The members of the Eta pledge class are officially active sisters!
I am so proud of all of the Etas, especially my littles, Mei Mei and Jennifer. They worked really hard this semester and completed some really great service projects. They helped set up and clean up for the Relay for Life Kick-off event, they helped with Omega Phi Alpha’s Founder’s Day, they completed soldier care packages, and book donations to a local library.
Activation is such a special, memorable ceremony. Ceremonies like pinning and activation make me feel like I am part of something bigger… I guess I can’t really explain it any better than to just say that they are definitely special occasions, and I will treasure those memories forever. I liked by activation, but I think that this year’s activation was even better. Having my own littles as well as my big, Kelly, there surrounding me meant so much. It was truly a special time for all of us.
I am really excited for all of my new sisters that I gained last night at activation! 🙂
After activation, I spent the night with my little, Mei Mei. We had a huge sleepover, and it was so much fun! Then, this morning was our annual brunch. It is an Alpha Zeta tradition to hold a brunch to celebrate the new sisters and their activation. This is a time for the new sisters to wear letters, because they have finally earned the right to do so. (Unlike some other sororities, you can not wear the greek letters until you are an active sister.) Also, the new sisters invite their friends and family to help celebrate their accomplishments. I loved the fact that my parents and boyfriend (now fiance) were able to attend my brunch, because I felt like they finally understood what Omega Phi Alpha was about. I had been telling them about it all semester, but when they came to school for brunch, I felt like they could finally connect with what I was doing. Hearing what Omega Phi Alpha is all about, seeing all of the girls and seeing how much we love each other and how much fun we have together really connects them to the sorority. So, at brunch, we have breakfast, listen to some speeches, give out some awards, and then sing and dance. This is one of my favorite traditions!! 🙂
The end of the semester…
Just because the semester is ending, does not mean that our service has to! Most or all of the service that we do as sisters of Omega Phi Alpha is completed through group service projects, but this is a reminder that that does not have to be the case. I am going to try to make an effort to do more service on my own, and I would like to encourage everyone else to do the same. Here is a quick list of things you can do over the break from The HandsOn Blog:
- Make artwork for a local senior center or retirement home—they will love the colorful wall decorations!
- Organize a canned food drive at home, school, neighborhood, or place of worship. Donate your collected canned goods to a local food bank or shelter.
- Donate unwanted stuffed animals to a local shelter— there are many children who would love to have an animal to snuggle with this holiday season!
- Donate your family’s holiday party leftovers to a local shelter or soup kitchen
- Gather your old clothes and shoes to donate to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or other donation center.
- Play board games at a senior center.
- Donate your old books to your local library— there are kids dying to read your books!
- Donate your old backpack there is a child who would love to have a new friend to carry their school work in!
- Have a hot chocolate and cookie stand in your neighborhood and donate the money to your favorite cause.
- Hold a toy drive for kids in a shelter or hospital.
- Take a bag of dog or cat food to your local animal shelter.
- Pick up trash in your local park or neighborhood.
- Grow a community garden.
- Start a recycling program in your community if there is not one already.
- Plant a tree.
And the end of the Etas pledge period!!
This Saturday, December 3rd, the members of the Eta pledge class will become active sisters of Omega Phi Alpha- it is activation! I am so excited for all of the Etas, especially my littles, Mei Mei and Jennifer. They have worked so hard, and this is well earned for them. I am also excited for my big and grand-big to attend activation, and for my first activation as an active. I wish that I could say more, but it is a secret ceremony, and I can’t release any details! The Etas will just have to wait to see what we have in store for them. 🙂
Nothin' Sweeter than ΩΦΑ 