Written by: Asia Paguntalan

As I sat inside the loud Tillman auditorium, the small white envelope in my hand shook as I tried to contain my nervous excitement. As the Pi Chis around the room counted down, my heart pounded deep inside my chest. When their voices reached 1, I tore open the binding and pulled the thick sheet from inside. My eyes watered with happiness as I read the curly font on my bid: “The Beta Theta Chapter of Delta Delta Delta Fraternity invites Asia Paguntalan…” The rest of the wording was lost on me as I leapt into the air and let my voice join the chorus of cheers erupting all around me.

Moments later, I found myself sprinting down Bowman field, hand-in-hand with the group of girls I would now call my sisters. As we collided full force into the throng of cheering delta-clad women below, the joy I had felt inside that auditorium just moments earlier glittered in the eyes and smiles of every single Tri Delta that surrounded me.

It has now been almost a year since I opened my bid and ran home to my sisters, but I still feel just as excited about Tri Delta as I did on bid day. Going through recruitment, I loved that every sister I met in Tri Delta was so genuine, confident, and down to earth. Even now, one of my favorite things about Tri Delta is how we all have such unique interests and personalities. I truly believe that our individuality contributes to our sisterhood. We support each other in our pursuits and celebrate each others’ interests. One amazingly important thing that Tri Delta has taught me so far is that it takes so much more than a set of letters to turn friends into sisters, and I’m proud to say my sisters are women who are not only dedicated to each other, but also to providing a community built on trust and accountability. From the very start, everyone I met in Tri Delta was genuinely eager to reach out and get involved.

My time in Tri Delta this past year has provided me with some of the most incredible experiences – surprise crush parties, Greek dance competitions, and of course visiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis. I can truly say that Clemson Tri Delta has given me incredible life-long friends whose beauty goes far beyond surface level. I couldn’t imagine a freshman year without Tri Delta, and I can’t wait for all the memories we still have to make! Go Tigers and go Tri Delta!!