Thursday, February 18, 2016

I Found the Beauty Within My Letters.

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