New Member Pin!
 

Hello! I haven't written in a week because i've been so busy but...

I get my pin tomorrow!!

Chi O took an extra week to recruit and I'm guessing we're going to have a lot more girls so that we end up having nearly 60-80 girls (which is around the same number as the other groups). I haven't picked out what to wear yet but I'm excited to get my pin!

I hate this. Active members, DO NOT fill your video with inside jokes. That is all.

Also, am I the only one who does not think that Chicago is in the NE? DePaul didn't even cross my mind as an option.

Well, one of my chapters is at DePaul so I didn't even think about the NE hint, but Chicago always seemed "Middle America" to me! Can't wait to visit again in a couple of weeks.

Enjoy your colonization experiences, lillady!

As a native Chicagoan, I NEVER considered Chicago to be in the Northeast. Maybe the OP is from Joliet or something. :)

Maybe she meant the NE of IL??? This native Peorian is confused as well.

NE quote
 

If you read the 4th post, the NE quote came from someone else. Then lillady85 tried to correct it a few posts down.

Yes, LilLady never said it was the NE. Someone else said that and I think that idea coupled with the Ramones names made people think she was in NYC or something...

Hope you are enjoying the new member period, LilLady!!!

I first thought that she was at Carnegie Mellon, because they have 4 chapters and one colonizing. Plus they are a city school in the North, but it's kind of open to interpretation if Pittsburgh is the Northeast. I was convinced it was CMU because of the ambiguity that she created in her posts.

Hello ladies

I have a question because I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.

It's been a few weeks since Bidday and I've been going to chapter and whatnot but I have started to feel as if something is missing. I don't know but...sometimes it feels that I'm missing out on a lot since I'm not usually on campus, I don't have classes with any of my sisters and even though I try talking to others...it just seems like I'm not clicking.

I don't want to drop and leave this behind, I was really excited to join but...I don't know. Is this normal? Should I feel kind of left out? I'm trying to go to activities but, for example, there is an event today that I wouldn't have been able to go to had I not already dropped my class that was during the same time.

I'm going to stick it out and see what happens but I'm feeling left out a lot. :(
Adieu, till next time.

This is normal. Especially if your college doesn't have a regular type of campus where everything's self-contained (I'm guessing this since DePaul's in Chicago).

It's also normal since it's not just you or your pledge class that is new - EVERYONE is new since you're a colony. It's hard to feel bonded to a group of girls when you've only known each other a couple weeks!

Search on "colony" under the Recruitment and Greek Life forums - there are quite a few colonizing/charter members on here and I think some of them have had the same feelings as you. :)

Great response, 33girl.

LilLady, continue to go to events and make a point to sit next to/talk to different people each time. With what, 80 new members...you will form a strong connection with some more than others.

your feelings are normal. i am the original general advisor(now recruitment advisor) to one of zta's newer chapters, kappa tau, and have been with the chapter since it was colonized. i know from a close observer what you are going thru.

being a member of a colony is tough, but is a unique experience that many young women-indeed, many sorority members-do not get the opportunity to experience!! you all are not only doing the standard new member stuff, but are also having to learn how a chapter runs-you are starting from scratch. we lost a few girls who just couldn't deal with all the requirements. we filled those spots, and lost a few more, and filled thosespots before the colony was ready to be installed. the same thing may happen to your colony. i CAN tell you that the girls who did stick it out were so happy they did and so proud to see their names on their chapters charter.
i told them more than once that they were the only founders that i have ever met.

this years senior class are the remaining founders of the chapter. i think it really hit home for them during the final pref. ceremony a few weeks ago-they all got quite emotional, and the president, who had a speaking part, apologized, saying that they all had just realized that this would be the final pref. ceremony they would participate in. they have gone thru so much together, and come so far. what an amazing group of young women!!

have a talk with one of your chapter advisors;let them know your feelings. i can promise that you are not the only one in the colony feeling that way.
are you all doing fun, sisterhood activites? games like "the newlywed game" or "jeapordy" cna be a fun way to learn more about your sisters and the fraternity.

one thing that the tlc's(traveling leadership consultants-ztas who recently graduated and travel around the country visiting chapters and colonies) suggested and the colony implimented was to have the girls draw names for "crown sisters"-sort of a substitute big/lil sister program, since in the beginning there were no older sisters to serve as big sisters. they also had rotating groups within the chapter that got together once a week to get to know one another better-the group decided what they would do, and agreed on a time that was good for them all. they could grab a coffee, go bowling or just sit together in the cafeteria for lunch.

when you are able to attend colony events, what if you "rush" a few of your sisters? go up to a girl that you have not had much interaction with, and strike up a conversation with her. after an appropriate interval, excuse yourself , go up to another sister and do the same thing. it will take some nerve at first, but if you are persistent, it will pay off.

hang in there!! it will be worth it.

