May 27, 2020
Before leaving home and venturing off to college at Sewanee/University of the South, I told myself I would never be a “sorority girl.” Growing up, I watched Legally Blonde and other movies which depicted sorority life at surface level. I remember rolling my eyes every time I saw the interaction between the sorority sisters and thinking the experience wasn’t for me. I was under the impression that sororities were made up of wealthy, white, ditzy women who judge others based on appearance, and I wanted no part of it. However, Kappa Delta made me realize I could not have been more wrong.
The summer after my freshman year of college, I was still cautious to join an organization even though I had met some remarkable women on my campus who were sorority members. I was still influenced by the examples I had seen in the movies.
Leading up to my sophomore year, I was chosen to be a mentor for my university’s pre-orientation program for incoming freshman. The program offers various activities facilitated by upperclassmen for incoming students. One night, we took the incoming freshmen to the drive-in movies. While watching the movie, I heard some laughter and decided to investigate. I found four of the other mentors sharing stories and having a good time. These four women were all members of Kappa Delta. They invited me to join their conversation, and we talked and laughed the entire movie. They made me feel like I fit in and belonged. I was under the impression that sorority girls only talk to other sorority girls, but found that I was wrong. This was my first realization that maybe sorority life is more than what the movies depict. I got to know these women not for their sorority affiliation but for their kind hearts and strong minds. That night changed my outlook on sorority life.
When the opportunity came for me to sign up for recruitment, I decided to go through the process. I approached the Kappa Delta sisters at each recruitment event because I wanted to know more. What surprised me was that these women were equally interested in me and who I am. They told me about everything they are involved with on campus, and the chapter’s GPA was remarkable. I decided I wanted a bid from Kappa Delta. On Bid Day, I got a bid, and I was so excited! I wore my letters with pride.
Kappa Delta helped me realize something important about sorority stereotypes in the media. In Legally Blonde, Elle Woods decided to go to law school for the wrong reasons initially, but her sisters supported her every step of the way and celebrated her when she got in. I’d never watched the movie with that perspective before I received my bid. Since the day I joined Kappa Delta, I have seen nothing but support from my sisters. These women inspire me to be more confident in myself. They give me advice when I don’t know what to do. They offer me hugs when I’m feeling down.
Sorority life offers much more than what a movie can portray. Kappa Delta offers a support system in college when home is miles away. It’s a place where you can be unapologetically you.
Lakeisha Phillips
opens in a new windowEta Epsilon-Sewanee/University of the South
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