Sister Testimonials - Monica Lee Miranda

It was in junior high school when I was first presented with sorority life while my sister was joining one in college. From watching her experience I made a clear decision not to join a sorority ever. She said "wait till you get to college". And I continued to say I would never join a sorority. Then I went to college.

I remember meeting Founder Ileana Adorno, not realizing she was a founder of a sorority, and really connecting with her. We became very good friends (and still are) and she began to introduce me to her friends who were all truly genuine to me and always asked how I was doing. Then I started getting involved in Fuerza Latina and other organizations on campus and kept on seeing these strong, active Latina leaders in various student organizations and Student Association. I also began to attend some very informative programs on various topics and began to realize that all these women that were the strong Latina leaders on campus were all members of a Latina-oriented sorority - Omega Phi Beta.

Shortly thereafter, Ileana mentioned the informational session to me and I very quickly stated that I was not, nor would I ever be interested in joining a sorority...she never mentioned it again. I didn't attend. Then I continued to realize the sisterhood, the leadership, the genuine caring, the attention to scholarship, and the fun and somehow got myself to go to the 2nd informational and dragged a friend with me. I was hooked. Due to my ineligibility the first time around (I hadn't concentrated enough on academics my first semester) I had to wait until the next fall semester...Fall 1993.

My membership has forever changed my life. I always had a lot of friends and appreciated my true friends who stuck by me when I went away to college and didn't feel like I needed a sorority to get more friends. But it was the sisterhood - the family away from home that provided me with a tremendous support system - one that I didn't even realize I had been missing being away from home. Having been away from home since I was 17 there are a lot of moments in my life I couldn't have dealt with without the constant support of my sorors. I also never realized that my sorority would give me all that it has...the ability to lead, the ability to run an organization, and the ability to become a published writer by just sharing my sorority experiences. But most of all the experiences that I am able to use every day in my profession as a fraternity and sorority advisor. When I became a sister in the Fall of 1993 I had no idea that Omega Phi Beta would help find my career - one that I truly love.

The practical experience has been professionally valuable. The personal experience has been emotionally valuable. The friendships are forever and are proven time and time again...especially when you get the opportunity to stand by your soror as a bridesmaid as she marries the love of her life as I was able to just a few years ago.

A sorority experience may not be for everyone...for me it was something I never thought I would do and has become something that I could not ever imagine living without.

Iluminada
Fall 1993 #2
Alpha Chapter
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
www.omegaphibeta.org