I'm bumping this up because I've got a story.

This weekend, I broke up my boyfriend of almost a year. Even though I ended everything, I still felt miserable. Recruitment is approaching, and in the middle of practicing bumping, I burst into tears almost out of the blue. My sisters rallied around me...even those I didn't know that well. My big whisked me out to dinner, and when I got home, girls in my pledge class took me out to a party at one of my favorite fraternities. The next day, I was still feeling down, and about ten or so sisters came up to me when I arrived at work week and asked if I needed to talk; and that night, some sisters took me out for dinner. And over the weekend, sisters from all pledge classes; even those who I didn't know that well (theres 100+ in my chapter) texted me or facebooked me telling me that they are there if they needed to talk.

It was weird...I didn't think I would get support like this because it was just a breakup, and not a bad one at that. But the fact that my sisters are that supportive was amazing, and I know that no matter what happens, they are there for me.

Spring semester of last year was probably the hardest time I've faced in my life so far. Everything around me seemed to be falling apart and each day it was becoming more than I thought I could handle. One weekend in particular stands out. I had gotten locked out of my bedroom in my apartment on Friday night (thanks maintenance!) after all my roommates had gone home for the weekend, leaving me with only my car keys and my cell phone.

Saturday afternoon (after getting back in my room) I had gone to eat with a friend of mine, and on my way home I was rear ended by an F-250. I drive a Corolla, so it wasn't pretty. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt. As I was standing on the side of the road dealing with the police, I notice another car pull off and park in front of my car. One of the older sisters gets out and runs up and hugs me, checking to see if I was ok. At this point, I didn't know her very well so the fact that she did that meant a lot to me.

After I got home from dealing with the car accident, I decided to take a nap. I wake up to find that my kind-of boyfriend ( I don't even know what we were) had decided to let me know that we were done and that he never wanted to speak to me again on FACEBOOK. My feelings were very much involved with this guy, so obviously I was devasted, especially given what happened earlier in the afternoon. I texted my new member coordinator (she knew about a lot of my problems) and told her that I finally reached my breaking point. She immediately called me, and even though she was home for the weekend, she stayed on the phone with me for 45 minutes, calming me down and letting me know I'd be ok. She and a few other sisters would text me every so often to check up on me and making sure everything was alright. Without their help, I don't think I would have made it through that night.

Here is a great story from my alma mater!

Sorority rallies behind sister following cancer diagnosis

It's the little things....
 

An in-town radio station was running a contest for Lion King tickets. You could either win a costume contest or a trivia contest to get the tickets. I had never seen the show and had heard so many good things about it that I thought I would try to go a win them.

I went down to the venue, with no costume, because I figured that I could win the trivia contest (because, I confess, I love the movie). Anyway, when I got there, no one else was there, so I figured that I was a shoe-in. After I had waited about an hour, at the last possible moment, this woman arrived in costume. :mad: The DJ told me that in order to participate in the trivia contest, I would have to have a costume, otherwise the other lady would get the tickets.

So I quickly tried to find a makeshift costume, tying my scarf around my waist for a tail. A woman that I had been chatting with offered to do "cat" make up for me, because I did not have any make-up. As we walked toward her car and I saw her plates, I realized that she was a soror.

Long story, she made me up, and went about her way. I won the tickets, which were excellent seats, and I never had a chance to thank her for her help. She did this for no reason other than the kindness in her heart.

This is just one of the many examples of the sisterliness that I have seen again and again among my sorors, even in the smallest ways. The Alpha Kappa Alpha women that I have encountered have always been so sisterly to me, even when I was a complete stranger. This was one of the things that really drew me to this sisterhood in the end.

Oh yes, and a cyber shout out to that soror who took time from her day to lend me a helping hand. :D

BUMP - because as we approach recruitment season, we need to remember what it is we are offering pnms, and they need to know that what they are pursuing is so much more than wearing Greek letters and singing goofy songs.

relay for life sisterhood
 

Every year, my chapter participates in the Relay for Life at our school in New Jersey. This year's Relay had several meanings, each bringing us together even closer.

