Graduation Photos

My parents and I outside the Quad

Lexi and I with Barbara, our mentor at the Honors College Commencement

Shelley and I in our graduation dresses after the Honors Ceremony!

Some of the Phi Mu J-School graduates 

me, Gabrielle, Lindsay and Krystin- all Twainers who graduated in three years

J-School Graduation- Brian Brooks' retirement photo

My parents and I with the diploma

My MOJO team 

Sherman, Shaina, me and Andrew

Emily and I outside of Memorial Union, by Kathryn Jankowski

Graduation photo by Alyssa Goodman

By Alyssa Goodman

Sorority Experience

As the end of the school year approached, one tradition common in most Greek chapters is that the upcoming graduates are given an opportunity to say one last goodbye before receiving their alumni status. Phi Mu holds a ceremony for this, typically at our last chapter meeting, and it is always very emotional. You reflect upon your memories, sorority leadership experiences and what your membership has taught you over the years. 

The Phi Mu seniors before our ceremony

The week this happened, one of my friends in another sorority said something very meaningful about this transition. She explained, “The person you were freshman year when you joined the sorority is completely different than who you are now.” After hearing this, the statement constantly ran through my head as I thought of how I and my friends had changed since Bid Day the Saturday before freshman year of college. It was so accurate- I AM a totally different and developed individual than I was in August of 2009. 

Some friends and I before my last Phi Mu formal

Then, I thought I would graduate in four years. Everyone in my pledge class's potential had yet to be measured, and leadership opportunities were free reign. Where one would go, what she would pursue and what direction it would take her in was all up for question. Who your core "group" of friends would be within the sisterhood had yet to be determined. And three years later, with these speeches, it all comes together.

You wish your friends the best in their transitions, reflect on accomplishments and head in new directions. I can leave Phi Mu knowing how I can help serve in the future, knowing who I want to stay in touch with and having an amazing pledge family I never would have thought I would be blessed with. I can walk around the house confidently, happily take photos by the mantle and sit in the dining room without hesitation of not knowing the name of the girl next to me. I am the one answering younger members' questions and not asking. I can talk about my experiences serving on dozens of committees and working as public relations chair, vice president and sisterhood relations chairman in job interviews and explain how much I learned about work ethic and more. 

me, Alex and Emily smiling in the Formal Living Room

As you progress through your years in a sorority or Greek chapter, or any organization for that matter, think about how you've changed since Day 1. Did you accomplish what you set out to? Gain what you wanted from your membership? Did you fulfill the organization's mission and represent the group well? If not, go do it. You'll only have limited time before your active years go away and alumni status begins :).   

Moving churches

One of the biggest pieces of news for me this semester is that my dad and therefore, family are transferring parishes within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Chicago. Instead of serving at Saints Peter & Paul in Glenview, he will be the head priest at Annunciation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

When my sisters and I were younger, we were used to moving every three years. Until 5th grade, we had moved homes, states or schools just about every three years and moving was normal. The move to Chicago became the foundation for where we would stay, graduate high school and never have to worry about leaving friends or parishes. Our family has lived in Northbrook and attended Ss. Peter & Paul (SSPP) for 11 years now--pretty much half of my life and the longest time we have been anywhere. 

So the strangest thing about this news is that it should not really have an effect on my sisters and I as individuals. We grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, had a solid foundation at a Greek Orthodox church of friends, youth group and somewhere to attend services, and now as all of us are in college. It's time for us to move on, right? What makes things upsetting is our PK (priest's kid) status--the constant flow of nosy questions, others' opinions and complaints that become part of a transition. 

The first takeaway from this move is to appreciate the religious environment where I grew up. It's been incredibly comforting to have a second family at SSPP every time I come back into town from college, and worth thanking all of the people that have contributed to this experience. My sisters and I have all met some of our best friends and "Greek friends" through Sunday school, youth group and young adult get-togethers. We have so many stories from over the years that we spent over an hour before the Anastasi service during Holy Week walking to every room in the church hall and telling our favorite stories from it. 

Some of the younger SSPP crew on Pascha

Although the social aspect of church has been great, this move has been incremental in teaching people that going to church is about going to church. The intentions are to celebrate a service, learn about the gospels and saints, pray to God and grow in your faith. Throughout college, I have attended a Greek Orthodox church in Columbia by myself for the past three years. It's the only parish in mid-Missouri, and people of all jurisdictions come from up to two hours away to attend the service. They don't all come to hear a specific sermon, participate in an archdiocese event or be social--they're there for church. The move means that regardless of where my Dad is serving, I should go to church to go to church. Sure, being with family is a huge part of one's religious development, especially as a child. But once you have graduated high school, you are old enough to decide how you want your faith to progress. If I want to attend a church where my family is, I can go to Milwaukee and see them after the service. If I want to meet up with friends from Chicago after church, I can encourage them to go to lunch after church. But no one's decisions or parish assignments should influence whether or not I am celebrating the prayers and service. 

Our family goodbye

The last service I watched my Dad serve in at SSPP

Hence, thank you to anyone who has taken part in my positive experience at SSPP. We look forward to meeting new people in Milwaukee, and will see where we want to celebrate the service each week. People will keep in touch and relationships will progress, and they will grow in their faith doing so. 

I'm baaaaaaack!

It's been a long time since I have blogged and quite a lot has happened in the past few months. Look forward to some posts over the next few days for updates on graduation, Project Mexico and lessons from the end of my undergraduate career!