Three Letters. One Choice. No Regrets.

Back in October, I decided to do the one thing I told myself that I wouldn't do when I started college. I. Went. Greek. That is right! I, Jennifer Humston, went GREEK! Here is my blog on how I found my home with Alpha Omicron Pi.

Back in the fall of 2014, I was at a chili cookoff for my University. The table next to the College of Education and Human Services was AOII. I've noticed all of the "Team AOII" shirts on campus, but I couldn't tell you what they meant. I was speaking with three friends of mine who happened to be in Greek Life on campus and they told me that I should check out AOII. (Shout out to Shelby, Natasha, and Maggie!) The first thought that rushed into my head was, "I'm sorry. I am not blonde. I am not skinny. I'm a complete weirdo. I'm not tall. I would never fit in to the sorority life." But then I did my research and I started talking to other members of Greek Life too. (This one is for you Peyton, Tyler, Emily & Kayla!)

"Alpha Omicron Pi's greatest strength is our members... unique as individuals, yet bound together by the common bond of friendship. Bound by these ties of friendship, AOII encourages each member to recognize what is unique in each of us, to develop our individual talents and to be proud of our differences. As represented by one of our symbols, the sheaf of wheat, we are made stronger by coming together as one."

The thing that really pulled me into AOII was the sisterhood. Since the passing of my grandmother, I really don't have a family. I have my mother. My brothers and sister are never around and my family is so broken that a shattered window looks more pieced together than my family ever would. I lost my best friend, my grandmother, and I needed somewhere to turn. One of the young ladies who helped take care of my Granny was in Greek Life and I had no clue until I got to school. (Thank you Taylor!) My Granny respected her and loved her so much whenever she was around with her. Obviously, this whole Greek Life thing was building some pretty awesome people. Why not give it ago?

Well, this could be interesting. I like what I am finding at this point. So I attended one of the information meetings held by the ELC's. I learned a little more about the philanthropy, what AOII stands for, and everything started to connect. I've had multiple people in my family diagnosed with arthritis, sisters for soldiers seemed like the perfect fit at the time, and I just knew this just wasn't some ordinary group tabling at the University. I felt like this one...was here for me. I decided to interview and the interview got me thinking. "I need this. Once this is in my life, my life will be perfect. I just know it. But they will never pick me to be in the sorority." But to my surprise, I got the bid call from Rebecca Greer Rogers that changed my life and I was going to start this new chapter in my life. The life of an AOII.

In the fall, I was so busy with my schedule that I couldn't do anything with my sisters and I immediately felt a disconnect. I had a few friends, but nothing like I thought this whole “sisterhood” thing would be. But I was able to go to the retreat! I was mostly with the three other girls I met at first. DeAnna: who I met during my interview. Mikaela: who I met in the hallway during one of the beginning events of AOII recruitment. Morgan: Our personalities just clicked. Retreat…didn’t really go so well. That is a blog of its own! Green chicken, food poisoning. Oh…and I broke my foot so I went home early. Clearly this whole AOII thing was NOT working in my favor.

At this point of my life, I couldn't pay my rent and my dues, I couldn't go to sisterhood, and I couldn't even attend the meetings. How could I ever continue with this Greek Life if I never am involved? I actually considered dropping AOII. It was now in early December and I was in the middle of a mid-college crisis. I hid/deleted most things AOII from social media and nothing was going right. I wasn’t happy, I couldn’t attend anything, I was too busy, home life wasn’t great, and I was working all the time but yet…I was still broke. So…I sent the email.

12/11/14 10:37pm


Hi Jenny,
I'm not sure who I go to about this, but I have decided to remove myself from AOII. I do not have the time commitment to be involved with many of the sisters and I do not have the money to continue paying the dues. Who can I speak with about this?

Respectfully,
Jen

The email was sent, but luckily Jenny and Courtnie pulled me back in or I would have made the biggest mistake of my life. This is the email that I received that changed my life…forever.


12/12/14 9:02am

“Jen,

Good morning! I hope that all of your finals went well! I would like to discuss your decision on removing yourself from AOII. I know this first semester has been crazy but next semester is going to be so much better. We have already completed the majority of the calendar and so you will know about all of the events in advance! As to the money situation I know that Jenny or Ciara, our treasurer would be more then happy to workout a payment plan with you. We all think so highly of you and see you as a wonderful contribution to our AOII family and we would hate to see you go! If you want to discuss any of these things feel free to email me or you can contact me on my cell phone, ----------, whichever is easier for you!!

Alpha Love and all of mine,Courtnie Fields”

I knew that this is where I belong. For the first real time…I felt that I was home. I had no clue people respected me in the chapter! I had no clue that anyone even knew who I was!! I just knew I was teaching everyone Roberts Rules of Order and how to operate voting and election procedure. But by the end of this week in December, I pretty much changed my major, quit my clinicals, lost connection with my best friend Chelsey, and yet I still felt like my life was coming together. I was determined to be more involved in the spring and pray for a miracle that I could stay in AOII because I came to the realization that without AOII…I have nothing. 

And so I did. I was able to attend meetings, I made it to different events with the sisters, and I started to think to myself… Alpha Omicron Pi was something I didn't know my life was missing and now I can't live without it. I’m still stressed out about life…but that is ok! I have my sisters. I’ve been able to be the shoulder, the go to, the helper, the spirit animal, and ultimately I try to be the sister that I would like to have. 

Because of AOII, I’ve become closer to so many people on campus that I would have never talked to before. I’ve become friends with a great group of fraternity men and a whole lot of sorority women. I’ve found great friends, great sisters, and I can say that for the first time in my life I’m finally...happy.