In November-December, my aunt who I am extremely close to was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We didnt know how serious it was but the idea of cancer scared the shit out of me. I couldn't concentrate on anything and until her results came in, I was a wreck. My roommate who was also my Pearl and one of my close friends was my rock cause she knew what I was going through. She had lost her dad to cancer a few years back. Luckily, we got the good news that it wasnt as bad as we originally thought and she would just have to go through chemo for 6 months.

About two months prior to relay, our chapter/faculty advisor was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to go through extensive chemo. She continued to teach and continued to be our advisor and we loved her for everything. She was always there for our chapter and still is, even though less than 2 weeks prior to Relay she got news that her cancer had worsened and she would have to step up her chemo. At Relay, we lit a candle for her that was place on the track.

During the luminaria lap, when the lights are turned off, my chapter stood arm in arm and walked around. I couldnt help myself and started to cry cause I kept thinking about my aunt and one of my sisters was by my side in a minute. This same sister started crying half way through the lap as well. She herself was a cancer survivor.

The minute we were coming up to our chapter advisors luminaria candle, we stopped as a chapter and continued to hold hands. Eventually we stopped in her honor and did a group hug. It was one of the moments that I knew that each of these 20 girls were there for me cause they held me up during that lap. Our advisor still needs our prayers and we hope her health will continue to get better.

Great Thread! Very touching and sweet.

I know this is stories of sisterhood, but I hope you ladies won't mind if I share a couple.

First I have a couple about other chapters on my campus, to show that greeks stick together regardless of letter.

During the NIU shootings, one of the people at my school lost his blood sister. His fraternity set up a table to help pay for the funeral arrangements. As if that wasn't enough, that table wasn't empty the entire time. People from every single org on campus took turns on that table to support our fellow greek.

Second our Alpha Sig chapter had the misfortune of loosing two undergrads in something like a month. They held a black light processional for him on the green of my campus. I couldn't go because of class, but I hear half of the Greeks at school were there in support.

Now a couple from my chapter. We have one brother who is pretty athletic but manages to hurt himself all the time somehow.He was playing basketball during greek week and hurt his ankle somehow. Me and a couple of other brothers ended up carrying him to our chapter house which was two blocks away.

Me and a few brothers were living together in a boarding house near campus. We had a fire one night which everybody ended up fine with. One of my brothers when he found out came running from the dorms with hoodies for all of us to wear (it was winter). Not only that, but I was getting calls from greeks asking what happened and all the houses were offering us a place to stay for a couple of days until we had everythign figured out.

And one that is very personal to me. Me and my grandfather were really close, he was the closest thing I had to a father. Last year he passed away in the night. We had just finished pinning our new pledges and were at a dinner celebrating when I got the call. The Brothers were so supportive it was great. I ended up going outside to sit on the steps. They took turns coming out and sitting with me, talking when needed , silent when not. I honestly don't know how I would have made it through the night without them. Also background, I live about 45 minutes from my school, but that's by train. Now I need to take two trains to get home, one that ones all night and one that stops at 1 to get to the first train. So I had planned on sleeping on the couch anyway after the ritual and diner. My mom called again and asked when I could get home so she could scheduled a flight. I told her when I got back to school from the diner I would see if i could get a ride to the train I needed. As soon as I said that one of the brothers volunteered to drive me. He ended up driving me all the way home after borrowing another brother's car.

And for two slightly more happy stories.

Me, one of my brothers and one of the pledges were on the train on our way to NYC to visit our columbia chapter. They had invited us for a formal invite dinner so we decided to go. I was wearing a jacket with letters on it. Some random guy comes up and asked if we are brothers of Psi Upsilon. I answered yes. Turned out he was one of the founders of my chapter. That was crazy.

