Photo Essay

Sydney Hoback

WRD 110

Professor Hudgens

12 October 2015

Photo Essay

I have always been interested in Greek life, but never really knew a lot about it. I have heard many mixed things about Greek life, such as we are just “paying for our friends and parties,” but once I got to UK, I realized there is so much more to Greek life than I thought. The following paper will inform you more on the chapter that I am involved with, and the reasons that I chose to be in a sorority. 

The picture above was when the fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, hosted their philanthropy event, Volleyball in the Bluegrass. Many might not know, but philanthropy events are a big fundraiser that each chapter host to raise money for their own philanthropy, or charity. At this event, each sorority and fraternity created a volleyball team to play in a tournament. Each team had to pay a certain amount of money to participate, and if you weren't on a team, you were able and encouraged to buy a ticket to cheer on your friends. All the money that came from making a team or from buying a ticket went to Delta Sigma Phi’s philanthropy, which is Red Cross. Walking around the event, and running into so many people that you know makes it so much fun, and makes people want to go to other chapter’s philanthropy events. These events are a great way to raise awareness and money for all the different charities.

          The next picture I took is a picture of the house of the sorority that I’m in, Delta Gamma. Delta Gamma at the University of Kentucky was created in 1968, and that was when this house was built. Around the side of the house, there is a big white anchor that sits in our lawn since the anchor is our chapter’s symbol. The anchor was also placed in the lawn in 1968, and is still there today. Other than community work, the Delta Gamma chapter focuses on friendship, leadership and grades, and I thought those were all great qualities that I was looking for. 

                                                      

Chapters don’t just stick to one philanthropy event, we are involved in many charity events here in the Lexington community. The picture from above is from an organization called Miracle League. Miracle League is an organization where special-needs kids come to play a game of baseball and have the time of their lives. In order for this to happen, volunteers, or “Buddies,” are needed to hang out with the kids and adults with special-needs and help them hit a ball, run the bases, or even just give them moral support. Personally, I have been volunteering at Miracle League in my hometown for the pasts seven years, and when I got to Lexington, I was thrilled to hear there was a field here that I am able to volunteer at with my sisters. Community service with your sisters is such a great and fun way to get involved, and it pushes more people to volunteer if there’s a big group of girls together. The charity that Delta Gamma partakes in world wide is called Service for Sight. Here at UK, we have two philanthropy events that raise money for Service for Sight called Anchor Splash and Anchor Slam. Each girl in Delta Gamma raised money for this event through out Lexington, and I love seeing our community here come together to support these charities. 

In a news paper from Birmingham, Alabama, there is an article that talks about Miracle League and how it started. Back in 1995, a man named Phillip Deason was approached by a mother who has a child with down syndrome, and she said that all he wanted to do was play baseball. Deason then came up with a bright idea to create a special needs accessible baseball field. The field they created was made of rubber so kids and adults in wheelchairs were able to play. Deason stated, “Those kids and adults love to put on a uniform and run out in the sun and play. You ever have a bad day when you’re at the Miracle League.” The mother of the child with down syndrome said it was life changing being able to see his son run around the baseball field and having the time of his life. Reasons like this are why I think giving back and charity work are so crucial. Miracle League is such an unforgettable experience and I am thrilled that I am now able to share this experience here in Lexington with my best friends (Roberts 7A).

I read an article written by Katie Newman, who was a Delta Gamma at the University of Tennessee in 2001. The article is about how Delta Gamma changed her life. Newman said that going into college, she never really thought about pledging a sorority but last minute she decided to since most of her friends were. The article describes how Newman went from a shy senior in high school to the president of her sorority. Throughout her years at UT and in Delta Gamma, Newman learned a lot of leadership skills, a lot of communication skills and a lot of life lessons that will be very beneficial to her throughout the rest of her life. She describes how he networking that you receive being in a sorority is a huge help for the rest of your life, however the friendships that someone will make being in a sorority, is the best benefit of it all. Newman states, “Joining Delta Gamma was the best decision I have ever made” (Newman 24). 

I hope that I was able to inform you about what Greek Life is all about and the reasons that I personally joined. I don’t think a lot of people realize how blessed they truly are, so that is why I think it is very important to get involved with the Lexington community and charities across the world, and give back. I am luck enough to be a part of an organization, where giving back is our primary goal. 

Total Word Count: 985

Works Cited

Newman, Katharine Michael. "Delta Gamma: My Sorority's Impact on my Life.” University of      
          Tennessee Honors Thesis Projects. Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. May 
          2001. Web. 12 October 2015.
http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1484&context=utk_chanhonoproj

Roberts, Jeff. “Miracle League: Volunteers Get Joy From Efforts.” The Birmingham News. Pg 7A. 10
          April 2010. Web. 12 October 2015.
http://media.al.com/birminghamentries/other/Community%20News%20April%20B.pdf