Emmy and Molly Kent – Steps of the Mabel Lee Walton House and Headquarters
I felt like I was at a bit of an advantage going into Labyrinth since I had started out on the programming team committee that was working on it. I knew it was going to be amazing, but I never expected it to impact me the way it did.
You see, I didn’t learn Tri Sigma deep down, the ritual and values, as a collegian. My chapter struggled with following policies, respecting ritual, and instilling an understanding of lifetime commitment. My new member education was pretty compressed since I accepted a bid during a COR in November and was initiated in December. I was taught the bare bones basics. As soon as I was initiated, I took on the role of ritual chair. I served as an officer the rest of my collegiate years. And despite having ready access to a ritual book all those years, I never took the time to dig into it.
TC Krajnak and Emmy on the bus!
As I started volunteering as an alumna, I came to understand our ritual intellectually. I understood what our values are and what they mean. Really, how hard is it to understand wisdom, power, faith, hope and love? Again, I tended to focus on the mechanics of the sorority experience and the practical side of things. None of that ever conflicted with our ritual, but it didn’t necessarily bring it to the forefront. At my first Convention, I attended Triangle degree and was so moved. That’s when I started to realize that there’s more to our ritual and what it means than I had ever understood. Volunteering on the programming team and as a mentor at our leadership programs gave me the opportunity to start really digging into our ritual and its meaning. But again, it’s been in an intellectual capacity.
After Labyrinth, I can honestly say, I’ve got it hook, line, and sinker in my heart. I feel that I understand what Tri Sigma is really about, in a complete way. I always understood the sisterhood, the service, and the commitment. But now, I understand the beauty of Tri Sigma and everything she can give us if we let her. I was able to experience our ritual in a hands-on way. I was able to put each value into practice. I feel like I actually touched each one. It was such a profound experience. And now, I feel like I can see them shimmering around me every day. I think I truly understand what it means when we say “live the ritual”.
Emmy Smith, Jamie Pitts, Katie Johnstone, Michelle Deni Pollard Hektor
Being the person I am, I’m determined to figure out a way to share what I see and understand with those around me. I want to share the true meaning of Tri Sigma with all those women who missed it in college, just like I did. I want them to realize that they joined this incredible organization that has so much to give them in so many ways. Tri Sigma is a lifelong learning opportunity, an amazing support group, a place to discover your strengths and how to use them, a path to becoming a better woman. It is exactly what you want it to be.
Tri Sigma has given me the love, support, and opportunity to stretch that I could never find anywhere else. Labyrinth allowed me to move forward in that journey. I learned so much about myself and what I want Tri Sigma to be in my life. Thank you for the incredible opportunity to have this experience. I hope that I’m able to give back a fraction of what I’ve received from it.
Emmy Smith
Epsilon Pi – Charleston Alumnae Chapter
Thank you for sharing Emmy!!!