Now I love visiting chapters and meeting brothers. One of my friends was driving down to RPI to go to a cookout. I managed to talk myself into the car and went down with her to visit the chapter. I had called the day before, but they apprently forgot. Anyway I show up more or less out of the blue and they welcomed me with open arms. Somehow I had showed up right in time for them to go out for lunch and they invited me along. The entire time I was there, they didn't let me pay for a thing.

Mind you these stories all took place in a period of about two years.

Greatest thread ever.
I have tears in my eyes and goosebumps right now - thank you all for your beautiful stories.

OMG... Thank you for sharing that! It was such a beautiful story.

I just read WhiteDaisy's story in the Anchora and am sitting here crying tears like a baby! What an amazing story! It is so refreshing to hear stories of women working to lift each other up rather than bring each other down. Sometimes I feel like society wants to stereotype all women as catty bitches out for only themselves, but we know what women are really like.

Sisterhood is for always
 

Here's my latest - a Gamma Phi from Arizona had to come to the Houston Medical Center for her husband's surgery. She had to stay at a hotel, with no car, alone in a strange city. Her son, who worked on the Arizona State campus for years and had been impressed by his mom's sorority,wrote the president of the Houston Alumnae Chapter. We kicked into action - sent pink carnations to her hotel, and then arranged for members to take her to coffee, lunch, and last night a wonderful dinner. Saturday she is being taken to the Faberege exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science. She is just amazed - and was crying as we sang the blessing at dinner last night. "THIS" she said "is what being a Gamma Phi is all about".
Of course, THAT is what sisterhood, for all of us, is about.

I know this is old, but this is absolutely a beautiful story of sisterhood.
I'm sorry for the loss of your mother, but very happy you found such amazing sisters. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

What a beautiful thread. Thanks for the bump!

My sorority was very hard hit by breast cancer. (If AKAMonet is still on the board, thank you to you and your sisters for walking in the Susan Komen walk. And thank you to all who have supported the search for the cure.) Over 30% of my sisters have had breast cancer, and frankly, many died because they got cancer so young.

One of my sister's husbands, a physician, actually conducted studies to see if there was an ecological reasons as to why so many got sick.

Please bear in mind that it has been many years (and time and space and deaths) since I graduated from college. But, four years ago..this week...I felt a lump. And yes, it was cancer. And yes, I needed chemo.

Sisters that I hadn't heard from in years contacted me to support me, to offer advice, to send over meals. One of my friends who is an neighbor (and lost her mother to breast cancer) and was a sister not only brought food to my house, took me out when I was able to go and sat with me...making me eat. One day she sat for an hour while I struggle to eat 3 ounces of ice cream. And then she stayed to make sure it stayed down.

As one sister, who was also a survivor, who I hadn't heard from in years, said, "We have lost too many to breast cancer. I won't lose another sister."

Bumping 'cause it's been a month, and this thread is one of my favorites.

Annual bump in preparation for recruitment - sometimes you just need to remember what it is really all about.

I have been a part of this board for over three years and have never read this thread. This is why we join sororities. I'm in tears.

These stories are a wonderful example of what sisterhood really is.

This is fairly minor compared to most of these stories, but it was very touching to me.

I go to school in IL, six hours away from my home in TN. My car is rear wheel drive--definitely not equipped for IL winters, especially with someone from a place where snow and ice are scarce behind the wheel. It was the week before Spring Break, and my roommate, another sister, and I all decided to go out to dinner. I offered to drive because I never expected the weather could be at all bad so close to Spring Break--it had been warm all day. When we got outside I was a bit surprised to see ice that had to be scraped off my windshield, but I didn't think anything else of it since it had been so warm that week. As I was about to drive over a bridge, my roommate warns me to be careful because there might be black ice. I slowed down to much below the speed limit, but my tires just couldn't handle the ice. We spun out, spinning around multiple times, bouncing off a sidewalk and guard rails before finally stopping. We were all very luck and no one was injured (other than my car, of course). I however, was in shock over it, and didn't really know what else to do other than get out of the car and talk to an elderly man whose car had spun around as he tried to avoid mine. My sisters immediately took over for me, calling the towing companies to figure everything out. We were in a not very safe neighborhood at the time, and when the police showed up, they told us to wait inside a gas station down the street because standing on the bridge wasn't safe. Within five minutes of getting to the gas station, three other sisters had shown up (two alum sisters) to wait with us and drive us home. It meant so much to me to have my sisters show up and help me take care of everything since I was so far from home and didn't know what to do in an accident situation. One of the alums even offered to go buy me a sweet tea to calm me down.