FSUZeta, you just made me cry! In a good way!!!!!

aww, thanks tigerowl. we are all greek together :)

Lillady, don't get discourage...it is totally normal to feel the way you do. It is a new experience for you and everyone else, and sometimes it takes a lil longer to adjust to. Just talk with your sisters at any opportunity you get and...

Maybe you can all plan an outing to lunch/dinner/movie/study groups etc with some sisters on yall's free time.School and other priorities do get in the way, but thats when time management starts kicking in and you definitly become more organized with everything and still have time to go to events with your sisters. Good luck!

I was a founding member of my chapter too! Something we did that really helped was have twins (like big/lil). We also had families too...our consultants matched our twins according to our profiles and then grouped into families...sp it was like have a great big sis, grand big sis etc. Also we developed traditions within our families that are still be carried on now!! We also had a pajamma party/sleep over (with 154 members) at one the apartment complexes general use room and watched movies, made pancakes, told stories...it was a good way for us to have to get to know each other. Another thing your advisors/chapter consultant should make ya'll do is go on a retreat where you only have each other to talk to...no cells or anything like that. A lot of the sororities do this with their new member classes so they all will bond. Just some suggestions for you!! :)

Stick with it! While I didn't join a colony, I just rushed this fall as a junior and I was feeling the same thing at first. It seemed like a lot of the other girls knew each other, or lived in the same dorms on campus, and I felt like the odd girl out. It wasn't until our retreat that I felt included. Living off campus, and being an older student, it's a little bit harder to spend time with the other girls, but when you're in cabins in the woods, there are a lot less distractions. I found out that a lot of other girls were feeling the same way I was. By the end of the weekend, I went from knowing 4 or 5 girls' names, to knowing my entire pledge class and a lot of the girls above us (and there's over 100 of us!). Try talking to your advisors (or maybe take it upon yourself) to organize a retreat or lock-in kind of thing where you all can get to know everyone better. You can all share embarrassing stories or interesting facts about yourselves, and other stuff that will help you bond.

I really think it'll get better for you, but feel free to PM me if you need to talk about it, our stories are somewhat similar :)

CONGRATULATIONS to you and Chi O! Colonizing this chapter, I know, is going to be a WONDERFUL experience that you will never forget. Good luck and I hope sorority life is everything you hoped for!

I am curious to know...which Ramone was AOPi? :)

What you are feeling is completely normal and I respect you SO much for coming out and saying this. I have seen so many girls hide their feelings and their relations within their chapter became strained. It's perfectly reasonable for you to have your doubts--you're human.
My advice is that you try to be on campus more often. Since you're a colony, I'm assuming you don't have a sorority house yet, but if they do build one, I strongly suggest moving in or hanging out there as often as possible.
Maybe next semester, you can schedule a fun class with some of your sisters.
Trust me, they understand that school is time consuming and school DOES come first--GLOs definitely recognize this. They know that you're busy and they know it takes time to get to know people. There is a feeling of belonging that comes along with a sorority but it can take some time before you feel truly comfortable. Try to connect with a hanful of girls. Try to plan lunches, dinners, coffee breaks--maybe between classes you can meet up with some of the girls for Starbucks or something to eat on campus. Just spend time with them and get to know them. Things will fall into place.
DEFINITELY stick it out. It is so worth it.
<3

I'll be at DePaul in just over a week, and I'm sure I'll see lots of Chi Omegas on campus. It will be exciting for me to see a colonization in action, and I'm not even a Chi O! :) Lillady, you are definitely not the only colony member who might be confused but I agree--please do whatever you can to get involved! Meet your sisters for lunch, study sessions, meetings, and of course there is the whole city of Chicago to explore! It might be hard since there are the two campuses, but hopefully you'll find other colony sisters taking classes offsite to meet up with at times.

Good luck to you and the rest of your colonizing sisters. It won't be long until you are the newest chapter of Chi Omega!

Things just don't get better
 

Wow, I haven't posted in what seems like forever.

Anywho, GC ladies, I have quite the conundrum and know not what to do. I hope someone an give me some advice.

As you know, ChiO colonized at my school and I was given a bid to become a founding member of the RhoMu chapter. I've been having fun going to chapter and meeting all my sisters and we even had our 'founding families' event which is similar to a 'big sis/lil sis' thing. Whereas before I was unsure about everything, I grew to really like being a part of something new and my feeling changed from my other post where I wasn't so sure. I've even kept every carnation and started making a scrapbook.
However, about a month ago I was given the option to study abroad (and this will totally give away who I am but it's not really a secret to my sisters) which I gladly took since I've always wanted to go to Europe. So one would wonder...what's the problem?

