Written by: Claire Harvin, VP of Chapter Development

“There's something in these hills that has touched every one of them, something that has rubbed off on them in varying degrees, something that has built within the breasts of all Clemson men and women an enduring spark akin to an eternal pride.”

- Joe Sherman

When I began college, like most, I had heard time after time clichés including “these are the best four years of your life,” “these will be the fastest four years of your life” and “don’t blink.” Well class of 2018, looks like we all blinked.

It really feels like just yesterday I was going through recruitment, excited and anxious about what sorority I would join. I wanted to be like all of the older girls, and more importantly, find my own set of best friends. To say that PC 14 did that is an understatement. It didn’t take me very long to see just how remarkable a group of friends could be, and it didn’t take any effort on your part to show that, it just came through. The friendships in PC 14 cannot be paralleled; they aren’t forced, circumstantial or surface level. You found your lifelong friends, your bridesmaids, your own football team — and to me, that’s what Tri Delta is.

As you all just turned your rings, these past few weeks have been full of memories, reflecting, laughter, sadness and tears I’m sure, many nights at Loose Change and overall confusion about where the time went. You all did your time going through Schilleter’s buffet lines, late nights in Cooper (or Little Caesars), running between the halls of Manning, being locked out of the top of Norris, countless Orchard pool parties and nights up and down College Avenue.

The rest of your sorority has watched you grow and mature these past four years and has followed under the true leadership you put forward. We have looked up to you, laughed with you and made lasting memories with you — and then I, like many, had to watch all of you walk across the stage of Littlejohn last weekend.

Although I am not graduating, sitting in the audience of graduation and hearing the names of so many that have made such an impact on my college career really hit me. I think it is safe to say we will all miss your constant entertainment, spontaneous activities, weird costumes and you all arriving together in a pack.

PC 14, thank you for your leadership, friendship and memories. Saying that four years of college flies by is an understatement, and although we are all sad watching you move on to bigger and better things, how difficult it is to leave this place is such a testament to Clemson, Tri Delta and to how awesome all of you are.

PC 15 — we have one more year. And if there’s anything to take away from the girls above us, its to make it count. Thanks for being my own set of best, lifelong friends, and I don’t want to take another minute for granted.

And for the rest of Tri Delta, take the cliché “don’t blink” to heart. You have the best school, friends and times around you, and there’s a reason no one wants to leave.

Congratulations class of 2018, you are all so amazing, and we can’t wait to watch you conquer the world. Please come back and visit — my couch is always open!!! There is truly something in these hills, and I am so grateful to Clemson and to Tri Delta to have these opportunities and times that will make leaving so incredibly hard.