When did you know?

[Namaste27]

I fell in love in 6th grade when a classmate of mine wore her mom's AKA socks to school. I had never seen the pink and green combination together and it made me feel all tingly inside. I still get that feeling when I look at the crest!!!

[Steeltrap]

I don't know if there was a defining childhood moment, as other posters have said, although two of my childhood teachers (1st and 3rd grade) were Sorors.
I think the beginning of my interest came when I was in my mid-teens and MamaTrap's friend, Soror Aunt V., crossed in grad chapter. Soror Aunt V. really wanted me to be a debutante, but I was one of these chicks who had her head in a book and didn't have the social knowledge or people skills to be able to interact at that time.
I got caught up in studies and the paper in undergrad, so I didn't pursue, but always knew in the back of my mind when I was settled, graduate chapter was an option.

Fast forward to 1996, when my father died. I remember Sorors coming to our house and spending time with MamaTrap. I think that crystallized it for me. When the opportunity came up in 2000, I accepted it, and it is one of the best decisions I ever made.

[Rude awAKAning]

for me, it was my many years in Girl Scouts and the few years I spent in Jack & Jill. All the moms of my J&J girlfriends were women of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and of my troop leaders, most of them were either college students or young women, but all but one were AKA's. All the women I was exposed to doing great things for me and the community were around me were AKA's, and I wanted to emulate them in every fashion. I guess, it may have helped a little, that my mom, grandmother AND great grandmother are all women of AKA. Every woman in my life represented the epitome of greatness, and just about every woman in my life was a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha as well.

[titan257]

I would have to say the day I found out that my my role model was an AKA. My cousin who is ten years older than me who I always looked up to because she had so many qualities that I longed to mimic, crossed in 2001 way before I"d even thought about college. I told her I was doing some research and she didn't tell me until after I decided which way I wanted to go, so as to not taint my decision. Her journey inspired me, although I am still striving today to accomplish my goal, she still encourages me to keep my head up.

[collegegyrl]

I think for me it comes down to becoming enriched and uplifted, being surrounded by women who not only have a history, but guard and cherish that history because it gave them a better purpose. I am definitely not speaking for anyone, but I want to know that I as a PART am making the WHOLE that much better...

[EchoGyrl]

I'd have to say my initial exposure came at 10 years of age while attending my stepmom's family reunion. We went to her mom's house where, upon entering her childhood bedroom, I saw a sea of pink and green...everything from a blanket to a handmade pillow, jacket, paddle and cardigan sweater. I asked her what it was and she told me it was what she was grooming me to hopefully become. She continued to explain that it was a sorority and that she, as well as many of my aunts and cousins were members. What stood out to me was that she also said "and wherever I go, anywhere in the world, when I see these letters along with these colors, I know that I've found a sister..even if I never met her before." That concept was absolutely remarkable to me. Though my intentions weren't what they are today, I knew then that this was a network I desired to be apart of.

As years passed, I watched a generous share of "Different World" episodes ( still have many of them on VHS - lol) and can probably recite the script of "School Daze" word for word. I guess this was my naive way of educating myself on Greek life. My stepmom also consistently made deposits of knowledge and experiences with the organization. Therefore, I absolutely knew that I wanted to attend college and absorb all that I could of both college life and the Greek experience. I had always been a good student but my interest was an extra incentive to excel in my studies, knowing that this was a requirement to become apart of the organization. Also, I studied the history of the organization as if I were prepping for an end of the year final. Well, without going into too much more detail, I have since graduated from college, yet am not a member of the organization. Attempts have been made, yet I can honestly and realistically say that at those times, I was not ready. Life and experiences must mature you and, in the words of my stepmom I was still "unripe" during my attempts. My focus on life in general needed to, and since has drastically changed from what it was at the commencement of my interest. During the times when I was sitting somewhere with my lip poked out asking "why"...or rather, "why not", I later learned exactly that. Despite my mom's greatest intentions, I had my period of getting caught up in the organization's colors, popularity and stereotypes. Community service was an activity I participated in only when it would be visible to members so as to make me a more favorable candidate. So when God said no (cause that's exactly who it was), I was forced to focus on other aspects and activities of my life...and had I not, I wouldn't be who or where I am today. Helping others is now an initiative for personal fulfillment that I try to incorporate, in some fashion, into my everyday life. Sure, it is wonderful to be aligned with a group or organization where a greater impact can be made. However, after witnessing the adversities of SOO many and then seeing how fortunate I and my family are, I am both inspired and obligated to be of service if no one else will. Furthermore, my quest for membership birthed remarkable friendships that will undoubtedly last a lifetime.

