At San Diego State, we have eight individually unique and beautiful Panhellenic sororities. Each and every one of these chapters have incredible women, who day in and day out, work so hard together to develop and maintain a high GPA, support a philanthropic cause, and contribute to Greek Life at SDSU. This past week was Panhellenic pride week, and each chapter participated in a social media challenge that not only helped each other see beyond our different letters, but brought us closer together as one Panhellenic community instead of separate sororities.
Too often we find ourselves wrapped up in the daily chaotic schedules of our own respective chapters. We get so absorbed in our own letters, social events, service events, and campus images that we forget to respectively acknowledge our other Panhellenic sisters. Sometimes this leads to closed mindedness regarding other chapters, which therefore creates the competitive atmosphere that sororities on big campuses like San Diego State are notoriously known for. Wearing your letters with pride is one thing, but respecting someone else's unique letters with grace and kindness is a whole other level.
My letters do not make me better than you. They make me better than who I used to be. Panhellenic Pride week has opened my eyes so much to how truly beautiful and unique the women of the SDSU Greek community are, not just my own sisters. From representing my purpose on International Badge Day to showing love for my sister sorority, as well as my friends in other chapters on social media, I can feel a new sense of love, respect and support among each chapter, something so necessary to thrive as a Greek community.
However, the Panhellenic love does not just end on social media. We need to love and respect each other as individuals if we ever want to be seen as a united community of sisters. Once we can fully love and support each other, we can be seen as one Panhellenic union not just by the rest of the Greek community, but by the rest of the SDSU campus itself.
Last Monday, we all received a yellow ribbon at our respective chapter meetings by representatives of the Panhellenic executive board. The next day, I wore my ribbon in my hair with pride. Walking around campus, my heart was overflowing with joy from the amount of yellow ribbons I saw. Such a small, subtle gesture showed the entire campus how much Panhellenic pride means to us. Every time another woman in a different chapter wearing the same yellow ribbon smiled at me that day, I could feel our individual sisterhoods as well as our entire community growing stronger.
I only hope that this is the beginning of a new era of Panhellenic love on our campus. Our individual respective sisterhoods may be strong, but the love and support of our amazing Panhellenic community is even stronger.
