole sorority thing. I remember telling my friend how I’ll never
get into a house competing against all of these amazingly beautiful and
confident girls. She told me, she didn’t know if it was a good idea for me
either. She didn’t want me putting myself down anymore than I already was. This
all changed when I walked into the door of 302 Ash Avenue.
Tri-Delta nationally participates
in a movement called Fat Talk Free Week. When I heard about this, I knew this
was the house for me. It was the house I needed at that very point in my
life. Fat Talk Free Week is a weeklong event where all of us sisters hold each
other accountable. We put positive post-it notes all around the house and on
the mirrors. We promote positive body image, have guest speakers, and
participate in fun activities as well. I wasn’t allowed to say one negative
thing about myself. If I did, one of my sisters would call me out. It wasn’t
just this week my sisters did this for me; it was all of the time.
My sophomore year I was finally
comfortable enough to tell a few of my sorority sisters what I was going
through. I was scared to tell them, but I am so happy that I did. They were the
first people I told, they were the ones who made me realize it was all going to
be okay. I never knew someone could have my back like these girls did. They
called me out when I wasn’t eating, they hid the scales from me, and made sure
I had the support I needed when I was struggling. They were my rock. Too many
times, people don’t see the beauty in sorority letters. I have been lucky
enough to find the beauty in mine and I am so grateful for that.
Tri-Delta has given more than what
people probably realize. The very moment I told those girls in 2nd
Add what I was going through is a moment I will never forget. They were my
first step to recovery and I could never thank these girls enough for what they
did for me that year. They will always have a special place in my heart.
Delta Love and All Mine,
JohannahMichale
