When I became an Alpha Gam as an 18 year old I never dreamed that some of the friendships I formed would truly be life-long. I also never imagined how important the sisterhood would be or what a huge role it would have in my life. And the best part has been reconnecting with sisters over the years and forming true adult friendships. I was a very active member as a freshman and a sophomore. My parents moved to Texas when I was a freshman and the sorority filled in as my family. It helped me to stay busy and connected when I was struggling and missing everyone. My status remained active until I graduated in 2004, but it did dwindle as my courses became more difficult and my relationship with my boyfriend (now husband!) became more serious. Over my college career I lived with sorority sisters, I partied with sorority sisters, cried with them over difficult times and dreamy times as we became lavaliere'd then engaged then married. We hugged each others necks, sang and swayed with each other, and proudly wore our letters on our jackets, around our necks, and on every item we could. Our decor in our apartments was red-yellow-and-green. We wore our pearls proudly. We chanted, we screamed, and jumped, and smiled until our cheeks hurt. It was a blast and a big part of who I am.
After graduation I married and then moved onto the next part of my life and sorority became a thing of the past. Then this summer I got a Facebook invitation to MSU's homecoming and Alpha Gamma Delta 50-year celebration. It was gonna be a huge event and women from all over were coming in to reconnect and reminisce and celebrate 50 years of AGD on Murray State's campus.
Julie flew in from Dallas, and she (and Brad) stayed with us! Julie and I were roommates. She was also my Summer O leader the summer of 2000 before I started school. And Josh was in my Summer O group...this was how we met! A true life-long friend. We go a long time without seeing each other or even connecting on the phone, but when we get together it is like no time has passed.
Jessica Reed Carr...or J Reed as she will always be to me. Jess is a pledge sister, and one of my best friends. We showed up to chemistry class in the same sweater during our freshman year, sat right next to each other, and the rest is history. We have done life together for a long time. Another fantastic life-long friendship.
My dinner dates for the night: Whitney (a pledge sister), Kaci, and Jessica
Beta Lambda (Fall 2000) pledge class: top- Jessica, me, Erin, Jenny, Whitney (she did our maternity pics when I was pregnant with Maclyn). bottom- Janna, Amber, Mary
C5 "Ghetto" roommates (with Whitney standing in for her sister Emily who couldn't be there that night). Me, Julie, Whitney, Stephanie, and Sarah
Me with Maegan...you may recognize her as Keagan's friend Maeci's mommy. Maegan and I have known each other since college. We didn't really hang out then but have formed a great friendship as adults. Even better is that our families have a great time together!!
C5 "Ghetto" roomies and lifers. These two women mean so much to me. We have had some great times over the past 16 years.
And a bonus! Mallory (our babysitter) is a sorority sister! She is quite a bit younger than I am so I didn't know her back in the day (ha!) but when we met I learned that we were sisters. And I LOVE sharing this bond with her!!
Alpha Gam Girl
Between the innocence
of girlhood and leading to the wisdom of maturity we find that amazing
young woman known as an Alpha Gam. An Alpha Gam may be short or tall,
big or small, blonde, brunette or redhead, with a variety of talents,
attributes and personality traits; yet all are joined together in the
meaning of sisterhood.
Alpha Gams are found in tennis shoes and loafers, bathing suits and formals, in campus offices and community service, wearing an apron or a crown, behind a trophy, in a kitchen, but always with a "special charm" about her.
She's a little bit of a devil, a large chunk of angel, she's a scholar and a party girl, a heartbreaker and a true love, a class clown, a fraternity sweetheart and a student body president; she's a lady, but most of all, she's an Alpha Gam.
You can count on her to bake a dozen cookies or feed a hundred people, run a carwash or preside over panhellenic. She can soothe a crying baby, yet knock an All-American fullback off his feet. She can study harder, play longer, sleep less, think deeper, yet always keep that "special way" about her.
The crowds admire her, little girls idolize her, classmates respect her, adults revere her, friends trust her and men love her. She can take criticism with understanding, praise with humility, work with joy, defeat on a whim, and disappointment with a smile. She's loyal, sincere, truthful and kind, a follower and a leader.
No one but an Alpha Gam can wear a pearl pin so proudly nor so truly know the meaning of a buff or crimson rose.
An Alpha Gam has the world and it's treasures, but she also has a special corner she shares with her sisters. She knows that sisterhood is laughing and crying together, and it is far more than words can say.
She's everything and a little bit more -- she's yours and she's mine --she's an Alpha Gam Girl.
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