To celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked sorority members in our community the following question:
“How does being a sorority woman empower you?”
Lauren Lewis, member of Alpha Delta Pi, shared, “being a sorority woman means so much to me! It is so empowering to know that at any given moment, you have an army of friends beside you that will help you accomplish your goals. Before joining a sorority, I would second-guess myself and be hesitant to try new things, but my sisters have taught me that we are all in this together and that we all have a purpose. Without Missouri State FSL, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today!”
Tobi Ponnle, 2017 Associate Chief Justice on PHA says, “The ladies of Xi Omicron Iota have empowered me in so many ways. They gave me opportunities to shine and room to grow into the person I am today. The difference between me now and as a new member is that now I have the faith and confidence in myself to try new things, while knowing my sisters will be there for me to cheer me on or catch me when I fall.”
Abby Rittenhouse, 2016 Alpha Chi Omega Chapter President reflects, “Being a sorority woman empowers me because I am constantly surrounded by women who encourage me and push me to be my best. Whether they pick me up from the library late at night, send me a card after a bad day, or just listen, there is always somebody there. Somebody there to encourage, motivate, and inspire me.”
She states, “A sorority woman is a force to be reckoned with, and I’m grateful to be a community surrounded by them.”
Emma Edwards, member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, shared, “Imagine being in an FSL community that supports and cherishes the differences you were always self conscious of. That’s what being in a sorority is here at Missouri State. I smile every time I see a girl wearing their letters, even if they’re in a different sorority. But every time I see a girl in my sorority I give an awkward wave, a huge smile, and a laugh. All the ladies in my sorority are so graceful, inspiring, and hilarious. My time here at Missouri State wouldn’t be the same without these girls!”
Today and everyday, we celebrate the women of a community so impactful on our lives. We are empowered by opportunities and the potential for growth. We strive to better ourselves through scholarship and to better our communities through service. We are inspired by our networks and deep friendships. We stand together, empowered by sisterhood and bonds strengthened for eternity. So as a wise woman once said, “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”
This year AFLV featured a variety of speakers. Lawrence Ross spoke on campus racism. James Robilotta, who has joined our community for the past couple of years to speak at Missouri State’s New Member Day, authentically spoke on how to inspire open communication and how to form tighter bonds that cause members to be more engaged. Joe Biden, Former Vice President of the United States, was also among the keynote speakers. Biden engaged attendees in a frank conversation about sexual assault on college campuses and the ongoing prevention work being done through the It’s On Us campaign.
Daniel Tedder, VP of Membership Development on IFC, said, “My favorite part of AFLV were thepersonal growth opportunities that were available to us at the conference. Whether we wanted to develop our abilities to work within the community, personally, or professionally, AFLV provided the opportunity and the space to do that. The conference really felt like a starting point for our executive board. As a group, we became very close and learned how to work with each other. We [were] able to bounce ideas off of each other and build strong relationships.”
Madison Henry, VP of Recruitment on PHA, reflects on her experience at AFLV saying, “AFLV was an amazing experience to meet other leaders of fraternities and sororities across the nation! I spent most of my time going to educational sessions over values-based recruitment; therefore, I learned a lot of ways to make sure that we are giving PNM’s a fully values-based experience… Sororities were made to empower and develop women, and it’s our job to make sure that we are pushing our FSL community to be the best that it can be.”
