Why Alpha Xi?
Meet Emily Hammond!
She is a first-year math major concentrating in statistics and joined Alpha Xi in fall of 2021. She also serves as our chapter’s New Member Program Chair and enjoys baking, traveling, and working out. In this post, she shares the reasoning behind her recruitment decision.
Why Alpha Xi?
When I was first asked this question, my mind immediately wanted to say “the sisterhood” or “the friendships I’ve made”, but as I reflect on my time as an Alpha Xi, I’ve realized that it goes much deeper than that.
I chose Alpha Xi because of the authenticity I saw within all of the sisters I talked to during rush. Despite being in a long, stressful process that made me feel like I was drowning, Alpha Xi was a lifeline where I felt I could finally breathe. At Alpha Xi, I was able to talk to sisters about the most random topics, like when I chatted about iced chai tea lattes with Grace Mallon for the whole first round of sisterhood. Immediately, despite our silly conversations, I felt a deep connection with the sisters and knew Alpha Xi was the one for me because of how relaxed and at home I felt.
However, I would be lying if I said I didn’t have imposter syndrome right after Bid Day. I had so many nerve wrecking questions as a freshman entering college. What if these girls don’t like me? What if I don’t fit in? What if a sorority isn’t for me? My Alpha Xi sisters, however, never let me feel that way. I continued to return to Alpha Xi for lunch and dinner every day, and I was greeted with open arms and accepted into their sisterhood. Every sister went above and beyond to learn more about me, spend time with me, and make me feel welcome.
One memory in particular is when Annie Taylor and I had walked miles in the blazing heat of August to get Starbucks together because we didn’t know there was one on campus. Not to mention it was the day after Run For the Roses, my legs wouldn’t stop cramping, and between the two of us, we only got one drink. Was it worth it? Absolutely not. But it showed me that Annie was willing to go out of her way, despite the Georgia heat, to get to know me. To this day, Annie is one of my best friends, and without Alpha Xi, I would have never met her.
Alpha Xi is so much more than a sorority. It’s a lifetime of friendships that I’ve made in the span of 7 months. It’s having sisters say hello with a smile every time I enter the house. It’s laughing until I cry at meals, and it’s having a sister’s shoulder to cry on when school (undoubtedly) gets tough. To me, Alpha Xi is more than a group of girls whom I hangout with everyday. Alpha Xi is my family. It’s my home away from home.
I chose Alpha Xi Delta because I’ve never had to pretend to be someone that I wasn’t. From the first day of rush, I’ve been able to be authentically myself. These girls, my sisters, have truly accepted me for who I am inside and out, and for that, I am eternally grateful.