The month of
April is promoting something that sorority women are often mistakenly
stereotyped for -- confidence. Or rather, over-confidence. We are framed as, and
frame women in other chapters as, thinking they are the “hottest women on
campus” or are just so full of themselves that we wouldn’t even THINK of trying
to become friends with them. No one wants to be considered this person, and
especially not this chapter. Within these fabricated versions of one another,
the reality is often missed.
What we fail to realize is
that confidence in ourselves can be one of the most positive messages we can
send out to one another as collegiate women. Panhellenic is
promoting this self-validating confidence because it can be especially powerful
within sororities. When you are not only comfortable with your true, inner self,
but also with the physical
“When I first
found out that Ethan and Daisy were dating again, I was afraid I’d see a
different her, or at least less of her. But instead I see more of a better,
happier Daisy. Now I realize that being in love is....being yourself.”
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Shouldn’t we all
agree that our sisters love us in this way? Isn’t it for our true selves that
our sisters love us?
Challenge of the week:
Compliment a sister on WHO she is. Leave a sticky note on her desk or an
anonymous note on her mirror.
We are always
comparing ourselves to one another -- which chapter should be first on the
Monopoly shirts, which sister always wears the cutest outfit to chapter, who
tells the best jokes at lunch, or who seems to never gain any weight. It can
even come down to who has the better boyfriend (sorry guys).
“Comparison is the thief of joy” - Dwight
Edwards
The Recruitment
Chairs recognized that this culture of comparison, combined with negative,
body-image obsessed stereotyped community is not who we are. We make women better
women. During “In Her Skin” we felt
confident enough in ourselves to participate, and in doing so, realized how
beautiful everyone else looked too, but in a way that can offer no
comparison. In that day, we gave and received so many compliments
-- not just to and from our fellow sorority sisters in other chapters, but from
fraternity men as well. In fact, this event was so successful that your
Panhellenic Delegates are opting for another “In Her Skin” day next semester.
So take this
month to focus on what confidence really means to you. Your talent and
contributions rarely go noticed in this world, wether or not your name is
engraved in a plaque or noted in a “sister of the month” award. Be confident in
what you love about yourself, and be brave enough to sincerely compliment
another sister (especially one outside your own chapter) on her own attributes,
even the ones you feel most intimidated by.
Happy April
sisters, stay confident and stay strong!
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pick your favorite
line, and write it in your planner!
The Optimists Creed
Christian D.
Larso
I Promise Myself
To be so strong
that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health,
happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my
friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To think only of
the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as
enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the
mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a
cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I
meet.
To give so much
time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large
for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the
presence of trouble.
To think well of
myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great
deeds.
To live in the
faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that
is in me.
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| By Amy Knight Vice President New Member Services |
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