Being part of a sorority is so much fun. Since we have spring rush at Furman, I have only been a Delta Gamma sister for a semester, and I have already made some incredible memories. I love going to parties with my sisters and taking part in the fun sorority social events and date nights that we have, but being in a sorority is so much more than just constant partying.
Each sorority has a unique motto, history, philanthropy, and values. Before joining a sorority, it is important to know about these unique aspects of the sisterhood. Make sure you are willing to “always wear your letters” and are passionate about the philanthropy.
Before I joined Delta Gamma, I did some research on my own about what it truly means to be a DG, along with attending the required new member classes. One of my favorite things about Delta Gamma is its simple motto, “Do Good.” I love this motto because all of my sisters can easily live by it. In my life, I always strive to “Do Good” by taking the time to reach out to my friends when they need me, instead of always being consumed with my own desires. While my sisters may live out this motto in a different way, we can all “Do Good” together.
Learning about the history of Delta Gamma really fascinated me. Three women, Anna Boyd Ellington, Mary Comfort Leonard, and Eva Webb Dodd, started this women’s fraternity in Oxford, MS in 1873. They started out by giving members the original pin with the letter “H”, standing for hope. They hoped that their organization could expand to something larger, which it did! There are now 146 collegiate chapters of Delta Gamma and 215 alumnae groups. This amazing accomplishment inspires me to never lose hope.
Delta Gamma’s philanthropy is “Service for Sight” which supports the four schools founded by Delta Gammas for the visually impaired and other North American organizations. These organizations promote sight preservation and provide assistance to children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. At Furman, our DG chapter hosted “Scoops for Sight”. We served the students with an ice cream sundae bar and even had an ice cream eating contest! It was a great way to raise money for our philanthropy, while having fun with the rest of the student body.
Our values were built into Article II of our first Constitution, which states, “The objects of this Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character.” In my chapter of DG, I have met so many wonderful friends who push me to be the best I can be in all aspects of my life. Everyone is so encouraging, and I know I have met some lifetime friends. We hold each other accountable for our actions not just because we want to positively represent DG, but also because we genuinely care about each other as people.
I love these aspects of DG because I have always tried to live by the strong values instilled in me by my family and faith. It is comforting to realize that I have not strayed from my morals by joining Delta Gamma. In fact, I have only grown as a person because of the positive influence of DG. Even though I discussed my particular sorority in this article, any sorority can change your life for the better! Instead of focusing on the party scene and drama that can be associated with Greek life, try to take a step back and discover what it truly means to be apart of something greater than yourself.
