If this is your first time visiting Triangle Park blog, welcome. We are a mother-daughter/family blog designed to keep in touch online by sharing tastes, travel and time musings. Having friends and others read is many times more fun.
INTRO
Every fall, young college women filter through “houses” hoping to impress other young college women with their personalities, conversation prowess, GPA, athleticism, philanthropy purpose, pedigrees, style sense, hair, skin, body-fat ratio, etc. in order to gain entry into various societies and to secure “sisters.”
BACKGROUND
Most of you know: I am not a sorority expert. There’s no way I could be. I did not rush for a sorority, nor were sororities even at the college I attended in Portland, Oregon. What I am, however, is a mom of two daughters, Savanna and Diana. Both of my girls attend(ed) college in the southeast United States where sororities are prevalent. They both rushed-to-be-judged, one time.
CASE IN POINT
Savanna went through the rush process at the University of Georgia, a Greek-life capital in the U.S. She had her reference letters in place, skillfully chosen dresses, houses scoped out, 4.0 in tact, etc. Savanna’s ducks were in an enviable row. She survived several rounds with a final call back to her choice house. Then she dropped.
Diana’s story was different. She didn’t rush freshman year but decided to give it a shot sophomore year (the older you are, the tougher it is). Diana did not seek recommendation letters, didn’t dress-to-impress, nor did she attempt to impress otherwise, thus no cigar to her liking. In spite of D not “going for it” or caring about it, ostracizing at the end of the game provided ample dejection. Imagine those who desperately want acceptance and get cut.
INSERT
This blog is not to discredit sororities. My niece is in a sorority! I have friends who pledged. I understand the benefits that Greek life offers and appreciate the discipline it requires. But I do have an issue with female judgment and exclusion. One doesn’t have to be rejected from a sorority to experience rejection. It happens in families too (trust me). Here’s the thing, exclusion is scary. It tells me you think you’re better than I am. Scarier than that is , it tells me you might be jealous of me thus may exclude me from your society in order to feel superior, better than?
RECAP
Indeed, sister season is upon us. There are many girls who appear happy to belong to various Greek groups. Congratulations! I’m happy for you (and sorry for others — especially if you don’t have a real sister). Similarly, I hope you’re happy for my girls choosing not to identify with such.
GOING FORWARD…
The sea of people God provides the world with is limitless. He offers us people to meet, people to befriend, people to connect with, people to call brother, sister, people to love, perfectly imperfect people to cross paths with every day — the whole process is designed and judged by only Him [phew]. And, it’s free. Welcome to the club whoever you are, whatever you look like, however much $ you have, whether you gain or lose 10 lbs, whether your GPA is really 3.0 or you cheated, whether you wear Target or Prada, whether you’re delusionally superior or heart-healthy humble. Welcome — You’re in the only society that truly matters, God’s.
Thank you for reading!
Love, Shelley
Triangle Park Sisters
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:28
On a Foodie Note
First batch of fall chili sprung from the Sweeney kitchen last weekend. Unfortunately Sav and Joey couldn’t make it but Diana and her star boyfriend indulged with us.