Well, it turns out I won't be able to be initiated with my sisters and I'm not even coming back until two weeks before school ends. I talked to our advisor and even one of my sisters about what I can do because I have some really conflicting feelings. When I joined ChiO I knew I wanted to study abroad but I didn't think it would be so long nor that it would be this year. Second, I also was and still am really excited to be a founding member except...I guess in my mind I won't really be and this is why I think I won't.
One, I'll be initiated all by myself while I really wanted to be initiated with the rest of my sisters. Second, I don't even know if I'll be initiated when I get back especially since school will be ending. Third, yes it's easy to share pictures and facebook wall comments, I'm going to miss out on pretty much everything our new chapter does. I can't even go this weekend to a mixer with another fraternity because I have to attend orientation for studying abroad.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm really upset about this but to be honest, I'm going to miss out on a lot of what I wanted to do and so I don't know what to feel anymore. I won't be there to initiate traditions, vote on officers, I will never get to run as officer, plus a lot of stuff that I wanted to do. Plus...it just seems that they'll have a 5 month period to bond as sisters whereas I won't. Idon't know if this sounds like me whining but I don't know what to do anymore. If anyone ever had something like this...what did you do?

Will you have the opportunity to study abroad next year?

No, I can't. I'm a senior next year and there are classes that I have to take that are not only not offered while studying abroad but aren't offered this year either and you can only take as a senior, all of which I need to graduate. I didn't know my program was going to be five months and I wasn't told till after I had already signed since the final details weren't set in stone at the time.

This is tricky. It really sounds like you are more upset about not being present for the planning and establishment of your chapter, than about not going abroad. I know the feeling of "I'm going to miss out on so much!" I went abroad too, though not for my founding semester and initiation....

Both experiences you will remember for the rest of your life, that is, living abroad, and establishing your new chapter, being intiated. But even so, I feel like your opportunity with your sisterhood is not even once-in-a-lifetime, as in...not very many women will experience establishing a new chapter (as an active sister), so its pretty special! :)

I think going abroad is something everyone in higher education should do at some point in their lives. Soo, is there a way that you could go in the summer, just after school finishes for the break?

I definitely agree with seeing if you could go in the summer.

Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity, but lots and lots of people (the majority of them) have very full college careers without it. If you're going to be upset the whole time you're there and missing Chi O, it defeats the purpose. Can you get out of it?

Oh, and I just want to say that there's no way they should have made you sign ANYTHING without all the details (chiefly the LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM, for crying out loud) being in place!! If the rest of the program is going to be that thrown together, I would say funk dat...

At my school, approximately 60% of the students study abroad at some point. Most do it during their sophomore year, meaning sororities are often "missing" most of their soph pledge classes. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes the sophomores aren't given the chance to bond much with their sisters prior to going overseas for either a semester or a full year. Sometimes those women come back feeling very left out - and some drop membership - so the chapters work very hard at keeping in touch with women overseas, sending them care packages and photos and party favors, etc. What makes your situation unique is that you rushed as a junior, and the same year you're going overseas.

Since little can probably be done to change the situation, I would say go overseas as planned, enjoy every bit of it, then return to your chapter. Yes, you will miss being initiated with the rest of the colony, but you can be initiated later. Speaking as a founding member of a chapter, I can assure you that there are good things you will miss, but also plenty of not-so-good. The chapter will be making traditions for several years, which you will get to participate in as a senior.

No kidding. Lillady, how long did you expect you'd be gone? Many students study abroad for an entire school year. I'm surprised you didn't demand this info. ahead of time...what if it conflicted with other important dates/events/class schedules?

Hey,
Well, the program had said from January through March tentatively, so I would have still been here for Spring Quarter. I figured, one quarter wouldn't be bad since I'd still have 2-3 months left in the year. Except, it didn't work out that way.
As for studying during the summer, my school doesn't offer summer programs. If it was just any study abroad, I wouldn't mind so much dropping it but it's not. The reason I signed up to begin with was because of the extremely good internship that I'll be placed in with the EU. I had already tried to get the studyabroad office to place me for next year as a senior but due to classes, it wouldn't have worked out either.

Yes, I know in hindsight that I should have asked more info but at the time I was just so excited (and so were my parents) that the possibility of them changing the time frame didn't cross my mind and no one looked to see if anything could go wrong. Plus, I was still hoping that I would have been initiated with my sisters but chiO had set the date already and it's not like I could have asked for them to change it.

