“Being in a sorority doesn’t change who you are, it rather helps you enhance what makes you different, in order to use it to serve others.”
Orelí is beautiful, in the whole sense of the word. Like few people I know, she captivates you from the moment you exchange words with her. This 22-year old stuns in more than one way: it is not just about her hypnotizing green eyes, her wide smile, and her perfectly pronounced cheekbones, but rather the way she makes you feel. It will only take you a few minutes to warm up to her charming self. A double major in Political Science and Economics, she is very bright but never snobbish. On the contrary, she is grounded, but her head invites you to make you fly with her to a place where the world is seen with optimisms and even a bit of humor.
She pledged Eta Gamma Delta in January 2012. Being a legacy, her family members, especially her aunt, awoke in her the desire to join the sorority. There are many prejudices that come from being a part of the Greek World, yet she chose to overlook all of the stereotypes and focus on everything she had to give to the sorority. As for now, she is the president of the Beta chapter, which is very active within campus. Glam social life aside, ‘La Eta’ is well known for their civic activities, which scope diverse causes close to the hearts of its sisters, from cancer patients to abused animals.
If she had to sum in three words what being a part of this institution has brought her, it would be perspective, inspiration and a feeling of belonging. The diversity she has encountered has helped her understand the importance of being courteous, tolerant and respectful, and to see people for what really matters, who they are, and what they are willing to give of themselves to make the world a bit better.
“You learn to share, to see the world as it is, full of tragedy, but also full of people willing to use their tragedies to help it become a better place.”
Orelí at Ecuador providing medical assitance with MedLife
Throughout her undergraduate career, she has had many rewarding experiences outside the sorority that have shaped her path as well. She was part of the UPRM General Student Council during her third year, and last year she went to Argentina as an exchange student. To say the least, she fell in love with its stunning scenery and rich culture. But beyond that, as a Poli Sci and Economics student, being in a country that is recovering from a historical economical crisis was enriching. What fascinated her the most was the optimism of its people despite their delicate situation.
“It is not much more different than here (Puerto Rico) in many aspects. You don’t realize something is happening around you until you go somewhere else and see it happening, and then understand that is exactly what is going on right under your nose.” she accounts, regarding the popular misconception that in Puerto Rico, unlike the rest of Latin America, there is no poverty or people in need. “We all know a few dozen homeless people here in Mayagüez that have become part of our daily lives, yet it seems like we need to go somewhere else to feel the shock and do something about it,” she points out.
And she does; in a world filled with indifference and insensitivity, the ex ballet dancer works hard every day to make a difference. In 2014 she traveled to Ecuador to provide medical services to disadvantaged communities as part of the MedLife association. Orelí graduates next May, fully formed into a woman bursting with determination, compassion, and a heart willing to serve both through her civics and through her vocation for politics and the public sector. Wherever she is, wherever she goes, she brings in a light that shines bright.