There are three things on my stole that have a great significance in my life. First, my degree. I am a first generation college student and obtaining my bachelors degree in criminology has not only been a huge accomplishment of mine, but my family's as well. Our Kappa Delta Chi letters and shield are what makes up most of my stole. Finding a group of women on a large campus that have the same goals and values as I do made my college experience that much better. KDChi has given me sisters that I can always rely on and a sisterhood that has brought so much joy and happiness into my life. Lastly,
the position I held for a year and a half my last few semesters of undergrad. If you would've told me my freshman year that I would be president of an organization, I would've thought that would never happen. I joined KDChi as a freshman and my passion for the organization started then. Being president of KDChi has taught me so many lessons that I have taken with me into my "adult life". Being president taught me to have patience, always listen to what others has to say, be there for others when they need you, give words of encouragement, and set an example for those that are younger. These three symbols on my stole will forever be cherished.
Hannah Valdez
Florida State University - Alpha Sigma
35
The Emerald | Fall 2017
I believe it is so important to stay true to one’s history and roots. But that doesn’t mean a little change and openness to different perspectives is harmful. Just as my chapter didn’t expect me to replace my culture with theirs, I didn’t expect them to eradicate the traditions that embraced their founding Latina culture. I soon realized that just as they had much to learn about me, I had much to learn about them. Because of my membership in Kappa Delta Chi, I became more culturally aware, and I became more culturally competent. Beta Zeta continued to participate in Hispanic Heritage Month, and educate the campus about their culture. However, we also aimed to educate ourselves and embrace the mixed cultures of our membership. We found a common ground. So as the chapter continued to celebrate their heritage, they also made an effort to expand their palate and incorporate others
The Emerald | Winter/Spring 2018
to speak up about it. I chose to fill out the application, so was it my fault? Did I make the wrong decision? I needed extra patience when trying to pronounce the names of Founders and charter sisters, and I struggled with the religious ceremonies and Hispanic-only community outreach programs. Eventually the stress and disappointment of false ideals overshadowed my wanting to avoid conflict, and I confided in my class sisters. Their faces showed surprise and then sadness. They had no idea that I was struggling, and immediately began looking for ways to adapt our class culture. They began to adjust the vocabulary and language used, recite prayers in a beautifully inclusive way, and even participate in events that spanned many different cultures.
With persistence and dedication my chapter became the ultimate example of what a group of individuals with shared values of Unity, Honesty, Integrity, and Leadership could do: they fought for me. My chapter worked hard to be inclusive of all sisters, and it was through my New Member process that I learned: though my cultural background was significant, if I shared the same values and vision as the women in the group, I could find my home regardless of where I came from. My class sisters became my family and my chapter sisters became my greatest support system.
In Fall 2015, I became the
FIRST non-Latina member to join the Beta Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta Chi.
During this time we built a new culture in the chapter, one that could be adaptable to any woman who walked through the door of recruitment
Soon after that I became the first non-Latina President of my chapter. With an active body keen on recruiting women from all backgrounds, our chapter grew both in size and diversity.
The most important part was that we shared the same values of love, respect, inclusivity, and open communication. Now, learning from their experience with my New Member class, my chapter not only said that they were inclusive of girls from all backgrounds, they embodied it; from sharing more transparent information about our history and roots during recruitment, to intentionally incorporating diverse music, food, and traditions into hosted events. Beta Zeta began to exchange old traditions for new ones, and in doing so, the chapter became a home and family to many women who were looking for a community, a support system, a mentorship, and a family.