Hey y’all! My name is Sarah Catherine O’Connell. I’m from Nashville, Tennessee and am a rising sophomore. I’m also the co-chair (with my bestie MC Springs) of Campus Events for Tri Delt.

My #1 fear coming into college was no different than most people’s -- making friends. More specifically, I worried about finding friends who were going to embrace all parts of my personality. I vividly remember one of my older friends telling me they didn’t feel like they could be goofy/weird with their new college friends. They felt they could only share the most put together version of themselves. I know as I prepared for college and recruitment, I stressed about clothes, my dorm decor, and how I appeared on social media. It was all about how I presented myself on the outside. Yet, while I spent so much time and energy focusing on the external aspect, my biggest fear was that I would have a hard time finding the right people to know my true heart and full personality.

During the final round of recruitment, Tri Delt gave me the biggest blessing and exactly what I needed. They showed the deep relationships that are built within our sisterhood and also the totally goofy side. This wasn’t just a cheesy stunt for recruitment either. During Halloween in the fall, I showed up to an event with a lot of Tri Deltas and, behold, there were a ton of our bigs dressed as Despicable Me characters. No, not just as little Agnes with her unicorn, but Vector in the obnoxious orange jumpsuit (shoutout Ellis Turner), Dr. Nefario with the huge ears (shoutout Avery Luce), and Gru with jet black eyebrows and a massive pointy nose (shoutout Abi Stock). This chapter as a whole really embraces our motto “Bring You” - the silliest, most fun, broken, nerdy, and passionate version of themselves.

I have found comfort as I have joined other organizations on campus such as CUGA and Student Alumni Council that I can always find a Tri Delta sister within those organizations to serve as a mentor and role model. Tri Delta is more than just one of the organizations I’m involved in. This chapter has been a foundation, network, and support system across Clemson’s campus. I could not be more thankful for the role models Tri Delta has given me (Stewart Buxton, Liza Lowder, Porter Johnson), the relief I’ve felt being both nerdy, weird, and competitive, and the all around best friends I’ve been fortunate enough to make even in the craziness of this past year. No one is just one thing and no one should feel defined by one friend group, organization, or personality trait. For those going through recruitment and coming into college, look for people who make you feel known deeply and supported broadly -- I know I’ve found that in the people within Tri Delta.

Notable memories:

Waking everyone up at Kate Eagles beach house singing “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful”
Working at Camp Greystone all summer with Jennings Searcy
Playing cards with Gwyneth Millican
Last week of school hikes and a lakeside lunch with Francie Masaschi and MC Springs
Bid Day at the beach with Ryan Pierce and my froomie, Laurel Kunkel
Dancing as obnoxiously and as much as possible at Tri Delt formal
Jumping the lake off the rowing docks in February
Struggling through a semester of online honors macro with Kaki, MC, and Maggie
Giving blood with MC Springs…
Bringing out our competitive side coaching during Triple Play with Laura Gage

DLAM, Sarah Catherine