|
Weird Twist
My Chapter allowed us to wear letters (any type stitched, sewn, glued, screen printed... whatever), in fact they were handed out with zeal. If a new member wanted a set of letters or shirt all she had to do was ask and she was always welcome to barrow another sisters shirts till she got her own. We were the only organization on campus that allowed this practice, but here’s the twist, the members of my chapter don’t value their letters and in turn don’t always value organization they belong too.
At first I couldn’t figure out why the new members didn’t value the chapter as much as I did or the other women I joined with. We take the new members in treat them as equals (as it should be) and share our sisterhood with them, while at the same time educating them about our heritage. What I have realized over time is that there is a distinct difference between when I joined and the new members the chapter is now taking. I was a founding member, so I had to put a lot of work, heart and soul into the chapter, as a group the women I rushed and joined with had to prove to the Greek Community and to our National Organization that we were a Colony that was ready to become a Chapter.
The new members now go through all the same rituals, and wear the same letters, but I know when wore my letters across campus, I was proud. When I received my pin I cried during our ritual (and I don’t cry). I don’t think the new members now have this same feeling of pride, because what they have has been given, rather than earned. Handing out letters to new members in theory it seems like a great idea, but in my opinion if you do not have to live with out then you never learn to truly appreciate what you have.
|