[ree-Xi]

When I pledged AXiD in 1990, we were not allowed to wear letters. We were given a pledge shirt, which had ALPHA XI DELTA spelled out, with LAMDBA (pledge class) underneath it.

For those of you who know my story, we pledged for three months, to be initated the beginning of the next semester (for grades). Well, one week prior to finals, I became sick and had to head home early. I ended up missing out on a few things and ended up not initiating with my class.

Shoot ahead to this past March, when I was initiated via AI into my home chapter (LOVE MY EPSILON NU GALS!). Initiation was especially poingnant for me, because I learned things that meant something so much more than I could have ever understood. I realized that the person who I am, who I have always been, was already so much of who an Alpha Xi Delta woman is and attains to be. It felt so right. I can't explain it any better that that.

After initiation, the collegiates presented me with hand-stitched letters, my first set. They made me put it on over my dress, and took pictures. You cannot imagine what it felt like to wear my letters, so many years later. It's a feeling that I imagine will never lose its novelty.