Later that night, it really hit me how badly the accident could have ended since it was only the sidewalk that kept us from flipping over the bridge. I began crying because I felt so awful that I was responsible for almost hurting my sisters. Another sister's boyfriend (who is in a fraternity that I'm very close to) sat down and talked with me because he'd been driving in a similar accident that same year. He helped me to realize that it could have happened to anyone, and that I couldn't blame myself over it. I just had to be thankful that we'd been so lucky.

The one story that always touches my heart goes out to AOII. My mom was a sister when she was in college. When she was 25 or so she found out she had thyroid cancer. The doctor's said it probably started developing around the age of 20. Her sisters helped support her emotionally, because that is one of the most important things someone can do at that time. And now, she will be celebrating 27 years cancer free on Saturday. She gets to do so with the two children she wouldn't otherwise have. I also believe it was her big, my brother's godmother, that introduced my mom to my dad. He was in another fraternity on campus. So in a way, I always say to her that her sorority helped give me my life.

As for SAI... I have only been a member for a few months. Already I have heard plans of us helping one girl raise the money to have the little she has always wanted. They told us that the average big at our school ends up spending maybe $125 on their little. She has always saved for it and then last year, her little dropped. We want to give her another opportunity if we can since this is the one thing she really wants, and she had saved for 2 years in preparation for her last one. Oh, and because she is one of the sweetest and smartest girls we have ever known. She makes everyone smile when we see her, so we want to give her some smiles back!

I actually shed tears at some of these! This is the support and love I am hoping to find when I rush this fall!

Although this seems like something small, here is my story.
Shortly after becoming a pledge, after struggling with what I should do for weeks, I broke up with my long-term boyfriend. He is a wonderful guy but it just wasn't working for me and I was devastated. That night, I had a pledge event to attend, and the second I got there, I was swarmed with hugs and support from the actives. It meant the world to me that, after only a few weeks of knowing everyone, they already cared about me that much.

My story happened about a few weeks pledging. I was by myself, had recently had my tonsils removed, and suddenly started spitting up little bits of blood. Well, it turned into more than just a little bit and the only persons number I had in my phone was my Silver sister (kind of a pre-big) so I called her and told her what was happening and her and another sister got there quickly and took me to the hospital. They stayed there with me for the few hours that I was there. I was so glad that they were there, they really didn't have to stay but they did. When I got back to the house I got this HUGE hug from the house mother. Lol, I think she was more relieved than my actual mother that I was okay.

I think the small stories are as inspirational as the "big" stories. God willing, most of us will not have to deal with a major illness or calamity. ALL of us will have the stresses and strains of everyday life with which to deal. Sisterhood supports, strengthens and enables us to live out our creeds. Not only do we get to receive, but we get to give to our sisters. Being able to help a sister is a privilege.

I've told this one before, but a week before I was heading back to school for my sophomore year, I got a really, really bad haircut - so short that there was no fixing it.

I was terrified to have to come back for pre-rush, and just positive that they were going to ask me not to participate in recruitment.

To make matters worse, my big sister, who was also my roommate, was a Rho Chi that year, so I didn't have her to lean on. The day I got back, I just unpacked my room and cried myself to sleep.

Well, the next morning, nobody said an unkind word. We got to work, and two older sisters sort of took me under their wing.

They were seniors - both gorgeous, incredibly cool and funny. I remember we had a break one night for dinner, and we piled into one of their cars to go to, probably Chili's or something, laughing singing to music and the window down blowing what hair I had left.

