As my first founders day has come and gone, I have been reflecting on the past months I have spent as a sister of Delta Gamma. I remember going through recruitment in August as a shy and unsure person. Today, I am ambitious, confident, and happy.
To see how far I have grown since I became a sister of Delta Gamma is beyond belief. It is a dream come true that I get to call myself a sister of such a wonderful organization filled with strong, smart, beautiful, charismatic, and loving women. I'd like to thank not only my sisters in the Delta Gamma Phi chapter at the University of Colorado, but also all of the Delta Gammas out there. Thank you for everything.
First of all, being a DG is fun. Without a doubt, there is always a group of friends around to hang out with, an event to go to, or someone to talk to. I have to acknowledge that Delta Gamma offers so much more than mixers, date dashes, trunk shows and movie showings. Dee-gee has given me more than cute t-shirts to wear around campus and a house to live in next year. Becoming a Delta Gamma has given my life at CU Boulder meaning and has made me a better person. DG has kept me anchored in the present and has instilled a consistent hope for the future. Thanks, Delta Gamma.
Delta Gamma keeps me anchored. Moving thousands of miles away from home, I had no foundation or friends when I came out to CU Boulder. Joining Delta Gamma has given me a home filled with people who make me smile every day, a place where I feel safe and comfortable. DG is a place where I can get a home cooked meal and hug my house mom after a long day of exams and stress. Our chapter house here in Boulder is the oldest Delta Gamma house in the nation. In this house, there is a history of friendships, love, and memories that thrive even today. To have that kind of history in a place that was once completely foreign is humbling. Thank you, Delta Gamma.
Delta Gamma has given me a sense of responsibility. There is always a way to get more involved, to do more, and to do good. DG has given my day-to-day life meaning. Volunteering on behalf of Service for Sight (our philanthropy) as well as volunteering for the Boulder community at the Carillon Retirement Community and Boulder Homeless Shelter has let my heart grow. Giving back to a community that has already given me more than I can ask for is an unexplainable experience. The service I do through has developed another side of me that I never knew I had: a spirit of generosity. I am thankful to be a Delta Gamma.
Representing an organization as large as Delta Gamma makes me realize every day that I am apart of something bigger than myself. The decisions that I make reflect the foundation laid out by those before me, shape my chapter's present, and determine the future of Delta Gamma. DG has turned me into an ambitious and accountable woman. In just a few months, it has given me more opportunities than I can count. I have to think about what I can do to better not only my own life, but the lives of the girls that I share an unbreakable bond with. For that, have gratitude to be a DG.
Most importantly, Delta Gamma allows me to be fearless. It has given me the courage to take chances, the wisdom to make the right choices, and the confidence to believe in my dreams. My sisters are always the first to tell me that I can do it. They are the ones who are there for me when I need help studying for an exam, borrowing an outfit for a date, or a shoulder to cry on when everything seems wrong.
Life in Delta Gamma isn't perfect by any stretch. Challenges come up unannounced, things go wrong, and people make mistakes. The truth is, the way that my sisters guide each other to work around the day-to-day imperfections and occasional problems is why our organization has existed since 1873. Delta Gamma has taught me not to fear failure, but to fear not trying in the first place. At the end of the day, even in the strongest storm, I know the wind will soon fill my sails and keep me going as I govern the seas on whatever journey life throws at me. Because of Delta Gamma, I am always anchored.
Thank you, Delta Gamma. ITB.