I'm still talking to my advisor but its not looking good as we speak. I told her that when I'd come back, I'd decide what I'd do then seeing as how it'll be nearly 6.5 months from now.

You can think about it this way, if you wait until you come back, you'll be the first initiation performed by your sisters.

As another thought, is there anyway you'd be able to fly home for initiation? Take a long weekend or something? It'd cost money, but it might be worth it.

Sorry I just ask questions, but I don't have any answers :o

Good point, Drolefille.

I guess i'm not understanding why you would decide to not be initiated when you return? Just because you weren't initiated with your pledge class? It's unfortunate timing, but I don't understand your reasoning. You still have senior year to be a Chi O collegiate, and a lifetime afterward. If you had joined one of the other sororities on campus, would you feel the same way? After all, you wouldn't be initiated as a founder there, and the traditions are probably more set-in-stone. Just something to think about.

um
 

Sorry, not trying to be rude but

REALITY CHECK PEOPLE

College is a lot more then Greek life, I hope we all acknowledge that. She was offered a once in a lifetime INTERNSHIP at the EU, it's not like the head of the local school board asked her to come work for a semester or something (though I am in NO way discounting that position).

Shouldn't the chapter support her in the awesome opportunity she has? What happened to scholastics coming first? Isn't a sorority supposed to help you realize your dreams and your true potential? Personally I like to feel that my organization is supportive and looking out for me and wanting me to excel in every aspect of my life instead of just being a social/party network.

I know I'm not a ChiO, but I have heard the symphony, and just remember to "place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances." You have an amazing opportunity before you, and yes, it's not fair that you'd have to wait to be initiated (though I do agree with whoever suggested looking at being able to fly back?), but I know my chapter always talks about 'living the creed' and I can't imagine a more perfect example. You will still have time to bond with the girls once you come back, maybe you can even try to send them a weekly letter or something to keep them posted on the internship and how Europe is. Your connection to your sisters is as strong as you make it.

Sorry, had to get that out!

I completely agree. I worked in Washington DC for a semester when I was in school. It was my junior year. Yes, it was hard to know that things were goign on without me but I would NEVER give up an opportunity like you have been given. I think the suggestions about a weekly letter or email would be a great was to keep in touch with your sisters. Also, if you encourage them to write you as well then you probably won't feel left out.

I remember it being strange at first when I returned to my chapter, because I had experienced so much while I was away but not much seemed to have changed back at school. But after a couple weeks everything was back to normal and so were all my friendships.

I strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to work at the EU. I also strongly encourage you to have faith in your new sisters and your ability to stay connected to them while you are gone.

Ahoy,

Thank you everyone for all the advice. I really do appreciate it and I can see both sides of staying here and going abroad. My main concern with all this was really staying in touch with a group of girls that I have just started to get to know and then jetting away for so long. It was starting to feel that no matter what choice I made, I'd end up feeling bad and wishing I had done the other and I really hate ever regretting anything I do.

Btw,
One of our nationals emailed me and it touched me in that she took the time to just send out her email and number. She also mentioned how being a ChiO alumnae is just as important to her if not more than her college years, so I'm really glad I'm going to stick it through. Even if it is only one year,

Again, thanks ladies. I know I'm going to be sad when I'm 6 time zones away and my sisters are being initiated but I know its for the best. Also, I set up a blog so that everyone can be up to date on what happens while I'm over there so its kind of like sending a weekly email.

Have a great weekend ladies and thanks for listening and your advice. :)

Glad to hear you what you decided, I think it is excellent, and I am insanely jealous! All the best!

I think you are making the right decision. Everyone I know who did not study abroad in college says it is their biggest regret, but I have never once heard someone say they wish they had been more involved in their chapter.

Good for you, girl! You are making a fabulous decision. Here's one of my favorite quotes, and while it's a little trite, it really inspires me. I hope it inspires you too:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

Best of luck to you! And have a wonderful time :D

Greetings from Europe
 

Ello' Ladies,

just wanted to say hi to everyone. Only 3.5 months till I get initiated!
Yes, my sisters were iniated (and the chapter installed officially) January 7th. I'm glad they got to go through it and am just itchy to do it myself. It seems the farther I am from chapter, the more I want to go.

Oh! I was asked (in dutch no less) why I was wearing greek letters by a baker who apparently doesn't know what sororities are. Plus now I have pics of me in letters standing next to Parliament!

:) I still keep reading GC, btw. You ladies keep me laughing.

Yay! Many congrats! And pictures like that are awesome memories (not to mention great for recruitment videos/slideshows! )