Following is a guest post from Alpha Chi Omega member, Sandy Carnes, GE'78
Good morning!
It’s October. Less than a week away from Founder’s Day for Alpha Chi Omega. My home away from home during my college years.
I remember it like it was yesterday. The summer of 1977. It brought with it moving away from home, family, old friends, and a lifestyle I had been accustomed to for 17 years. I packed up my turquoise and white 1977 Oldsmobile Omega SX and headed for Stillwater, Oklahoma. Home of the Cowboys.
My entire future lie before me. My life was a blank slate. Within a few hours I would soon be attending sorority rush at Oklahoma State University. Hopefully making many new friends with whom I could share my college experiences. Memories I’d cherish for a lifetime.
I knew very little about sororities and the different houses on campus upon arriving for rush week. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I visited each house open minded with no preconceptions of where my future home might lie.
One of the first things that attracted me to the Alpha Chis was not even the women I would eventually be life long sisters with. It came before I even stepped foot inside their house. It was their founding date, October 15th. You see, we shared the same birthday. To a 17 year old, it was destiny.
And besides, their jewel was the pearl. What girl doesn’t love pearls?
I’ll never forget standing in the driveway waiting to go into the Alpha Chi house for that very first time. It seemed like an infinite number of beautiful girls filled the glassed in staircase that looked as if it reached to heaven. All were smiling and singing as we waited to enter. Once inside, it was love at first sight. The girls. The house. For me, I knew this was home.♡ (continues below)
It’s October. Less than a week away from Founder’s Day for Alpha Chi Omega. My home away from home during my college years.
I remember it like it was yesterday. The summer of 1977. It brought with it moving away from home, family, old friends, and a lifestyle I had been accustomed to for 17 years. I packed up my turquoise and white 1977 Oldsmobile Omega SX and headed for Stillwater, Oklahoma. Home of the Cowboys.
My entire future lie before me. My life was a blank slate. Within a few hours I would soon be attending sorority rush at Oklahoma State University. Hopefully making many new friends with whom I could share my college experiences. Memories I’d cherish for a lifetime.
I knew very little about sororities and the different houses on campus upon arriving for rush week. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I visited each house open minded with no preconceptions of where my future home might lie.
One of the first things that attracted me to the Alpha Chis was not even the women I would eventually be life long sisters with. It came before I even stepped foot inside their house. It was their founding date, October 15th. You see, we shared the same birthday. To a 17 year old, it was destiny.
And besides, their jewel was the pearl. What girl doesn’t love pearls?
I’ll never forget standing in the driveway waiting to go into the Alpha Chi house for that very first time. It seemed like an infinite number of beautiful girls filled the glassed in staircase that looked as if it reached to heaven. All were smiling and singing as we waited to enter. Once inside, it was love at first sight. The girls. The house. For me, I knew this was home.♡ (continues below)
My takeaway from that first day of rush was that there were more beautiful girls than I’d ever seen in one location. I’m sure all the men on campus felt the same. They seemed to all be out on their front porches enjoying the scenery as we all walked by.
The week of rush seemed to rush by. I guess that’s why they call it rush. Each day I grew fonder of the women of Alpha Chi Omega. Especially Becky Pitts. She is the reason I fell in love with AXO. She was then and always will be very near and dear to my heart! ♡
When all was said and done I got the house of my choosing on Bid House Day! Alpha Chi Omega! I also got my best friend for life, a fellow pledge sister, that I immediately formed a life long bond with, Brenda Horowitz. Oh the memories we two share! Some best not to be repeated I’m sure! :)
Although I graduated in just three short years, I carry with me a wealth of memories. Of college. Of OSU. Of the School of Journalism. Of Diamond Dolls. Of friendships. But mainly of Alpha Chi Omega. Of a sisterhood for life. You see, I’m an only child. I was born with no real sisters. But God blessed me with an entire house full of them! In 1977 and still today. Women to laugh with and to cry with and push you to do and be more than you would ever be on your own. I love nothing more than the moments I get to share in person with my precious friend Brenda. Still today. She lives in Texas and I’m in Oklahoma, but we’re only a text apart on any given day. She still is there to offer me wisdom whenever I need it. She helps me be a better person. To reach the heights. She’s a true gem! A pearl.
There are many more precious pearls that complete my strand. Julie Pollock, my sorority mother, Robyn Miiller, her best friend and now sister-in-law, Jan Heerwsgen, my daughter, Christy Polson, and many many more.
I thank God for the gift of sisterhood through Alpha Chi Omega. Together let us seek the heights.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matthew 13:45-46)
Love and laughter,
Sandy
Sandy
Be sure to follow Sandy's daily blog at https://ihave3daughters.com/