Mikaela

I Can Be Me

Mikaela Workman

"Finding your home" during recruitment can be confusing. But for me, Alpha Omicron Pi was the obvious choice.

During all the rounds of recruitment, in and out of different rooms, through all the different songs, I kept thinking that it was all about me trying to impress these girls. So many girls. But by the end of rush week I realized it's not about trying to appease anyone or squeeze myself into some perfect #TSM mold. Recruitment is about finding the women who will bring out the best in you. Women who will guide you through the craziest time in your life and keep you on a path of integrity, intelligence, and happiness. Women who think about your well being before you even do. And this is the essence of AOII; my sisters show all these qualities every day and inspire me to grow.

Why AOII? Because these women are not just my sisters by title, they are not for show, they are my true ride or die sisters to the core proven by years of action, not empty promises. Because it is only here that I was able to meet the beautiful and kind women who became my role models. Because it is only here, sitting next to my AOII sisters, that I spent countless nights eating Chinese take out or pizza in the library, cramming for my final exams with the only people that could keep me going with a smile on my face. This sisterhood is beyond compare and I feel AOII's effects everyday with the whole hearted love I receive, the midnight talks over Mexican food after a long night out, and crazy spring break adventures from Chicago to Miami with my sisters hand and hand.

Thank you so much to AOII's founders who started this incredible fraternity, without you I might have been a few bridesmaids short ♡

Emily

Following In Her Footsteps

 Emily Opperman

The only reason I decided to look at a sorority was because my mom was in one. She was a Kappa Kappa Gamma and encouraged me to go through formal recruitment. I never thought I would want to be in a sorority because of everything I’ve heard of and seen in big state sororities – all the parties, hazing, and frat guys wasn’t something I was looking for or even interested in being a part of. I didn't believe that a sorority would be a good influence on my decisions.

I decided to go through Rush Week to please my mom and see what it was like. I have no reasons for why I chose AOII other than they chose me. Yet, through my first year of being an Alpha O, I have hundreds of reasons why I should stay. I’ve always heard that you should just “trust the system” and I’ve realized that even though I couldn’t tell you why I wanted to be in a sorority, I am so grateful for being in one now.

Alpha Omicron Pi is so different from what I thought a sorority would be; yes, there is a bunch of fun socials, you make life long friends, and sometimes matching is a requirement. But you also learn how to be gracious towards your sisters in need, responsible for yourself and your chapter, accountability, class, gracefulness and poise, and generosity. All in all learning more about what a sorority truly means made me want to stay and makes me try to become a better version of myself everyday.

To follow in her footsteps means to leave a legacy like my mom. She is the definition of kindness, forgiveness, and grace. Those are also qualities that I've learned in AOII. Our ritual has taught me to love my sisters and most importantly do everything with grace and kindness. We all follow in the footsteps of our founders: Stella, Helen, Jesse, and Elizabeth. They dedicated their time to making a sorority of dignity, strength, empowerment, and love. Their dedication to AOII and our sisterhood has made us become more loving and strengthened our values. They've helped us learn in times of great struggle and encourage us to push on through the rough days. They've taught us how to become better friends and better sisters. They've taught us to use grace and forgiveness in all we do. I've learned many skills to help leave a legacy like my mom. And I hope one day, our future sisterhood will see why we chose to stay in Alpha Omicron Pi and can continue in our footsteps.

Lina

It's More Than Friendship

Lina Chaoui

I never thought about myself as the sorority type when I was in high school. While a lot of stereotypical things about state school Greek life are untrue at DePaul, the core values of Greek life remain.

I'm from Massachusetts, so Chicago feels very far away. I was scared of creating a home here. By joining a network of girls who push me academically and encourage me to do things I have been to scared to do in the past, Chicago has become my second home. My sisters are here to celebrate my successes and support me through my failures. I have found a few of my best friends but I have also found people who care about me no matter what. 


I joined Alpha Omicron Pi to make friends and meet new people. But I've learned that sisterhood is not just about friendship. Sisterhood is about unconditional love and support. My sisters will stick it out through mistakes and anger because they truly care. This is one of the many reasons why I have stayed in AOII.

Jill

The Sisterhood I Never Knew I Needed

Jill Sales

I know it’s cliché, but I have always loved AOII. I am one of the lucky ones who knew I landed right where I was supposed to be right from the start. Some girls are unhappy where they end up after recruitment, but AOII was the only sorority wanted to join or felt right in.

Freshman year I had a hard time adjusting to the college social atmosphere. I was always too shy, too quiet, and too cautious. When I was welcomed into AOII my whole world was suddenly different. I had sisters helping me along the way when things got hard instead of trying to take on everything on my own. They accepted me for who I was, and who I was not, which was something I had never had before. I learned so much about values, faith, and sisterhood from these women that I never would have known without them.

My big, Jamie, is one of the biggest reason I joined and stayed. She showed me what it meant to be fearless, lovable, and confident in who I am. All things I always struggled with, yet Jamie helped me to come out of my shell.

She and all of my sisters helped guide me through the tough parts of college that only sorority sisters can. Whenever I thought I was failing or losing my way I knew there was always a sister there to help me understand that life happens and I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. They taught me that sisterhood is everything you need, but can’t ask for, and more often than not it’s something you don’t even know you need.

AOII taught me to have fun, to trust in others, and never be afraid of judgement. I can honestly say I would not be the confident leader I am today without the help and love from my AOII family. I owe so much to this organization and the women in it, I am so happy to have been found and guided by such an amazing group of women and their values.