power of pursuit | Kelsey Wimsatt

Hi this is Kelsey Wimsatt from PC’ 21! And I'm gonna talk about being all in for chi o! Chi Omega has been one of the biggest blessings of college, I have found my best friends and people that I consider family. However, those sisters and friends that I hold so dear to me now did not come to me as soon as I went Chi Omega. It was after months of pouring into and pursuing one another have I found those people that I am so close to. As I sit here reminiscing on recruitment, I remember how scared I was to become a part of Chi Omega. Chi Omega was the sorority that I had always dreamed of and wanted. My recruitment experience made Chi Omega an easy “yes”. But it was after the glitter, the huge bid day shirt, and cardinal/straw face paint when I was feeling a bit of imposter syndrome. I was feeling that I had not earned the friendships and sisterhood that Chi Omega so easily brought me. I continuously questioned how I made it into this place with so many cool girls that all seemed way cooler than me. My freshman self was feeling homesick, nervous, and, honestly, scared. With all of the new friendships and excitement that freshman year offered, I was still feeling like I hadn’t found those true friends yet. I hadn’t found those true friends that knew me and accepted me for me. And I was nervous that everyone in Chi O was too cool for me or too awesome to want to be my friend. It wasn’t until later in my first semester that I had finally started feeling at home. Those feelings of imposter syndrome all changed for me right before initiation. Our “Mama Hoot”, Caroline Coleman, wrote a letter to PC’ 21 right before initiation. In that letter she listed out the unique qualities of PC’21 IN EVERY SINGLE GIRL. In those moments I realized that I wasn’t a part of sorority that didn’t know me, I was just afraid to pursue those friendships from Chi O. I thought to myself that if Caroline Colmen, one of the coolest people I know, can encourage me and know my heart so well after a few weeks; why was I fearful of friendships with my sisters? I stopped questioning the opportunity of lifelong friendships that Chi O gave me and started making those friends that I now would consider the best people I know. It was because of Caroline’s encouragement that I made some of my best friends in Chi O. Now, as an almost junior in college, I can say that I have made the best and most Christ-like friends I can ask for. I hope that from this story that the girl that will go through recruitment will remember that: YOU WILL END UP WHERE YOU BELONG. Do not let those fears of not fitting in and comparison control you. Be yourself, because the people that are meant to be your best friends will accept you and love you. My story of finding my friends in Chi O didn’t happen on the day of bid day, it took time, putting in effort to my friendships, being intentional, and not being afraid to be fully myself. Chi O is one of the best places I know and I am glad that I finally was all in for it.

fellowship in chi o | Abby Jayne Spades

 Hi! I’m Abby Jayne Spades and I am so blessed to be part of Chi O’s PC’22 at Samford!  I wanted to talk a little about what Chi Omega means to me and how impactful it has been on my life.  When I was going through recruitment, I had arrived at Samford not really knowing anyone, so I knew I would be building my family here from scratch.  I knew Chi Omega was the sisterhood for me after seeing the amount of true fellowship planted here.  The Zeta Zeta chapter is full of absolutely incredible women that are not only pushing themselves to be better every day, but also encouraging and uplifting each other in ways I had never seen before.  True acts of service and love, from throwing a party and celebrating a sister who is releasing a new song, to sitting at a table with you in the lib while you bawl your eyes out because, even though a boy ripped your heart out and stomped on it, you still have a 5 page essay due at midnight.  Looking back on my freshman year, Chi O has taught me so much about how to love others and love them well.  I remember being nervous when I first came to Birmingham because I would be far from some of my closest friends and comfort people, and would need to cultivate new relationships like that here.  On bid day, looking around at my pledge class and chapter and seeing all these incredible girls that I had never met before, assured me I had not only found comfort people here, but that it was going to be such a blessing to walk through these next four years with them. These women are all so amazing and beautiful in every way! They truly push you to want to be the best version of yourself, and will be your biggest cheerleaders every step of the way!

I have also seen how this sisterhood continues even after college.  My mom was a Chi Omega, so I grew up watching so many of her friendships continue even 25 years after graduation.  Some of the most impactful women in my life were my moms sisters, pledge trainers, and supervisors, and they all have continued to embody everything that Chi Omega means in serving others and growing together in a genuine, real, and loving community.  They are true examples of how Chi O isn’t a club or an extracurricular, but a real sisterhood where women both push and are pushed to better themselves and those around them, as well as serve others to the best of their ability!  Needless to say, these girls that I’ve known for less than a year have already been some of the most impactful people in my life, and I am so grateful and proud to know them!

a true joy | Jadyn Fenton

Hi friends! My name is Jadyn and if we’ve ever met, odds are I’ve bragged to you about my amazing mom, Amy. She is simply the best. And one of my favorite things is that we get to share Chi Omega. One of my happiest college memories was running to see her on bid day and seeing her “Chi O Mom” pin. We laughed, hugged, and cried the happiest tears. Being a Zeta Zeta alum herself, I now get to live in the same house my mom lived in when she was in college. I get to experience the same rituals and traditions that she experienced. It is the cherry on top of our friendship, a true joy.

