Heads Up, Hats Off!

“Graduation:” one of those rare words with a flurry of emotions falling off the end. For some, it didn’t come quick enough. For our AOII seniors, they blinked and the past four years disappeared. Nevertheless, graduation was inevitable and, on May 19^th, we watched 31 of our beautiful own walk the frightfully exciting walk across the Comcast Center stage. It can feel like an ending, even with professors and family members swearing the promise of a new beginning. How can it not? Alpha Omicron Pi has become home. But more so this is a beginning- a beginning which all of the past years’ memories have been waiting for. Everything these girls have been through, beyond just this sorority, has formed who they are. Now, all they have learned, shared, felt, and dreamed has the opportunity to surface from within them and help guide their decisions to come. 

It is difficult to form feelings into words; to be able to actually describe what AOII gives us.  But we can say that it is a mutual relationship, and our graduates leave behind just as much, if not more, than what they have taken.  Being in a sorority doesn’t mean what the movies tell us it means. Many can actually contravene the shallow stereotype of a bimbo sorority girl and can attest to the charity and time that members, including our graduates, donate to national and campus organizations, as well as their academic achievements.

Within Alpha Omicron Pi, our seniors leave us with time and monetary donations throughout the years; thousands of dollars and hours of commitment. They have worked and reworked the structure of this house and leave us with a solid course for future action.  But more importantly, they leave us with a legacy.  They have given us exemplary leaders and the formula for what it takes to be a leader- dedication, passion; a real love for this house.  They have laid the foundation for who we should be. They have shared and given laughs, dreams, tears, heartache, devotion, inspiration, and perseverance.  They have loved and been loved- are loved and will be loved, forever. There is no end when you are in a sorority.  There is no end to Alpha Omicron Pi.

They may be off doing amazing things at prestigious companies or graduate schools, but 4517 becomes a place in your heart once you’ve been here.  And the doors are always open for when you come back.

Congrats, graduates! We love you and wish you all the best.