My Ultimate Why ADPi

My sister Claire & I have always been close, even though we have a 5-year age difference. She has always been my biggest mentor, and I have looked up to her for as long as I can remember. Claire always had the best older sister energy. Even though sometimes she would most definitelyput me in my place, I think all younger siblings need that at some moment in time. Regardless, we were always laughing and doing silly things behind our parent's backs, things sisters do growing up together. I wanted to be just like her.

As we grew older, Claire started college and it was the hardest goodbye, harder than anything I’d experienced before. While most siblings could say they were happy or glad their sibling left for college, all I could think was the exact opposite. I knew she had to go experience her dreams and all of her many inspirations in life. It was time to begin a new chapter, not only for her but for both of us.

I was in my last year of middle school at the time, as an eighth grader. Even though we were in totally different places in life, we stayed connected and updated each other through everything. My sister became an Alpha Delta Pi, and I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but this would soon after be a bond that we be impossible to break. I remember always hearing good things, and how she was so happy and even becoming involved in leadership positions. Eventually, Claire became the Beta Psi President. This was a huge accomplishment, and I was so proud of her, but I truly did not understand the significance until two short years later, when I was beginning college.

Time passed, and I became a freshman in college. I was starting at the University of Kentucky, registering for recruitment, going to all the freshman events, and getting ready to start my new chapter in life. I received my Gamma Chi group, and my Panhellenic shirts, and I felt so ready to experience this. I will never forget walking into that azure blue door on Open House, and that was the moment I fell in love with ADPi. I gave it my all to be open-minded and give every single chapter my undivided attention which I did, but I kept wanting to come back to ADPi each round. It kept feeling more and more like home to me. I kept the fact that my own sister was an ADPi in the back of my mind, and tried my hardest to not let it interfere with my opinions during recruitment. To this day, I am so thankful to Claire for allowing me to have such an authentic experience and truly making it my own. She didn’t sway me in any way, make any comments about any sororities or personal opinions, she didn’t talk about ADPi. Even though I knew she had such an amazing experience, she wanted to make sure I had the best time possible.

Recruitment came to a close and it eventually was Bid Day, the best and most nerve-wracking day of the year. When I saw the words “Alpha Delta Pi” on my bid card, I knew I was ready to run home. Claire surprised me and it truly was the best day. I felt at home, with my sister (now sisters x2) and my new Beta Psi girls. It was such an amazing feeling knowing I was standing next to my future best friends and women who would make such a huge impact on my life, just like Claire has.

I can say with full confidence while the process was a little different, navigating this experience still to this day has been one of my favorite things in the world. I cannot lie and say I didn’t have doubts. I was worried that I wouldn't be seen for myself and that I would never be able to top the legacy she left on so many of my now sisters. I worried and stressed until it hit me: I don't have to follow in anyone else's footsteps or try to replicate someone else's success. What makes me unique is what I bring to the table—my own strengths, my own ideas, and my own way of connecting with others, which ADPi constantly assured me of. The legacy she left is her own, and it’s an amazing one, but I have the opportunity to create my legacy, one that’s just as meaningful in its own way. Once I realized this, I stopped comparing myself and started embracing who I am and what I can contribute. That shift in perspective changed everything for me. I began to lead with confidence, trust in my decisions, and find joy in the journey, rather than stress over the destination.  

I forever will thank Claire for not only being the best older sister I could ever ask for, but also for paving the way for me to find my own path within Alpha Delta Pi. She showed me what it means to lead, to care deeply for others, and to be part of something bigger than myself. Through her, I learned the true meaning of sisterhood—a bond that transcends time and distance, a connection that supports you in every high and low.

I am still figuring out who I am and navigating my way through this chapter and life at the University of Kentucky. But one thing I know for certain is that Alpha Delta Pi is now a part of me—forever and ever. The bonds we've formed, the values we uphold, and the experiences we share have shaped me in ways I couldn't have imagined. We truly live for each other, supporting and lifting each other up through every challenge and triumph. It's this sisterhood that gives me strength and reminds me that I'm never alone on this journey.

In the end, it's not about living up to someone else's legacy, but about creating your own. It's about living for each other, lifting each other up, and making a difference in the lives of those around you. That’s what Alpha Delta Pi has taught me, and that’s what I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. So, thank you, Claire, and thank you to all my sisters, for being a part of this incredible journey with me. I am forever grateful, and I am forever an Alpha Delta Pi.

Pi Love & All of Mine,

Ava Dzan, AC ‘23