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Dedicated and It Feels So Good by Stacey Kay Lawrence, Beta Phi ‘05
You could say that my completely healthy obsession for AOII began during recruitment at Indiana University in 2004. Not only were pandas and pearls two of my favorite things in the world, but the palatial pillars and huge rose stain glass window mesmerized me and made me long for more. However, I quickly learned it wasn’t the pretty décor and the stuffed pandas that kept me coming back for four years. It was the engrained friendships that seemed effortless, and intensely meaningful.
Most of you know exactly what this AOII picture looks like: business meetings in badge attire, weekly trips to a favorite restaurant, and dare I say it, nights out with sisters that turn into the wee hours of the morning. How could alumnae life even compare to this indescribable experience? It was sad to think that we would never again would we all be living under the same roof, or even in the same zip code, with as much down time to kill. Right after graduation, I started my professional adult life and my first day of work at Headquarters in the Alumnae Department. On my very first day, I knew that I had grossly underestimated the
AOII Alumnae Experience. After reading countless newsletters from alumnae chapters across the US and Canada, I was shocked! There were "Martini and Manicure" parties, tailgates, fashion shows, cooking classes, community service projects, and even happy hours.
Then, it struck me. It wasn’t the happy hours that I missed. It was the carefree fun I had with all of my AOII sisters, my family, that I was looking for in my new alumna life. As collegians, most of us understand that AOII is for a lifetime. At the time, I assumed this meant I would always have my sisters as my best friends, would help out with recruitment, and attend a few alumnae chapter meetings in badge attire. The AOII |
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Alumnae Experience is these things, but it is obviously so much more. It is meeting new sisters of all different ages and backgrounds. It is sharing joys and sorrows with people who would normally be considered strangers. It is even cocktails after work with new sisters from many different collegiate chapters. It is the same AOII, only on a whole new level!
So, here is some friendly advice from a girl who has an infinite amount of love for AOII: don’t let your AOII Alumna Experience consist of reminiscing about the "good ole days." Get involved today! Email me at slawrence@alphaomicronpi.org or get on the AOII website to find your local alumnae chapter. If you are anything like me, you will realize that Alpha Love and fun are universal, no matter how far you travel from home!
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