Amy Fenton is a force to be reckoned with in the best way. To be loved by her is to be fiercely protected, loyally defended, and forever comforted and cherished. She loves courageously. For reference, her high school superlative was “friendliest” and it could not ring truer. Not only has she overcome any and every challenge that comes her way, but she does it with the joy of the Lord.

Perhaps my favorite thing about my mom is her joy. She has always instilled in me that joy is a choice. It is not dependent on circumstance. It can not be swayed by hardship or failure. Amy Fenton lives out what she preaches. Her joy is abundant and infectious. And it is because it comes from a well that never runs dry. My mom lives a life clearly rooted in the love of Jesus. She reflects His love in every area of her life. She is a living breathing testament of His rich faithfulness and goodness to me. 

Chi Omega Zeta Zeta has shown me that not only do I get to have a wonderful mother-daughter relationship with my mom, but I get to call her a friend and now a sister. In fact, I can confidently say that she is my best friend. When I have a reason to celebrate, she is the first one to know. When I have a hard day, she is who I want to talk to. Being at college two and a half hours away from home has made me miss her more than anything else. But it also has given me eyes to see how lucky I am. There is no better feeling than the anticipation of a visit from mom. The joy of seeing her and hugging her and being with my best friend again is like no other. A true joy. 

my better half | Joy Nason

Hi I’m Joy! I’m not really one to write a blog post but if there is something I could talk about all day long it’s Genevieve. So here I am. And if you know me you probably have already heard me talk about Genevieve. She’s my best friend and I could talk about her the rest of my days. It’s funny to me that we have only been friends for a fraction of my life because she was a fast friend, a true friend, and a forever friend. I wish I could tell you a cool story about how we became friends, but I would be lying to you if I did. We definitely met on the Samford 2024 Instagram account. It’s true. We both needed a roommate and it just made sense. We messaged on instagram for a little but quickly began to write each other letters to get to know each other from afar. We met for the first time on freshman move in day as we set up our dorm room. That room would come to hold lots of card games, peanut butter sandwiches, handstands, and a mega bed that took up the whole room. I never really understood upperclassmen being nostalgic about their room in Vail until I spent time with Gen in Vail 114. Gen was my freshman year roommate turned every year roommate. And geez, I wouldn’t want it any other way!!

Time with Gen is lifegiving and rejuvenating. Not always because of the conversations we have but because of the presence she brings. Many of my favorite moments with Gen are very simple. They are laying in the grass on a sunny day, sitting at Seeds for hours reading, and making the same dinner of broccoli, sweet potatoes, and brown rice over and over and over again. If you come over to our house odds are that’s what you’re eating. While time with Gen is simple, time with Gen is also fun. We truly do have so much fun together. It looks like stargazing and finding the big dipper on our glow in the dark stars in our bedroom. It looks like driving across the country together listening to the same song over and over again if I'm on aux (and she lets me play it over and over! She’s just the best!) It’s making breakfast together and driving to the beach for the day. It's sitting in the park and eating burritos together. It’s camping in the middle of nowhere and forgetting to shower for way too long because we are simply just having fun and didn’t even think about it. Life with her feels like a sunny day with chips and guac, but also a rainy day drinking tea. Really just whatever it needs to be for that time.

Equally as it’s fun, it’s life giving. Gen has a way of bringing depth to every conversation. She does this in a way that is very grounding while also leaving space. She allows you to be exactly who you are and where you are while also leaving you room to grow and change. Time with Gen is refreshing and reminds me of who I am and who I want to be. She allows the spirit to be woven into all conversations and it is a blessing to bear witness to.

My friendship with gen is a sweet gift from the Lord. She teaches me daily about his character in the way she lives her life. Genevieve teaches me what grace looks like in a very tangible way. Her friendship is a gift! She is my favorite hug and simply the best that I know. I truly adore her more every day and never want to know a life without her by my side.

a purpose filled philanthropy| Deena Wilcox

I have never met a group of girls who are more enthusiastic about giving their time and resources to others than the girls of Chi Omega Zeta Zeta. 