It's one of those memories that's etched in my mind, and if you ask me what sisterhood is, I think of that night immediately.

I went through recruitment this past January and pledged. I still wasn't completely sure about whether Sorority life was for me, but I wanted to give it a shot.
(Now to interject, I have a chronic medical condition and I'm in and out of the hospital more than most people...) I started not feeling great a couple of days before spring break, but I was about to fly home so I brushed it off, and felt that I would rather be in the hospital at home. I pushed through most of spring break, but I ended up being admitted to Children's in Boston the day before I was supposed to be flying back to Witt--and 4 days before I was supposed to be initiated. I told our VP of member education and the President of our chapter (who is also my boss in my on-campus job), as well as mentioned a few things on facebook, and the outpour of support from my KD sisters that followed proved to me that I definitely was in the right place. I got texts, facebook messages, and phone calls from so many of my sisters, even though they were 800 miles away. And when I got back, a sister who I hadn't been particularly close to picked me up at the airport, and we talked the entire drive home. (It was revealed, later that day, that she was my big!!)

And when I finally had my initiation, it was the most special and amazing day of my life. :)

I can't sleep so i've been up reading these stories because they always make me happier when i've had a bad day. But, I know exactly who you are talking about!! I love her to death!! :) She's coming to visit this weekend!!

This is precious :) I have three big stories about my Theta experience.

My very first one was during recruitment :) I had two recruitment counselors, and one of them was just the coolest girl I've ever met. She knew what she was doing, she meant business, she was funny and sweet, down-to-earth and just awesome. ALL throughout recruitment I thought, "Man, I wish I knew what sorority she's in. I want sisters like that." Well, on bid day, she ran home to Theta, and now she's my big. :)

Second one, well, requires some background info. My ex and I started dating halfway through my senior year of high school, and we dated long-distance my freshman year of college. After that year and I transferred to a school back in my home town (not for him, I promise!) but the whole summer after I came back, things were just terrible. We were a wreck and just kept putting off breaking up. We would "take breaks" and stuff, and it was really emotionally draining... Anywho. We ended up calling it quits in October, almost two years into our relationship, the night before my initiation into Theta. I woke up and didn't want to get out of bed, but knowing my future sisters were eager to see me, I got up and went. I walked in and hadn't told anyone about the break-up (and it wasn't all over facebook) and those women surrounded me with so much love and kindness, and they had no idea what I was going through. Just seeing them that day and being around them made me feel a million times better. I was such a mess. But when I learned the meaning of our letters, I knew it would be okay. I knew I would survive. And I made my first steps towards moving on that very day, surrounded by my wonderful sisters and friends.

Third one is from this recruitment, just this past weekend. My current boyfriend was deployed early on the morning of Pref night, so all weekend I was a hot mess. I was tired, angry, sad, just really down. Since I'm on ERB, I got to spend a lot of time with our Membership Adviser, our Advisory Board Director, and the most incredible ELC. Being with them and the rest of ERB all weekend really re-affirmed all of the love I have for Theta. Hearing them talk about what it takes to be a member, to be a good sister to others, how incredible our sisterhood is nationally, it really drove it home for me. Not to mention they all saved me from myself and let me have the time I needed with my boyfriend before he left, and kept me too busy to wallow the couple days after.

I've never been more certain that becoming a Theta has changed my life so much more than I'll ever know. SO proud to be a Theta.

When Andy Jr. was born, we had a rough start with things. He was discharged late and then admitted in the children's hospital. I had my own complications from birth and was in and out of the hospital and received 2 blood transfusions. I try not to complain on Facebook, but had made a general comment on my status that caused the VP of our Alumnae Chapter to give me a call to find out how I was doing. After I told her what was going on, she got a bunch of sisters together to cook casseroles and 3 of them came down to visit and filled my freezer and brought gifts. My husband and I were so grateful!

That's crazy - such a small world!!

BUMP for gratitude.

