Me in 500 Words

Photo: Sydnie Koonts
This photo was taken during Bid Day at High Point University. 

Finding Home in Unfamiliar Places 

Photo: Bella Dangora
This is a photo of my Rho Gam group . 
right before Preference round. 

Before September 5th, 2025, I was just one of many girls who dreamed of finding a home in a sorority. 

 

Many girls tend to join sororities to find a group of people who share their values and interests, or to pursue service opportunities for a philanthropy they are passionate about. 

And although those reasons stand true with my own, I found that the rush process would be the ultimate test for me:

Could I be my most authentic self and find a group of girls who see something in me with just a few conversations? 

When I decided to go through the rush process, I thought okay: 

I will go through the rush process, talk with all the different people, and if it doesn't work out, I never have to see these people again. What could go wrong?                                                        

Photo: Reese Danback
This is a picture of the notes I took after 
going to the Sigma House

So I embarked on this journey:

I will never forget the first round of rush "Sisterhood" and the first stop on my list: 

Sigma Sigma Sigma   

I walked into the house and was elated by their singing and their energy. I remember all the fear of what they might think of me drifting away because I felt like I was talking to girls I had known my whole life. The conversation was so effortless, and I remember never wanting it to end.

After walking out of the house, I was shaking with joy. I remember my humor, my laughter, my care pouring into those conversations in a matter of minutes.  

I only had a brief minute to write down my thoughts, but I know I had so much more to say about them than what you can see on that paper. 

Photo: Bree Ellenor
A picture of Sydnie and I during Bid Day

Each girl was so different, yet somehow, I felt so connected to each 

conversation, but one particular conversation stood out to me during this time, and that was with a girl named Sydnie Koonts. 

Sydnie was the person I alluded to as being the easiest to talk to. I laughed with her, I cried to her, and early on was someone I felt like I could tell everything to. I will never forget "Preference", the last round before Bid Day, watching her link my arm as I walked into the house and immediately started bawling in tears of joy. I remember calling my mom about Sydnie, saying that this girl pulled an authentic side out of me. I don't know how she did it, but I was so myself when I was in her presence.

Fast forward to Bid Day, and I had come to reveal my fate: 

When I read "Tri Sigma" across my card, it already felt like home. 

That simple "Yes" changed me for the better. I can confidently say that it is because of Tri Sigma that I am more confident in myself and have become less afraid to ask for help. I am not just a member, but I am seen and embraced for my humor, my leadership, and all the corks that make me, me.