Evie

Wouldn't Change a Thing
Evie Stoltz

When I arrived at DePaul as an incoming freshman I was overwhelmed with emotions. Watching my parents drive away it began to sink in that I am from a small town in Michigan, don’t know a single soul in Chicago and will be living and figuring life out on my own for the very first time. The transition proved to be incredibly difficult and making friends was even harder. Faced with the decision to pack my bags and head home or to stick it out, I made a crazy decision and went through recruitment.

This time of year you hear all kinds of cheesy stories about finding your home or how connected women felt to the sorority they eventually joined. For me this was all real. I knew going into this process I wasn’t looking for the cookie cutter sorority. I was looking for real connections, girls to be my sidekicks for life, and to really embrace my new life in Chicago. Finding the right sorority is like dating and you have to go through a lot to find the right one for you. The awkward conversations, the nerves and of course the over-thinking is all very normal.

Upon meeting the women of Alpha Omicron Pi I felt inspired, excited and most importantly accepted. I felt as if we were just sitting around having coffee rather than worrying about trying to impress them and force a fit. Being someone who has always struggled finding great friends, this was something that I hadn’t experienced before. Since joining this organization I have continued to be amazed by the experiences it has brought me. From the joy of receiving my bid to getting my big and then my own littles, all the way to taking my first two positions, it has been a whirlwind.

I was lost and struggling to find my place when I met the ladies that I now call my sisters. They have taught me so much about life, being a strong woman and what it means to be apart of a sisterhood. Life isn’t always rosy and perfect but what matters is that you have strong sisters by your side to get you through it. Entering into my senior year at DePaul and looking back over the past years, there isn’t a thing I would change. I owe most of this to my beautiful sisters of AOII. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without them.