A Letter To All New Graduates:

Hello Graduates:

Hello Graduate!! Welcome to the exciting (yet terrifying) world of adulthood. After years of schooling and preparation, you have finally made it and are now officially a college graduate with the whole world in front of you!!!

Now that you are here, please take a moment to think about all you have accomplished. Take the time to reflect on all the memories you created during college, about what you learned in your field and about yourself, consider how much you have grown and how much growing you still have time to do!!

Now that you have took a moment to look back, now use this opportunity to look forward. What is next? Some of you may have figured that out, some of you may not have, and that is okay!  This is the perfect opportunity to think about what is really important to you, what you want in life, and where you want to end up!!!

You can be anything you want to be, you can achieve whatever it is that you want to achieve. You are a college graduate, and there is nothing holding you back. So go out there, leave your mark on this world and make it a better place.

The world is your oyster, so go get them tiger!!

Sincerely,

The Sorority Girl Thought Team

Five Things To Do Your Last Days as a Senior in College

Being a senior in college is a pretty amazing thing.  After four grueling long years of late night study sessions, last minute papers, group projects, and let’s face it TONS of coffee, you now can see something beyond the ivory walls of your university, you can see your goals for the future.

This ability to now see what is you want in life, or at least a general idea of what you want, can also be extremely terrifying. While you know where you want to be, you are also realizing that you are about to jump head first into a deep, dark, foggy abyss of doubt and uncertainty where no real idea of where you will end up along the way to your dreams.

That being said your last few days as a senior in college are the most terrifying and the most comforting.

So here are five things you should do on your final days before you leave your university to enter the real world, do these things and more as a reminder that while change is inevitable, being happy no matter where life leads is the most important thing.

11)   Spend time with your friends: Spend your final days at college with the people who made your college experience more than just academics. Go to a movie, take a few days and drive to the beach, go to the bar one (or two) last times, spend these final fleeting movements of, dare I say, childhood, with the people who you can’t imagine your life without.

22)   Reflect on your time in college: Whether you take one final stroll around campus or make a scrapbook, take the time to think about your time in college: what you did right or wrong, experiences you are glad you had and ones you wish you didn’t, opportunities you are glad you took and those you wish you did. Take this time to look back not only to see what has changed in just four short years but what hasn’t changed very much at all.

33)   Write down your dreams: Take a moment and write down your dreams, the things you want in life. Think about why you want them and how you plan on getting there. Keep that piece of paper in your wallet. Whenever you feel lost or uncertain, pull that piece of paper out as a reminder of what you are working towards.

44)   Thank your professors, your mentors, your parents: There are certain “teachers “in life that you can look back on and say “that person left an impact on me”, take this time to thank them for that.  You wouldn’t be whom you are with out them.

55)   Just breathe: Take a page out of Michelle Branch’s songbook (yes, I went there) and just relax and breathe. This period of life is about to end, take the time to watch gracefully as it comes to a close.

Life as Sorority Alumna

With the end of the semester coming near, many sisters of chapters all over the country will be making the jump from being a collegiate sister to alumnae. When I was living out my years as a collegiate sister, I thought alumna-hood would never get to me and I'd be a fun, active, collegiate sorority sister forever. All too quickly though, I found myself as an alumna sifting through old pictures reminiscing over my college days.

Shortly after relocating a few states away from my collegiate chapter, I realized there was an alumnae chapter in my area. I thought, "Wow, this is my shot to get to do it all over again!" Until one day, I was told the alumnae chapter had been inactive for quite a few years. Being as young and gung-ho as I was, I decided to reactivate the chapter.

Now, for the past two years, I have served as the Chapter President for my alumnae chapter. I have found life as an alumna to be even more satisfying than I thought. I have been able to lead my chapter and recruit new sisters to be involved with the chapter. We have participated in multiple philanthropy events such as Campfire USA, the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, Girls Love Mail, and many others. As an alumna, there are still so many opportunities to give back to the community in the name of your letters.

Not to mention the bonds that have been formed… The sisters still involved with alumnae chapters are the sisters who truly want to continue to help their sorority grow and flourish. You're going to meet sisters who are still just as in love with their letters as the day they received their bids. You're also going to meet their daughters who look forward to going through recruitment and continuing the tradition of sisterhood as a legacy. It's one of the most fulfilling feelings I've ever been able to experience.

So while you work on decorating your graduation caps and picking out the perfect outfit to walk across the stage in, just know that your time with your sorority isn't finished just because you receive that piece of paper you've worked so hard for. There is still a whole world of opportunities to connect with sisters, give back to the community, and represent your letters and values in the best way possible. Good luck graduating seniors, and welcome to life as an alumna.

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Second Semester Senior Year

To All College Seniors,

The time has come when you start calling yourself a second semester senior. This is a time when you will cry about all the "last times" you do your favorite and least favorite things. The last fraternity party, the last night of your lease with your friends, or even the last time in the library (if you ever went before). These are all experiences that will be only memories in a few months.

Luckily, you still have one more semester to make the most of your time in college. This means taking advantage of ALL aspects of being a college student. Here are some suggestions to really make your last semester your most memorable one.

