Editor’s Note: This post was written by Marcy Laub, the President of Kappa Kappa Gamma and a junior in Adams House. This is the third post in a four-part series about sorority recruitment at Harvard.
Throughout my freshman year here at Harvard, I wasn’t quite sure where I fit. As I began the formal recruitment process, I felt the same way. Going through the rounds, I found that each chapter I spent time with had its own distinct personality. Even though I hadn’t entirely figured out who I was, from the first time I met the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma on Go Greek night, I knew exactly where I belonged. And ever since tearing open my bid – my invitation to join the incredible, lifelong sisterhood of Kappa Kappa Gamma – and running into my new sisters’ open arms, Kappa has helped to shape me into the woman I “Aspire to Be,” true to our motto. For our members, Eta Theta chapter is truly a home, a place of unconditional understanding and comfort, and a community of endless support and inspiration.
I have heard many of my sisters express that they would have never previously considered themselves “Greek.” But the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma are so much more than that stereotypical (and, frankly, incorrect) notion of a sorority girl. We are campus leaders, innovators, founders of the wildly successful Harvard College Dance Marathon. We are dedicated athletes, captains and members of the Ivy League Champion Harvard Women’s Volleyball team. We are passionate Mission Hill volunteers, Strong Women Strong Girls mentors, and Habitat for Humanity board members. As a whole, we serve this community in a variety of ways that provide rich experience of Harvard, Cambridge and Boston. With our national philanthropic partner, Reading is Fundamental, my sisters spend days reading to and crafting with local children, fundraising and hand-delivering books to those who might not have any, all with the goal of instilling a lifelong love of reading. It is through experiences like this with the women of Kappa that I have seen their love of life, their compassion, their kindness, and their sincerity.
It is these shared qualities and the promise that any and all time we share is the time of our lives that bring us together. Formals, dinners, and outings are, of course, unforgettable and are the highlights of my time at Harvard. But it is the simpler, everyday moments with my sisters that I will cherish and that make me the happiest; Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded 145 years ago upon this very hope. The moments where you can just be yourself, be just a little too weird, eat just a little too much pizza, get just a little too into that episode of Criminal Minds, which are all perfectly normal in the coziness of the Kappa Space, remind us of the unwavering love we share. The moments of needs answered and generosity offered, emergency snacks delivered to Lamont, shoulders to cry on and ears lent, remind us of the loyalty that bonds us. Kappa represents to its members truth, sincerity and constancy. Eta Theta sisters are true, down-to-earth, and understanding of what really matters at the end of the day. They are sincere and you can always be sure of their friendship. Finally, they are constant, acting as rocks for their sisters and a home away from home at Harvard and beyond.
I cannot recommend recruitment highly enough. Those few days alone were incredibly fun and exciting, and recruitment is only the beginning! I could have never expected all that would come of it, and now when I think of Harvard, my sorority is key. The ladies of Kappa Kappa Gamma hope to see you this February!