“For while there are deeper and holier relations than that of Pi Beta Phi, still nothing purer or lovelier graces the name of friendship.”
I stumbled across this quote, attributed to the youngest founder of Pi Beta Phi, Libbie Brook Gaddis, last fall during my time as a new member of Pi Phi. At just 17 years old, Libbie played a pivotal role in founding an organization that would grow to encompass over 200,000 members nationwide. At a time when only five public universities admitted women, the 12 founders of Pi Beta Phi became pioneers in the formation of the secret society for women modeled after men’s Greek letter fraternities.
I was instantly inspired by the courage and determination of the founders of Pi Beta Phi. I had just become a member of an organization with an incredibly rich history, filled with members past and present that I had so much to learn from. Being a Pi Phi made me feel like I could take on the world.
I was not aware of how quickly Pi Phi would become such a significant part of my identity. Going through recruitment I was excited when I saw piles of lettered t-shirts and walls covered in arrow art and Pi Phi canvases. I had no idea that Pi Beta Phi would not just be letters I wore stitched on a t-shirt or hung on my wall. Pi Beta Phi would be something to be kept close to my heart, changing the way I met new challenges and set my goals.
I quickly learned just how special my chapter was. Women who truly possessed the values that we learned about in our new member education courses surrounded me. I had gained a sisterhood that went above and beyond the expectations I had while going through recruitment. Any hesitation I had about sorority life was instantly wiped away by the love and support I felt from my new Pi Phi family.
Nearly a year later, I am prouder than ever to be a Pi Phi. As I watch my sisters prepare for recruitment, I am filled with excitement for a new group of women to be initiated into our sisterhood. I am happy to be able to confidently tell PNM’s that they could find their home away from home in Pi Beta Phi. I am able to promote an organization that will welcome its new members with open loving arms and help them to grow into strong confident women.
As I see my sisters work together to reach a common goal, I am reminded of the courage and determination of the founders of Pi Beta Phi. If 12 young collegiate women in 1867, over 50 years before women in America would even gain the right to vote, were able to lay the foundation for an organization that would stand the test of 150 years, I can only imagine what we are capable of as a chapter today! I am incredibly proud to be a member of such and outstanding organization. I truly would not be the woman I am without the love and support of Pi Beta Phi.
