Over 1700 young women participated in the University of Alabama's Sorority Rush this past week. It was the largest sorority rush in history. Alabama has so many fantastic sororities with hundreds of outstanding ladies. Our daughter, Shanley Belle, was one of the participants. After a week of many emotional highs and lows for the girls, they received their bid invitations in Bryant Denny Stadium and then rushed to their new home away from home to meet their new sisters.
Shanley Belle pledged:
Thanks to all of you ladies who took the time to write recs for Shanley, especially Tina and Lauren!
I want to especially thank my Zeta sisters: Suzy, Leah Ann, and Jill. Y'all helped me survive the week! I also appreciate my friends Elaine, Dawn, Ellen, Barbara, Terri, Christine, and Bonnie. Thanks for your sweet calls, emails, and words of encouragement for Shanley Belle.
Kim Milling, you are a godsend. More kudos for you later!
A very special thanks to Lauren, the cutest Delta Zeta on the planet! We love Lauren's blog :D
Sometimes I wonder about the logic of sending your daughter away to school for the first time, and the very first week she is gone, you allow her to participate in a system that either rejects or accepts her. After all, the girls are sent to college for an education. But in the end, it is worth it because my Zeta sisters still mean the world to me.
Plus, there *is* this video that has gone viral....
Although I am hoping these ladies are not music and theater majors, this video's intended purpose is to get the PNM's excited about rush. I think the harsh critical reviews and illogical anger over the video is....interesting. Unfortunately so many people lack a sense of humor, or are anti-Greek for whatever reason (ahem, Huffington Post).
But in the end, our daughter, who is a smart young lady with close to 33 college credit hours as an incoming freshman, is happy.
Just look at the smile on her face! Shanley has found her home for the next four years.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Shanley and her pledge sisters hurry to their sorority house
Shanley's sorority awaits the arrival of their new pledges
Shanley Belle pledged:
Delta Zeta!
Shanley had two friends from the Alabama School of Fine Arts rushing, but they each pledged different sororities. She was so happy that her friend, Grace Friday (Mountain Brook HS graduate) pledged Delta Zeta with her. Grace was one of Shanley's roommates at the Capstone Summer Honors Program last summer. They had a great time participating in the program, and when the program ended, they took a trip together with their other roommate, Jessie Knight, to Lake Martin, and then to Jessie's hometown, Ponte Vedra, Florida and Universal Studios Orlando. Jessie pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma. Jessie and Grace are two outstanding young women!
Grace and Shanley
Thanks to all of you ladies who took the time to write recs for Shanley, especially Tina and Lauren!
I want to especially thank my Zeta sisters: Suzy, Leah Ann, and Jill. Y'all helped me survive the week! I also appreciate my friends Elaine, Dawn, Ellen, Barbara, Terri, Christine, and Bonnie. Thanks for your sweet calls, emails, and words of encouragement for Shanley Belle.
Kim Milling, you are a godsend. More kudos for you later!
A very special thanks to Lauren, the cutest Delta Zeta on the planet! We love Lauren's blog :D
Sometimes I wonder about the logic of sending your daughter away to school for the first time, and the very first week she is gone, you allow her to participate in a system that either rejects or accepts her. After all, the girls are sent to college for an education. But in the end, it is worth it because my Zeta sisters still mean the world to me.
Plus, there *is* this video that has gone viral....
Although I am hoping these ladies are not music and theater majors, this video's intended purpose is to get the PNM's excited about rush. I think the harsh critical reviews and illogical anger over the video is....interesting. Unfortunately so many people lack a sense of humor, or are anti-Greek for whatever reason (ahem, Huffington Post).
But in the end, our daughter, who is a smart young lady with close to 33 college credit hours as an incoming freshman, is happy.
Shanley Belle is now a "baby turtle" :D
Just look at the smile on her face! Shanley has found her home for the next four years.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Yeah!! I am so glad for her and for you that it is over. She looks lovely. I wish all the best for her. She will make lifelong friends like you said and take part in a wonderful tradition.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how the time flies. she is a beautiful young lady and I know will do so great!!
ReplyDeletePS I keep forgetting to tell you how much I love your header!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Congratulations to her! And best wishes for an amazing year!
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Pam
Hello Ricki! I was waiting for this post. I'm sure with a mom like you, all the teachings and trainings you gave Shanley, she will be at her best in the university.
ReplyDeleteShe looks so happy and so pretty. All grown up. Congratulations to Shanley, she will do great and I know how proud you must be! So happy to hear the good news.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Shanley! That smile says it all!
ReplyDeleteFun is fun. Of course it was not a professional quality video... it was meant for fun and to bring attention the the rush, which is just what it did. Let people laugh and criticize.... it's just the way things are on YouTube and the chance we all take when posting videos there.
ReplyDeleteHooray for Shanley. She is happy and beautiful and talented. You did good, Ricki Jill!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Big congrats to Shanley Belle! She certainly looks happy.
ReplyDeleteAh, the college years. Always remembered. :))
ReplyDeleteAll those pretty young girls with their lives ahead of them. What an adventure. Audrey, my oldest, has such a different journey it seems like. She spends so much time at the hospital doing clinicals and not very much time on campus. She starts again on Thurs. She is getting ready to start her psych rotations. Fun stuff!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your lovely Shanley Belle, her smile says it all. I'm so pleased for you too, I know what a stressful week you've had. ROLL TIDE!!!!
ReplyDelete~Emily
The French Hutch
Congrats to your new baby turtle so happy for you both
ReplyDeletexxoo
Pam
Congratulations to Shanley! She is a lovely young woman. I wish her much happiness at Bama...(you know, that wasn't too hard to write!)
ReplyDeleteBeing a part of the Greek community is wonderful! Being in a national sorority helped me with the transitions of changing universities...and it even helped when I visited other universities (Auburn!)...instant connections!
An interesting post, I may still not understand how your university system works but I am a little clearer :)
ReplyDeleteLike LindyLou I don't understand how your University system works.I've read abour rush week & sororities in novels but really don't have a clue what they're all about!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't work that way in the UK.
The important thing is that Shanley Belle looks happy, you sound happy and that's all that matters.
Great information. I got lucky and found your site from a random Google search. Fortunately for me, this topic just happens to be something that I've been trying to find more info on for research purpose.
ReplyDelete