When going through recruitment I was searching for a group of girls I could get excited with, a group of girls who I could work with for the betterment of other people’s lives. Chi Omega rang true of this and continues to do so. 

Chi Omega’s partnership with Make-A-Wish is nationwide, but Zeta Zeta brings it to home. We have the wonderful opportunity to work closely with Make-A-Wish Alabama that is stationed right down the road. Even more than that, our girls bring Make-A-Wish to their friends on campus. 

Last year, getting involved in our philanthropy events was my first time getting plugged into Chi Omega. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with such amazing girls in order to serve those who lived in suffering or the unknown. During Swishes 2021, I was asked to be a leader of the “Hype Tent.” To say I was shocked to be asked into this position was an understatement! I had never been the overly hype or loud type of person. I took the role and ran with it. Before I knew it, I was on the quad calling out my friends and encouraging them to donate or play in the tournament. The day of the tournament I was dancing outside of Seibert with paint on my legs and the biggest (masked up) smile on my face. Swishes truly gave me the chance to see a new side of myself: a side that was outgoing, not afraid to be the first to say hello, or be a tad bit loud in order to get others excited!

Over the next year, I became more confident in myself and who I wanted to be. I came to realize gifts the Lord had given me and how to use them in order to impact those around me. I was a much more confident and assured person going into Swishes 2022, which would soon be the most hectic and best week of my life! I have never played basketball nor made a bracket, so I thought it was a little ironic that I was Chair of an event that heavily revolved around both. Throughout my time planning and then hosting Swishes I was supported and led by the most amazing women. I was so encouraged by the excitement of Chi Omega Zeta Zeta to help each other and to support Make-A-Wish. Through hours of work in the recruitment closet, to hauling supplies around campus, these girls were so willing to work together for a greater purpose. The week of the event was a whirlwind. Tabeling, brackets, tshirt, signs, teams, fundraising, food, booking courts, and everything in between was made possible by the hardworking and determined girls of Zeta Zeta. 

why I chose chi o| Ella Hill

It’s the People 

“Why did you choose Chi O?”

- It’s the people. 

The first time I walked into the Chi Omega house, I wasn’t part of another batch of girls they were expecting for recruitment that day, I was valued and cared for. Ella Walker asked me how I was really doing as a new freshman who was eager to discover, yet overwhelmed from all of the sudden change. Genevieve Waller reminded me that no matter the Greek letters I chose, our friendship would remain steadfast. I left talking with Caroline Coleman feeling like I had just caught up with an old friend, sharing our silliest habits and our deepest passions. Natalie Meyers ignited a spark in me to want to see more of the raw beauty of people, earth, art, and our Creator. Autumn Turner showed me the simplicity of caring, and allowed us to laugh gladly and to love deeply. Lauren Bell represented grace, strength, and pride for an organization that is nothing short of uplifting. I was privileged to see how these women used their gifts of creativity, speaking, and encouragement to authentically generate an environment that was the farthest thing from a production- it was all real. 

I was captivated, empowered, and inspired. 

It's the people. 

Looking back, I was only scratching the surface. The Lord is abounding in love, and His blessings haven’t stopped. Maddie Hixson is now my small group leader who keeps me accountable and speaks spirit-led truth into my soul every week. Sometimes I truly forget that Joy Nason is my “big” because she’s become my best friend. Mary Grace Rowell has become someone I trust deeply and a companion to watch Disney Plus with. Claire Phegley sits with me on Ben Brown when the weather is just right. Jordan Morris greets me everyday with a gentle smile and pure contentment. Sophie McCroy is the best pickleball partner. I not only admire Jessie Monk’s talents to paint banners and make stickers to celebrate our sorority, but also her gentle spirit and beaming kindness- roommates to sisters. My pledge class values our “family dinners” and reminds me of all things good and fun. I’m truly honored to know every single one of them, and there’s many more where that came from! 

Chi Omega’s beloved symphony notes: 

“... character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than ‘exclusive’,  and lovable rather than popular…” 

These are only a handful of the attributes that make up all of my sisters in Chi Omega, and I can confidently say that they embody these qualities to the utmost extent. It has always been and always will be the humans of Zeta Zeta who made my decision to go Chi O so clear. I adored them then, and I adore them now. 

It’s the people. 

why I chose chi o| Abigail McCall

Why I chose Chi O. A question that can be answered with a few sweet paragraphs about Chi O and what it means to me, but in Abigail fashion, here is an embarrassing story that makes me cringe a little bit inside every time I tell it.

