Sisters Supporting Sisters
“We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave – to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.” – Malala Yousafzai
USC is full of go-getters, of people who take life by the reins and do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams. In Helenes, there are definitely the go-getters, but our members do more than strive for their goals. This community of women unapologetically supports each other’s aspirations, not just their own. Throughout my time in Helenes, I’ve consistently seen women bringing other women up, encouraging each other to be the best people they can be. In no other organization have I felt such solidarity that flows into the small acts we do for one another.
From delivering treats to a fellow rosebud studying in the library, to helping an E-boarder or chair set up for events, to driving a friend to an interview, Helenes take action to see others succeed. And when our sisters do succeed, our pride shows. At meetings when we give a friend a “yeah-you-did” for scoring an internship or getting into a new organization, we praise them for their accomplishments, big and small with applause and cheers. Even at the end of the semester at Install Tea, we take time to congratulate fellow members for their dedication to their sisters and the organization as well as their academics. Our members celebrate each other and promote confidence, so that our members can feel that their accomplishments matter. More than asking each other to be brave, we spark the courage within each other by showing our friends that their backs are covered. We remind each other that we are capable of so much more than we believe ourselves to be. That no matter what happens, they’ll still have a group of cheerleaders and supporters with them.
To me, this aspect of Helenes is what I’ve gained from the most as the quote above describes. It’s what has kept me glued to my rosebud class and many other friends I’ve made in this organization. These friends have helped me in tough times and they have shown me to give back love and support to others. They’ve helped me and many other girls realize that we can conquer anything life throws at us and achieve anything we set our minds to. While we are united in our love for service and spirit, our sisterhood binds us together, allowing ourselves to grow in ways we never thought were possible.