1. Make smaller resolutions. We all know it's a new year and there are things we want to work on. This year, consider creating more manageable short-term goals instead of attempting larger, more generalized resolutions. Check out this article with some suggestions: http://elitedaily.com/life/25-new-years-resolutions-every-person-should-actually-make-for-2014/

Or, you know, you can go in this direction: http://www.buzzfeed.com/joannaborns/realistic-new-years-resolutions#.nda5Vzbve

2. Find an internship. Believe it or not, you still have time to get an internship for this upcoming semester. Time to get some experience for your resume! While making Dean's List is impressive, most employers are really looking for experience. You can find internships or similar opportunities on your university's website, through word-of-mouth from friends, family friends, or classmates, and even from a search on Google. Remember, even unpaid internships are worth the invaluable experience!

3. Or get a part-time job. If money is tight and you cannot locate paid internships, there are other ways to get experience. In fact, that side job will help you improve many professional skills such as time-management, customer service, or communication. Plus, it will be helpful financially while you search for a full-time job after college.

4. Go out on a random night of the week. You still have a few months left when it is considered acceptable to go out every night of the week. If you have been doing well in school throughout your college life, time to celebrate your hard work. Party with the friends you will have forever along with the people you will leave behind at that bar. College is a tough balance of social life, school work, and sleep, but it is definitely possible to do it all! Well, at least do the first two.

5. Visit career services. Your university has this resource for a reason! This office can help you with writing a resume and cover letter, finding and applying to jobs, and interviewing. Check me out in this documentary series discussing how Rutgers University Career Services helped me get my dream internship: http://vimeo.com/99563486

6. Skip class to go to the bar. This may look like terrible advice, but now is the time to take risks and have fun! As long as this isn't a frequent choice, skipping a regular class to go to happy hour one time will not be a time you regret next year.

7. Maintain your college friendships. Figure out which of your college friends are the ones that make you feel the happiest. Keep them close and show them that they mean a lot to you. Even though they may not live near you after graduation, you can definitely keep those friends for a lifetime.

8. Keep on top of your schoolwork. Yes, I did say to skip a class. But you are ultimately at college to get a degree. Get good grades by keeping your notes and list of assignments organized, getting to know your professors, checking your email inbox at least every other day, and answering/asking at least one question in class. I know it's hard not to take a Snapchat selfie, but try to keep your phone away during class to avoid getting distracted from taking notes.

9. Stay involved on campus. I never said making the most out of your college experience would be easy, but it is worth every minute you lose of sleep. If you are part of a community service project, a leadership organization, a theater troupe, or a sorority, you may feel like you are burnt out from these clubs. Don't give up just yet! These clubs helped you make great friends while participating in fun and rewarding activities. All of these clubs are still just as enjoyable as long as you stay an active part of it.

10. Be nice to everyone. Hopefully, you are already doing this one. Being considerate to everyone whether they are friends, acquaintances, or strangers will make you feel better about yourself. Those people will most likely remember you for your kindness. And hey, they may just have the connections you need for your first job!

Senior Year of Formal Recruitment

     Being a senior is a very bitter sweet time, especially right around recruitment time. Fall is our formal recruitment at my school and I am so sad that it is over. We have Meet the Sisters, Philanthropy, and Preference round all happening and then it is a blur. Preference round was when it all hit me that I am a senior and this will be my last moments as a sister and college student of Kutztown University. I couldn't help but cry when my sisters were talking about what my sorority means to them and how much our chapter has grown in the years I have been apart of it. My sorority is definitely not the same sisterhood it was when I joined, but isn't that a good thing. With every new person who joins our chapter we grow, change, and mold to the people who are now part of our amazing sisterhood. We pride ourselves with this quote a lot, "Individually unique, together complete." With my chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma, Zeta Omicron I am proud to say that none of my sisters are exactly the same but we do come together for the same purposes and strive to better ourselves through schooling and being involved.
     Bid day was amazing and we got an amazing group of twenty three beautiful women to welcome into Phi Sigma Sigma. With College Panhellenic Council we also raised our total at our school from sixty five to seventy five women. I am so excited to live this last year in college to the fullest and continue to watch this great sisterhood continue to grow and thrive. All sisterhoods have their ups and downs but it is how you work through them that make the sorority stand strong and true. Together we can have it all!
     

#SeniorStatus

I have spent 3 years of my college experience emerging myself in all things Kappa. The memories I have made are irreplaceable and the friends are forever.

My time in Kappa Kappa Gamma has taught me a lot about myself. I went from a girl to a woman here. I gained confidence I never knew I had inside of me. I learned that the possibilities to succeed in life are most definitely in my grasp even when I never though they were. So how do you say goodbye? 

This is my last semester as an active member. In a few short months, I will go on to become an alumni member and while that comes with a whole new world of opportunities, is absolutely terrifying. I've loved my time here even when it was bad. My best friend held my hand in the ER for hours without ever giving it a second thought. My sisters sat on the floor with me in a hidden room during recruitment because my life was crumbling around me and I couldn't stop the tears. And my big answered my calls, day and night, no matter how stupid or silly it was. 

These memories and these moments are the ones I'll cherish forever and the reason I'm so happy that I amma. So to all you seniors out there, who are all riding the boat with me, here's to one last semester of fun, adventure, and memories. May this semester be the best one yet and while we may have one too many drinks on the occasional Wednesday night, we know that these are the best days of our lives....but it will be over in a flash.  So as I sit here and contemplate how to cope with saying goodbye in December, I just keep remembering the saying we have here that I think will always be the true motto of my time as an active.

"This was the place where I stumbled up the back steps and am walking gracefully out the front door."

Me (Molly) and one night of many, many memories I've made.