Saturday, March 12, 2011

Bonds of Sisterhood

Like most of the other women who have already written blog entries, I was very excited to receive the scarf and feel connected to all who have worn it before me. Sisterhood has always been a large part of my experience of being a woman. I have grown up the second of eight children and I am blessed that 4 of my 7 siblings are sisters. No matter how far (physically) we have been separated, I have always felt connected to my sisters in a different and deeper way than I have felt connected to female friends. I found myself these past few days reflecting on the amazing bonds of female friendship but even more so the bonds I have with two of my sisters who are in undergrad at UD. Before coming back to graduate school at UD I lived out in Colorado, 20 hours away from any of my family members. While my discernment led me to be back at UD it also involved a conversation with my sisters, one who was going to be a junior, Corinne, and one who would decide to attend UD for her freshman year, Cara. To be truthful we were all a little hesitant about being at the same school together. Not to say we wouldn’t get along but when you grow up in a large family, in your early 20’s there can be a desire to find your own identity that doesn’t necessarily involve your siblings. I think we all were afraid of stepping on one another toes and hindering each other’s experience.

Although we started out in August 2009 with much
hesitancy I can say with certainty the three of us have grown extremely close, a closeness that could not have happened if Cara or I had found ourselves at different schools. As sisters we are able to share our laughter and our tears with one another, something I lacked with my brother when we were in undergrad at UD together. We try to make a point to have dinner together every so often and to see each other weekly if not daily. We have helped each other grow in faith, challenged one another to become better people, and been silly together. Our idea of family and especially sisterhood has developed into a community and therefore our appreciation of and need for one another has grown into something beautiful. This has been one of the greatest blessings of my time back at UD for grad school. I now know the bond of sisterhood holds tight no matter where we are in the world or how we feel about one another in a given moment. These past few days I have been very aware of the blessings of sisters and sisterhood that God has given me in my life. This scarf experience of being connected to women, “sisters”, around campus has led me to recognize the unique relationship Cara, Corinne, and I have created. Next year I will be gone fromthis place, I don’t know where I will be yet, but I will always carry with me the bond of sisterhood. My community of sisters is far deeper and wider than I could have ever imagined it would be.

Colleen O'Grady (Picture above: Corinne, Cara, and I. Picture below: Cara, Me wearing the scarf)

1 comment:

  1. What a refreshing experience to be able to participate in such a wonderful promotion of sisterhood and solidarity on this campus! I am delighted to have participated in this inaugural ritual.
    My first reaction was “Wow, what a beautiful scarf.” I absolutely love scarves and could not wait to get home and find an outfit to wear that would do the scarf justice. I received the scarf from Ms. Staci Rucker, a member of the faculty at UD’s Law School. In our brief meeting we realized that we were both from the south and that we both have only lived in Dayton for four years. We both were very busy that day but plan to meet for lunch on Friday.
    My experience with the scarf could not have come on a better day. After 4 ½ long years I am finally ready to graduate! What a bittersweet and exciting moment, standing in line and purchasing a University of Dayton alumni t-shirt! As I stood in line I kept getting comments on the beauty of the scarf, but I couldn’t take credit for it, I told everyone that would listen about the wonderful sisterhood of the traveling scarf, and I am sure that next year’s numbers will be much greater than what we have experienced in 2011.
    As I sit and write this post and think about what it has means to me to be a student and an employee on this campus, I am reminded of the women that have mentored and encouraged me. I guess I have had my own piece of the traveling scarf the entire time, because I have been able to come to these women and cry, vent, pray, and sometimes just giggle. I am thankful for them, and how they have helped me in ways that this short space will not allow me to expound. Wearing this scarf helped me remember them and all they have meant to me. I am thankful for this experience and hope to keep in touch with the two beautiful women Ms. Rucker and Anne who I have become connected with through this scarf!
    LaJoya Reed

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