All that said, I have an unbelievable amount of respect for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and it's members. I appreciate all that the organization stands for and for the impact, both direct and indirect, that she has made on my life. My pursuit alone has matured me and whether my goal is around the corner, or just out of HIS will, a portion of who I am today can be credited to the day I walked into that room and learned about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

[IvyByDesign]

Seven years ago, in high school, a good friend began telling me about an illustrious sisterhood that her older sister was a part of. It was my first introduction to greek life, and I remember asking several questions about these women who wore pink and green, who were oh-so-classy, who served their communities, and kept their pinkies high in the sky. She couldn't tell me much (out of respect for her sister) but what she did tell me intrigued me enough to know that destiny was in the making....

Flash forward, 2 years. My senior year of high school. I was accepted to a program called "Destination Dartmouth," where Dartmouth College flew seniors from all around the country up to spend a few days at the college to experience college life. The FIRST women there to greet us were the lovely ladies of the Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. They made themselves readily available to us and invited all of the young ladies to a tea they were hosting that weekend. During the tea, they not only let us know about Alpha Kappa Alpha, they educated us about helping our perspective communities and invited us to be a part of the conversation. I was hooked. I went home telling my mother and all of my Delta-aunties that I was going to be an AKA and that was that!

I held on to my pink and green dreams and 5 years later, I am an OH-SO-PROUD member of our beautiful organization and loving EVERY single minute!! SKEEEEEE-WEEEE to all of my beautiful Sorors!

"For we know there's no other.............."

Wow, I really love these responses. It was a the answer to a question I previously asked. I guess sometimes you have to search manually instead of using the search command...lol

[Little32]

The first time I think I knew for sure was towards the end of the first semester of my senior year in college. I had been researching sororities for a while, trying to decide which one, if any, I wanted to join. I had seen all of the sororities in action on my campus, but to be very honest, when I started my research, I was sure that it would lead to the conclusion that I shouldn't join any.

What struck me immediately about the women who were a part of our lovely sisterhood on my campus was how gracious they were. They were scholars and leaders on the campus, women that I knew and respected before they became members, but they were also humble and always sisterly, even to women who were not members. That is so important to me--how can you purport to be a sisterhood and then behave in an unsisterly manner toward people outside of the chosen few. When I started to read the history of the organization and I learned the motto "By Merit and By Culture", I knew this was the organization for me. It gave me a little thrill, that realization. The founders' desire to serve the community with that particular aim in mind meshes exactly with my philosophy of how to become a better human being. So it was the sisterhood, displayed by the members, and the purpose that clinched it for me.

It truly was research that lead me to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. It took seven years for that dream to come true, and now that I am on the other side, I understand that motto even better. Whenever I pause to think that I am now a soror, I am thrilled anew, and I know that that is a feeling that I will have for the rest of my days.

SKEE-WEE Sorors.

Oh and it is my four month AKAversary today.

[Confucius]

To Keep It Plain, Short, and Simple.....

Class

[AKA_Monet]

My Sophomore to Junior year in college during the summer. Before I left for college that summer, my parents had an "early" birthday party for me. My father dressed up in his Alpha 'nalia and my mother dressed up in her AKA 'nalia. I don't know how intentional it was because if my mom did it, I was against it...

But, it was so nice of my family to give me a "going away early" birthday party. Then, the sheet cake came out and is was all pink and green flowers. And at that point, I realized who was there. All my mom's chapter with a few Delta friends. Most of the men were Alpha's, the Kappa's and the Omega's.

At that point, I wanted to stay with legacy, heritage and tradition. At that point, I knew I wanted to pursue the ivy leaf pledge club...

The only regret I have is I did not pledge in Pi Chapter--my mom's chapter.