[trojangal]

To my friends at GC,

First things first: I can not thank all of you who supported me during my AI process, BUT, I'll try.

Smartblnd, AXD670, pinkyphimu--you all were awesome in setting me up with contacts as I started the process. I had some wonderful meetings and met with wonderful women.

Carnation, Navane and emleepc: You guys are my cheerleaders! I wouldn't have been able to keep sane without your emails and PMs. You guys have been wonderful in helping me with questions and answering them and just great for the moral support.

Tom: Wish every Greek organization had an advisor like you: we need more good men! Thanks for keeping me motivated!

To the ADPi board: Thanks for letting me post: I love doing the build-a-story, and had a blast!


Here is my story:

Growing up, my dad was in the Air Force, and we moved around a lot! Most of my jr. high and high school years were spent in Fairbanks, Alaska, where I went to a very small school. Right before my junior year, my dad got orders to Florida. After 6 years in Alaska, we moved to Fort Walton Beach high school. I was very active in my high school before we moved--several clubs, drama, etc. When we moved, I went from a graduating class of 40 to one of 465--talk about culture shock!! It took my whole family a while to get used to being in Florida, especially larger schoosl for me and my sister. Luckily, I had some connections through the Masonic Lodge and was able to continue interest in my youth organization, Rainbow Girls. At school, I sang in the choir, and joined service clubs, and honoraries at school. However, we were only in Fort Walton for my jr. and senior years, and I never really got a chance to know a lot of people, etc, and we did not have a church "home".

I found out I recieved a full academic scholarship to attend Troy State University and went up there for the Orientation session. It was there that I first learned about the Greek system. I had all of the rush information and took it back with me, and poured over it for a month!! I decided about three weeks before Rush that I was going to go through. I sent in my registration fee and started to pack up everything I would need since all rushees lived on campus for Formal Rush, and we all moved in to the dorms the week before. I will start off by saying that I knew absolutely nothing about the Greek system other than what I learned about it at Orientation. I did not understand, at the time, about letters of recommendation, etc.

While I rushed, I had a wonderful time going to the Rush parties, and met some great girls. We all had a blast getting to know each other and getting ready for parties. There were two groups that I fell really hard for, and loved so much! The first two nights all girls went to all parties; the third round was the start of invites. I didn't get back any invites, and it broke my heart and I cried. All of the girls in my rush group were wonderful, and still tried to keep me involved during the last few days. My Rho Chi didn't really know what do, and bless her heart, she didn't know how to handle the situation. On bid day, it about broke my heart to see my new friends greet their new sisters. No one ever told me about Open Rush or COB or that could have been an option for me to explore. Instead, I found my niche in several other outlets on campus: student newspaper, honoraries, serving on some councils, and other groups; these would eventually lead me to ODK and Mortar Board. I had friends both in and out of the the GReek system, but I always wondered "what if". Around my sophomore year, I dated a TKE who was a sweetheart and an aboslute doll. I learned more about Greek life as his "sweetheart" and helped out his fraternity when I could and we became an item. It was through him that I met his aunts; who were all members of a certain group. Those ladies had always impressed me with their families and their manners--they were my introduction to Southern Womanhood, and I could not have had finer instructors. Right before my senior year, the TKE asked me if I wanted to rush again ( !!) because he said that "the aunts" would be thrilled to recommend me for their group; all four of them were prepared to write letters if I wanted. I thought about it, and the year I had ahead as an officer for Mortar Board as well as other groups and serving on a state board, as well as a teaching internship, and declined the sweet offer. I also knew that being an upper classman, the odds would be highly against me. I graduated from Troy in 1993.

Fast forward: About three years ago, while teaching at an HBCU, I became more familiar with the lovely ladies of DST, AKA, and SGRho. Many of my colleagues were active in their chapters and graduate chapters. We had many discussions about the difference between NPC ( what I knew) and NPHC groups. I always admired these groups and the fact that they allowed women to join after their college experience.

Last fall, when talking with a friend who was a student leader director, she told me "you need to look into AI"...one of the sororites at this campus does it. I started the exploration, which led me to you all and this wonderful board and all the fun that I've had getting to know people on here.

I had the opportunity, as Lake said in another post, to "rush" all 26 groups if I wanted to. I had the chance to talk about AI with several groups and several headquarters during my investigation. Two lovely groups invited me to dinner with them and it was fun; however, I hadn't felt my call home just yet. A third group caught my interest, and I started exploring that process. Then, folks, I believe that Fate stepped in.

After Christmas, I recieved a phone call from a lovely lady who said she had recieved my letter of interest from her HQ. I returned her call and we chatted for about 30 minutes. We exchanged emails. I found out that this wonderful lady had been a member of this group at Alabama; I asked her if she knew so and so, and much to our shock, we realized we both knew her through Mortar Board!! We arranged to meet next time she would be in Birmingham, which was in January. Two days later, I recieved an application for AI in the mail from this group. I worked on my app, and worked on it again, all the time receiving emails from her and the alumnae VP from their HQ. The day that I met her for coffee we talked for two hours, and found even more connections!!! She knew several of my professors from college b/c many of them were active in the Methodist church. I brought her a copy of my app which I had sent to HQ earlier that day. While we talked, I said, "hey..if you were at Alabama, did you know this family?" She looked at me, laughed, and said " Why yes, I do! ONe of the girls was in my pledge class, and her sister rushed me! How do you know those girls? You're not from here and you didn't grow up around this area. How would you know them?" I looked dead at her, and said " you won't believe this...". I told her how I knew them, and she started laughing.
Talk about a small world:

Her sorority sisters were the same aunts of the TKE I had dated in college.

We really clicked, and we've had such a wonderful time getting to know each other. We talked a lot about the process, and what the stages would be, etc.

So, for all this time, I sat and waited and emailed both her and the alumane VP. This was honestly a test of my patience, especially when I saw my PNAM sisters getting picked up! Finally, I put it out of my head and said well, we'll jsut wait and see. I felt truly that this was my home for me, and if it didn't work out here, that would be enough. I felt the same vibes from this group that I had felt 15 years ago,and knew that I had found my home. All signs were looking good, but one never knew.

I left for vacation with my family on March 20th---the same day that the alumnae VP wrote my letter of acceptance into my Greek home! When we got back, I found my letter in the mail, opened it, hesitantly. I, was shocked, stunned, and thrilled all at the same time. This group, who I had affectionately called the CARAMEL APPLE CIDERS, had approved my application.

I met with my friend yesterday--we are in contact with the chapter advisor of my group, and my initiation will be in the fall sometime when they do their next one.

But, I will go ahead and let you all know:

( Music please...with apologies to Amerie)

I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show

There's a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I'm completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I'll make it through

The time has come for me
To break out of the shell
I have to shout
That I'm coming out
KAPPA DELTA is my home
Where I belong!

jhujenn---I'm dying to know your reasoning behind your guess!
Leslie Anne--thanks for help with the last clue!!!