Ladies, your comments have been so wonderful that I'm almost in tears just reading them! I am so glad that our Sisterhood has touched your lives in the ways that it has!
I know I'm already a member, but I'll share one of my MANY reasons for choosing Delta...
I've wanted to be a Delta since 5th grade because my music teacher (and favorite teacher at the time), Ms. Regan, was a Delta, and so was another teacher I loved, Mrs. Straughter. My aunt was also a proud Delta Diva. Of course, at that age, I had no idea what a sorority was-- I just knew that if I wanted to be like Ms. Regan or Mrs. Straughter or my aunt, I had to be a Delta.
It wasn't until I was in 9th ('90-'91) grade that I really saw the fruit of DST's labor. My family was always VERY poor; in 1991 we were selected to receive a house to be built by Habitat for Humanity. Although many, many organizations and companies (including AKA and Zeta) contributed financially to the project, only a few groups actually helped with the construction. When the land was cleared and the foundation was laid, the women of many DST chapters, locally and statewide, came down religiously EVERY weekend (and sometimes during the week) to help with the building. It was SO beautiful to see these women-- all in the same Delta family, but oftentimes not knowing each other until they met at the construction site--dressed in their sorority 'nalia, just hammerin' away or painting or laying bricks or whatever the job-of-the-day entailed!!! They were the only female organization to do hard labor on the project! When the house was built, they even stuck around to help with landscaping, and they donated a number of household items and furniture pieces.
The women came in different shapes and sizes and skin colors and personalities, but even as a high school freshman, I could see that they had one thing in common-- their love for helping those in need. The unity was amazing-- even the ones who'd just met acted like they had been friends for life. Best of all, the Deltas NEVER belittled my family or made us feel like a charity case, even though we were. Other groups talked down to us, assuming that because we were poor we were also ignorant. But the Deltas would actually talk to us and get to know us. When they found out I was an honor student, they immediately and enthusiastically informed me of the different scholarship opportunities they provided, and invited me to participate in Delteens and the National Business & Professional Women's (NBPW) youth club (the latter in which I did join). Many of the Deltas kept in contact with me through the local alumnae chapter, and when I was a senior, DST awarded me with a renewable $1,000 scholarship.
After all that love and compassion, how could I not want to be a part of Delta Sigma Theta?!?!?! And, I can honestly say that my impression was unaltered when I went to college. The Delta's programs (the collegiate and alumnae chapters included) were always purposeful, meaningful, and relevant. While I have much respect for the other 3 sororities, I had never seen the kind of consistency and involvement in public service that I'd seen with Delta. Delta's passion for community service seemed almost like an instrinsic spell that the members couldn't shake, even if they wanted to! That has always been the kind of person I am-- an altrusitic person whose life revolves around helping others. When I miss an opportunity to do something good for someone or to make a positive difference in someone's life, I literally feel empty inside, sick, even. There is no way I could have been a part of any other organization-- I am perfectly matched for Delta Sigma Theta!!!
Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! Please keep your testimonies rollin' in-- they are simply beautiful!
Nuttin' but luv!
the411
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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE
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