Every time this thread gets bumped I am compelled to read it in it's entirety.

Advisor's train on how to deal with the hard stuff in official training sessions or by learning the hands on way. I've gotten my fair share of o'dark thirty phone calls (thankfully nothing too bad), but I've never been trained on how to deal with a death impacting a chapter member.

A few weeks ago I arrived early for chapter when I received a call from one of my girls to meet her outside. I could hear the tears in her voice and this woman does NOT cry! I was met outside by her parents (who I'd met a number of times). They had picked up their daughter from the house a short time before and broke the news that her brother had died. She had decided to stay at school and in the house with her sisters and she/parents called me to bring her inside. I don't have kids (though sometimes I feel like I have 25 daughters), but it must have been incredibly hard for her parents to watch her walk away and into the building.

What I saw next was the most moving few moments I've ever seen in my sorority experience. With everyone seated for chapter she shared the sad news. She got to a stopping point and before she could take a breath every girl in that room had stood up and run to her. They held her in a giant 20+ person hug for almost 10 minutes without uttering a sound, except their collective tears.

Her parents questioned her about staying and I questioned her about staying too, but she knew what she needed. She needed her sisters around her. I was told later that everyone in the house ate dinner in her bedroom and we all kept a close watch over her until she went home that Friday. The sisterhood I saw that night was incredible.

Crying tears of sadness, but also happiness and pride at the sisterhood showing through, AXiDTrish.

I had some really bad stuff happen to me at the end of this spring. One of my sisters sat with me for at least 30 minutes and let me cry on her shoulder and talked me though the pain. I am so grateful to her for that.

So to preface this story, I broke up with my boyfriend of 2.5 years last May. This year in October I believe I was flipping through facebook (I'm no longer friends with my ex but he isn't blocked) and I saw he commented on something so I clicked on his profile. Big mistake. His profile picture was him and his new girlfriend (who he was "friends" with the whole time he was abroad and started dating basically the minute we stopped dating) holding hands in the country he was working in. It also seemed that it was recent because his hair was different than it had been while he was there.

I lost it. I knew that they were official and all but to see living proof of it killed me. Though I technically broke up with him I still had feelings for him (we had talked very seriously about engagement before breaking up, he'd looked at rings and told me about it) it hit me like a freight train to see that picture. I also had no idea that he'd been back to visit her, which made the situation that much more serious for the two of them. I immediately started to tear up, but I was trying to hold back because my roommate was in the room, and later a good friend of mine. It wasn't until a third friend came into the room that I let my facade slip a little and the third friend asked me what was wrong. I lost it. Started uncontrollably bawling, incoherent, the whole bit. See for me with painful memories I often hold in my feelings until they explode, so I hadn't thought about it in a long time, and I was not yet healed about it.

My sisters didn't say anything. They just climbed into my bed and held me as I tried to explain what they already knew. My second sister told me that she knew I was holding it in a lot and that I needed to let it out more, that it was okay, that it was really hard what had happened. When I was able to breathe again I thanked them, but they said for what because I'd been there for them at different times for different things. They told me they loved me and just rubbed my back until I stopped crying. If you ask me what sisterhood is, this is what I think about. The women that are there for you, not just when something hard happens, but even in the long months thereafter when the pain is still there and other people have stopped caring. It's why I've stuck with this for as long as I have and it's what I think of when times are hard.

BUMP - just 'cause.

Recently, I had to undergo a fairly extensive and emotional medical procedure/operation. Not only did I receive an incredible amount of support from my sisters through phone/text/messages, one sister who I am very close to actually drove an hour to get me, drove an hour to the doctors, then drove the 2 hours home multiple times to bring me to the doctor's appointments, because neither of my parents could do it.

She never asked for gas or any reimbursement whatsoever, and would even come over on nights where I wasn't feeling well physically, just to be with me and watch stupid youtube videos together. Her selflessness and generosity made the process a million times easier, and I'm so glad I met her through my sorority :)

This is truly the best thread on GC :)