It was Bid Day 2014.
All of the potential new members were sitting on their bid cards in the TMB at JSU. I couldn’t wait to see which sorority was written on my card. After about an hour of anxiously waiting, I finally opened the envelope and there it was, “Alpha Omicron Pi” written in black and white. I was so excited and I couldn’t wait to run out to all of the AOII’s on the TMB lawn. But, in that moment, I had no idea what AOII truly had in store for me and how it was going to help shape me into the woman I am today.
It didn’t take me long to fall completely in love with AOII. There were mixers, formals, philanthropy events, and chapter meetings that I’ll always fondly remember, but the memories I’ll never forget is all of the late night study sessions, all of the trips to Taco Bell at 1am, going back and forth to the storage building during recruitment, getting three hours of sleep each night of recruitment (yikes), spring breaks, slumber parties at mine and Tillery’s house, forming close friendships with my advisors, I could go on and on. I will always remember the girls who cheered for me when I was up and the girls who were my shoulders to cry on when I was down. These girls became family to me.
AOII helped me make connections at JSU, helped me excel my leadership and professional skills, and helped hold myself accountable in school and in the organization itself. I held leadership positions in AOII and was involved in other organizations at JSU. With AOII giving me that push and encouraging me, it made me want to succeed that much more.
These women became my best friends. My support system. As we’ve grown older we have gone our separate ways, but we’re always in touch. From weddings to job promotions, from baby showers to Saturday lunches, we’re all there for each other through this beautiful mess we call life. AOII never showed us inconsistency, it was always a constant for us. “We grew up together.” And we all share one common bond: a deep love for Alpha Omicron Pi.
I became an alumna of AOII in the spring of 2018. Looking back on the chapter today, I see so many beautiful, smart, well-rounded women. It’s so awesome to see the sorority women I recruited recruit other potential new members to join our sisterhood and to eventually share the same love we all share. I’m so proud of the Delta Epsilon chapter of AOII. I will always be so thankful for this amazing organization and will always give back in any way I am able. AOII has shown me a true definition of friendship and love.
“Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
ALAM,
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