Passion for the Purple

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the weather, the clothes, and the sports. Between hockey and football, I am occupied until at least March. If you know me, you know my passion for hockey is second-to-none, and I have dutifully passed on my love for the sport to my sons. However, living in Chicago, a passion for the Chicago Bears is pretty much a requirement, and we take our football seriously. It’s not just a sport, but a way of life, and a 16-week plan for your Sunday entertainment. This time of the year, I also have a passion for the purple.

Sigma Kappa purple that is!

What’s my passion?

This summer, I was privileged to attend the Be The Person conference held in Chicago as a Sigma Kappa representative. With three other sisters, we spent four days seeking our true passion and taking a pledge to make a difference along with 60 other Greek-affiliated participants. By the end of my four days, I had found a calling, or rather, my calling found me! What I learned was that I knew my passion: my family, my students and Sigma Kappa. The conference gave me time… time to think, time to reflect, and time to stop and wonder why do I do all the things I do. Why do I attend high school football games on Friday night? Because I support my students and I sincerely love where I work and who I work with. Why do I attend sleepless recruitment nights? Because I love Sigma Kappa. I love sharing my passion for Sigma Kappa, and well, it’s just fun! Passing on the passion for the purple while eating pizza, counting cards, and chanting our hearts out…really, what else can beat that?

Finding your passion ….

What about you? Think about all the things you have been passionate about in your life. Think about all those passions; what truly means the most to you? How many were or are there ? Are you living your passion?
 This weekend, instead of spending it on a soccer field, I drove two hours to spend time with the Eta Chapter, Illinois Wesleyan University, and assist with recruitment. Fueling my passion for the purple, I experienced my first bid day as an alumna, and I saw the passion firsthand. Tears of joy, screams of excitement, and the genuine joy in sparkling eyes as they welcomed 27 new sisters. This reminded me of the lyrics of Home by Philip Phillips, sang beautifully by two Etas during recruitment:

Hold on, to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

And although this wave is stringing us along

Just know you’re not alone

Cause I’m going to make this place your home

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

As I reflect on my weekend, I realized the words to Home are what we all seek out. We all want a place to call home, we want someone to take that walk with us, to support us. and no matter what obstacles we face, we want to know we have someone to pick us up when we are down. Our passion is to find a home we connect with and we relate to.

This fall, I have recommitted my passion to my purple– to help our sisters find their way home, share my passion for the purple, and have some fun along the way!