Panhellenic Love Around the world

I’m sitting on the couch in my family home, nestled in the town where I took my first steps and faced my earliest milestones. It’s where my parents beamed proudly as they sent me off to kindergarten, and where I cried over my first heartbreak, convinced it was the deepest pain imaginable. This home has witnessed my greatest triumphs as well- learning to drive, the excitement of earning my license, and the fleeting sense of freedom that came with it. When I waved goodbye to this home, and the familiar faces within its walls, I promised myself to discover as much as the world and the people that walked it.

That promise began to unfold with college. Moving away to a new state filled with unfamiliar faces was daunting at first. Yet, with each passing day, those unknown faces gradually became familiar. I found that surrounding myself with uncertainty was exhilarating, and allowed me to thrive in ways I had never imagined before.

Driven by this urge to explore, I signed up for primary recruitment. At times, I stood in line with girls I didn’t know, some of whom would become sorority sisters, and all of whom became my Panhellenic sisters. Joining a sorority meant more than finding a home on bid day; it created a community that made campus feel smaller and provided a sense of comfort similar to that of my childhood home.

I’ve crossed paths with countless Panhellenic sisters proudly displaying their letters, and I’ve sat among many more—some familiar, others not yet met. I’ve also cheered for so many of these same sisters at Greek Sing, united in our shared mission to make wishes come true. Little did I know that the women I stood next to in line, passed on the way to class, or cheered for at Greek Sing would soon be my friends on adventures far beyond the Bluegrass. Knowledge, travel, and a shared desire to explore the unfamiliar would soon bind us together.

I remember submitting my application for study abroad, wondering who would be joining me on this adventure. When our professor brought our group together, I was thrilled to find a girl I knew from another sorority and an older ADPi sister I was eager to know better. The three of us met over coffee and planned our travel itinerary, unaware that more friendships awaited us.

Less than two hours after arriving in Florence, our group of three had grown into a group of eight. Despite our diverse campus involvements and sorority affiliations, we quickly discovered that we had far more in common than we would’ve ever known just by passing each other on campus. As we explored Italy’s beauty, our bonds deepened. There is something about traveling, trying new things, and learning that strengthens connections so quickly. I’ve always known how special the Panhellenic community is and the friendships that can come from it—and this experience proved just that!

Now, as I sit here, I cherish the beauty of meeting new people every day—whether it’s saying hi on the way to class, joining a new campus club, or striking up a conversation with a stranger. These seemingly ordinary moments often lead to extraordinary connections. It’s a reminder of how enriching life can be when we open ourselves to new experiences and connections with those around us.

Mary Kate Miesner, AC ‘22