If you have ever met me, you know that I live for being known as the silly, goofy friend. During recruitment, I really tried to tie up my hot mess self with a nice little bow to hide the fact that I just ran across campus in my slippers with chocolate stains all down my dress (on pref night of all nights). As soon as I walked through the door for the last time that week, I was scooped up by a dear camp friend, and all my nerves began to settle. I knew this next hour would be good when I felt myself begin to slouch in the chair; I was comfortable here. Chi O was my second house of the night, but it had been two hours since my other house. To some people, that may sound nice, but for me, that meant two hours of my heart racing, my palms profusely sweating, and me questioning my entire existence. Okay, that's dramatic, but it still wasn't a pleasant experience. 

Pref Night is the night everyone pulls out all the big guns. There were little white tables spread across the chapter room topped with small vases filled with flowers. It was pretty darn cute, I have to admit. I had noticed them when I first walked in, but honestly, my mind was a little preoccupied, and I had forgotten they were there. During my time in the house, my conversations flowed with ease. The genuine want to be there and never leave came naturally. 

Some people would say that talking to the girls is the scariest part of recruitment, but I beg to differ. I have to say the most terrifying thing about recruitment is getting out of the house. One second you are having a deep conversation with a stranger about your life, and then the next, you are being trampled out the door like you are a middle school boy racing to the water fountain after PE. In all of the chaos of getting out of the door, I had completely forgotten about the small table in front of me, and before I knew it, I tripped and the table was flipping over, causing the vase to launch across the room. Of course, I go into pure panic. I mean, they had just read to us how Chi O's are supposed to be "womanly always", and here I am making a mess of things. 

Despite my embarrassment, I was met with help and grace. And not only that but I was met with laughter. The kind of laughter that makes you want to pee your pants. And as I ran out of the house that night I knew that Chi Omega is where I was meant to be. Chi Omega was a place where I didn't have to hide my hot mess self, but instead, I was loved for it and encouraged to embrace it. 

And now, when we sit in those white chairs every Sunday night for chapter, I am reminded that I don't have to sit up straight and slap on a huge smile; that it's okay to slouch. It's okay to trip over tables. It's okay to wear your slippers and have stains on your clothes.  Here at Chi Omega you are met with a type of love that can’t be described in words, but the kind of love I pray you find everyday in this sisterhood. 

what the symphony means to me | Faith Jones

Woohoo blog posts!

I've never done anything like this so bear with me. This is so fun though. I’m really excited to take over this role, so thank you Chi Omega Zeta Zeta for the opportunity!

I’ve had the Chi O symphony on my heart ever since recruitment in the fall. There is a sweet moment one night where a few sophomores stand and recite their given line of the our symphony. Until this moment, I had always viewed our symphony as another thing to memorize; however, as I saw members of my very own pledge class, the people I have grown to know and love stand up to represent the varying lines, I began to truly understand and carry the significance of its weight. I find myself relying on definitions to truly feel the density of words, even when it feels like I know the word so familiarly. So more for my own sake, let’s break this down. The definition of a symphony is an elaborate musical composition. Another definition of a symphony is something regarded, typically favorably, as a composition of different elements. A composition is defined as the way in which a whole or a mixture is made up. 

Every single line of our symphony eloquently describes both what each of us strive to become, but also celebrates those who actively achieve the description. Each line is melodic and lovely. Oh, but the ending line. It reads: “to have her welfare ever at heart that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note.” 

I feel as if there is this natural emphasis within Zeta Zeta on “to have her welfare ever at heart.” There is an expectation, but also a desire, to hold each other well. Whether one’s welfare means her happiness, friendship, story, security, vulnerability, community, or any other thing that constitutes a person, we promise and declare to hold it well. To hold the things that make her her ever at heart. 

Why do we promise to hold her welfare ever at heart? The next part of this line answers just that. Chi Omega holds our sisters so “that she may be a symphony… in which there is no discordant note.” We do this for the very purpose that the other may be the most harmonious version of herself. 

This is profoundly beautiful when you consider the definition of a symphony and our chapter. The composition of our symphony is an array of descriptive lines which act as components of a whole, unified work of music. We, those in Chi Omega, are these lines. In the most individual sense as well as a whole. We desire to embody these descriptions so that in our very being we may be a symphony as well as our chapter and national fraternity. 

So what the symphony means to me is rest in Chi Omega. I can rest in this promise. I can rest in the knowledge that my sisters will hold me well. I can rest in the fact that I am viewed as an individual note which helps to make up the whole, euphonic symphony. 

thanks for reading!!