Tri Sigma Blog The official blog of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority

We’re hearing how women were changed by the Labyrinth, and we are so amazed at how the experience changed perceptions. Self perceptions, perceptions of the world and our culture, and perceptions of the National Sorority were impacted for the better. Danielle Kloap – Epsilon Beta, University of Arkansas – Monticello, had some incredibly meaningful realizations while on her journey. Read more below.

On the first night of the Labyrinth Experience, the participants were asked to give our expectations for the journey. Someone said that they expected to have 19 new best friends. I thought that was a sweet thought, but wondered if 20 people would really be able to connect that way in just five short days.

After the Labyrinth, I really do feel like I have 19 new best friends, 22 if you count our amazing facilitators Chris, Allison and Michelle.

The entire journey has completely changed my life. I’ve never had much self-confidence or belief in myself, but especially after the GoApe! zip lining experience, I have so much more faith in myself and my abilities. I’ve never had 22 other women believe so strongly in me as they did during the zip lining and it made me realize that I am worth believing in. I would never have made it through the zip lining without those women. I thought that would be my least favorite part of the experience, but without it I don’t think we would have all bonded the way we have. 

Visiting the Mabel Lee Walton House was a dream come true. I joined Tri Sigma through informal recruitment, so I never had a bid day. Pulling up at the Walton House and seeing Executive Council waving at us and hugging us all made me feel like I had finally gotten my bid day.

The pictures I’ve seen online don’t do the house justice. I teared up when I walked in and saw just how beautiful the house is and how much Tri Sigma history it holds. It really struck me that this is our Heart Home when I asked if I could go back into the room that houses the chapter dolls and was told, “Of course! This is your home.”

I finally feel like I’m home, in every sense of the word. I feel like I really know how to go out and live our ritual after studying each individual value and putting those into action every day. I believe in myself and have more passion for Tri Sigma than I ever imagined possible. The Labyrinth really solidified for me what direction I want my life to head and taught me to face my fears. I started my Tri Sigma story by going two and a half hours away to college to escape problems at home after my Dad committed suicide. For so long, I’ve felt guilty and let his actions dictate my life and my path. The Labyrinth showed me that I have the power to guide my own journey. I finally feel like I’m not running anymore and that I’m free. That is a part of my life that is so difficult for me to talk about, but I want people to understand just how powerful this Labyrinth Leadership Experience is and how much it has changed my heart.

It’s difficult to explain just how much the Labyrinth has given to me. Chris, Allison and Michelle did a fantastic job of facilitating this journey for us. I have no words to express my thanks to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation for supporting this leadership program, and my thanks to the women who saw something special in me by selecting me for this experience.

Sigma Love and Mine,

Danielle Kloap
Recruitment Adviser
Epsilon Beta Chapter