Kelly's Journey - EPILOGUE
Hi all,
I just got back from my weekend volunteering to help the Beta Lambda chapter of Gamma Phi Beta at San Diego State University. I want to share some pictures with you and say a few words.
The Beta Lambda Recruitment Chair and one of the alums.
Some of the Beta Lambda girls on a break from the Philanthropy Round parties.
An alumna helping set-up for Preference Night.
The Beta Lambda girls getting ready for Prefs.
Some of the girls after a successful completion of Pref Night.
This is me on Preference Night - my first time participating in recruitment as a sister.
To top it off, the crescent moon shined down upon us!
Back in spring 1997, I would have never imagined what a ride my journey to sisterhood would entail. I didn't expect to receive a bid during recruitment...and I got one in less than two hours. I didn't expect to have to turn it down.....but I felt that was best. I didn't expect to lose my mother at such a young age.
I didn't expect to give it another try...but I did. I didn't expect to be rejected by a sisterhood I admired so much...it broke my heart. I didn't think one could be initiated as an alumna.
I didn't expect to receive such positive feedback....but no less than four organizations wanted to call me "sister". I didn't expect to have so many obstacles in my path...and yet three years went past. I didn't expect one woman to believe in me so much that she did everything possible to make it happen for me.
I didn't expect to be standing in front of 600 women....but there I was in front of past international presidents and 50-year members. I didn't expect my badge to be so beautiful....but there it was pinned over my heart. I didn't expect to become a Gamma Phi Beta....but there I was crying in my big sister's arms.
And so I found myself this weekend stepping into the Beta Lambda chapter house ready to lend a hand to help a new wave of San Diego State University students find their homes in Gamma Phi Beta too.
"My girls" were brilliant, achieving a 100% return rate after the first round. My girls put their best foot forward during philanthropy round and house tours. MY girls put on a beautiful preference night ceremony which left them and the PNMs all teared up. The alumnae were terrific: sorting out paperwork, re-setting craft materials, encouraging the girls, lighting candles, folding napkins, collecting glasses. I had a wonderful chat with the alums...I felt so welcome.
At the end of it all, the alums of the "past", the sisters of the present, and the members of the future stood around and sang:
Love, Labor, Learning, and Loyalty,
Gamma Phi Beta means so much to me.
There's a reason here, for a reason above,
a lifetime of sisterhood flowing with love.
Love grows strong with the crescent moon,
all our years here together will pass too soon.
We'll be Gamma Phis forever and when we're gone,
There'll be Gamma Phis here to sing our song.
I just wanted to thank everyone here for their support of me and my AI journey as I have finally come full circle. GreekChat provides a unique opportunity for potential AIs to find advice and encouragement along the way. I also wanted to thank my big sister, Cele (GPhiBLtColonel), for "going to bat" for me by sponsoring me into Gamma Phi. Your zany sense of humor is like nothing else....I think I've finally met my match!
It brings me great joy whenever I see a PNAM making her way home. I hope my story has provided even the smallest sliver of hope and inspiration to those of you still searching. I look forward to reading all about your adventures! May you all enjoy the happy ending that I have been privileged to have.
.....Kelly
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You just need to step away from the "...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay way way too portly" comment. Way way way? I think not! 
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