This week we will be focusing on the fourth core value which is LOYALTY! Maggie Thompson is going to tell us how she has experienced our core value of loyalty throughout her time in Gamma Phi. 

"Gamma Phi Beta’s four core values make up so much of who we are as a sorority. Throughout my time as a sister in Gamma Phi, our core value, loyalty, has been so evident. Each member of our chapter shows unwavering support for one another, advocates for one another, and remains firm in their friendships which proves how much Gamma Phi values loyalty. As a Gamma Phi, I have met so many loyal friends who I know will always have my back. Not only are the members of our chapter loyal to one another, but they are also loyal to the sorority. Our sister’s show loyalty to our chapter by supporting various sorority events and showing up for our philanthropy. When coming to Clemson, I knew that I wanted to join a sorority that embodied such important core values such as loyalty, and I have truly found that in Epsilon Theta chapter of Gamma Phi Beta. My sisters in Gamma Phi push me to be a better version of myself each day. I am inspired daily by the loyalty that they show one another and our sorority. I am thankful to be a sister in Gamma Phi Beta, and I am thankful that I am a member of a sorority that values loyalty so much! I am thankful for my amazing sisters and our amazing sorority."
-Maggie Thompson 

This week we will be focusing on the third core value which is LEARNING! Caroline Still is going to to tell us how she has experienced our core value of learning throughout her time in Gamma Phi. 

"Gamma Phi Beta has demonstrated amazing learning experiences for me. As someone who always knew they wanted to attend Clemson, I knew I wanted to be in a sorority filled with supportive and hardworking girls that would always help to motivate me to be my best both academically and in my own personal development. With one of our core values being Learning, I knew that Gamma Phi Beta would truly be the place for me. Our core value of learning is not just about academics, learning also means lifelong learning and personal development. We continue to grow as we continue to learn, which I think truly makes Gamma Phi Beta such an amazing place to be. In Gamma Phi Beta, you can really tell that everyone has a sense of motivation and wants to achieve as much as they can both individually and collaboratively in their journey of learning and personal development. Whether it be having classes together or studying on the hall together, everyone reflects the sense of learning throughout our sorority which always helps to create a sense of community and motivation for each other. I am so thankful for Gamma Phi Beta at Clemson University for everything it's brought me in both my academic success and my own personal development as a sister of Gamma Phi Beta."
-Caroline Still

This week we will be focusing on the second core value which is LABOR! Lauren Montgomery is going to tell us about how she has seen our core value of labor in action during her time in Gamma Phi. 

"Gamma Phi’s core value of labor highlights our passion for serving our community, especially with our philanthropic partner Girls on the Run. Seeing our sisters run alongside younger girls in the Girls on the Run 5k and our volunteer coaches show up for the girls each week are ways we directly see our efforts in action. The moment I joined Gamma Phi I knew I wanted to be a part of helping show elementary school girls how valuable and amazing they are, whether they know it or not. Little did I know I would also see those values in my sisters each and every day. Our chapter is filled with girls constantly looking to put others before themselves. Whether that be their commitment to Building Strong Girls, their involvement in Clemson Miracle and other service organizations on campus, or how they go out of their way to make sure you know they’ve got your back. We are a chapter filled with leaders, role models, and people who genuinely want to make the world a better place. The girls in Gamma Phi are incredibly unique in the way they show up for others. We each have our own motivations and “why’s” to want to show compassion toward others, and I feel so fortunate to get to know these amazing girls and their stories. They truly inspire me and embody our core value of labor"
-Lauren Montgomery 

​Gamma Phi Beta has four core values! This week will be focusing on the first core value which is LOVE. Cassie Craven is going to tell us how she has experienced love throughout her time in Gamma Phi!!

"Gamma Phi Beta has brought me so much love in my time here at Clemson University! It has brought me the best friendships that has let me meet my future bridesmaids and memories with them I will cherish and love forever. Coming into Clemson from a small private school, I wanted to find a group of genuine girls who would love me for myself and give me the small sisterhood feel that I had at home. I found this place inside of Gamma Phi from the moment I walked in during recruitment! Love is one of Gamma Phi Beta’s core 4 values, and in my opinion is the highest-held! It’s brought me love throughout memories of big/little reveal and getting the best fam, living on the hall and making great friendships, having a fun sisterhood and amazing functions like semi and formal. Not only have I found love within the sisterhood, I have found love within the philanthropy. Our philanthropy being Girls on the Run helps show young girls they can be comfortable with their own self and give them strong social and physical skills! I am so thankful for Gamma Phi Beta at Clemson University for showing me what love can look like within a sisterhood."
-Cassie Craven

This past weekend we had our much anticipated event, Formal!! This is such a fun event where we get to dress up in gorgeous dresses with our lovely sisters! We had so much fun taking pictures together and dancing at formal. This is one of the many reasons why we LOVE GPhi!! 

HOMECOMING WEEKEND🤍🐅
From building our homecoming float, to gameday, to our parents brunch, we truly had the BEST WEEKEND EVER!!!🤩

A huge thank you to Alpha Tau Omega and Alpha Phi for being the best people to work with for the homecoming float!!! Also, a special thanks so our homecoming chairs Adele Veldekens and Kate Anderson who put so much time and hard work into our floats!! We appreciate you all!!!🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

​BIG LITTLE REVEAL!!💗✨🎊
Our fams just got a whole lot bigger this week and WE LOVE IT!!❣️❣️

semi + our beautiful sisters!!!🪩✨🎀🤍

We had so much fun at this years Moonball fundraiser where we raised over $10k for Girls On The Run!!!💗🏐🏆 Thank you to all of the teams who signed-up and competed in our tournament to support GOTR!!🫶🏻🏃🏼‍♀️Also a huge shoutout to our internal philanthropy chair, Claire Kane, for organizing this amazing event!!🤍🤍

​QUEEN OF HEARTS MIXER💗👑❤️🃏🖤🏹
We had such a blast at our first social event of the semester!!🤍

Our chapter had such a wonderful time preparing for recruitment through work week! Our themes were Battle of the Bump Groups, On Cloud Nine with Gamma Phi, Heart Eyes for Gamma Phi, and Color Wars. WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU PC '23! 

Hi besties! My name is Elizabeth Umina, and I am the New Member Educator, or “Pledge Mom,” of Gamma Phi Beta! As Pledge Mom, it’s my job to take our new members under my wing as soon as they get their bid on bid day and walk them all the way through the new member process until they are initiated – in other words, we’re gonna be besties! I teach you the ins and outs of Gamma Phi and get you ready to be an initiated sister. We have weekly new member meetings and during this time I also walk you through the big/little matching process (yay!), and am here to help you with anything you need! I just finished up working with our Spring ‘23 Pledge Class, and let me tell you, we had so, so much fun! I am so excited for this coming semester with our Fall PC ‘23! 

I can say for certain that I will come to know my sweet girls in PC ‘23 quite well, but I will introduce myself a little bit right now! I will be a junior Business Management major this fall, and I'm originally from Boston, Massachusetts! I love fashion, shopping, and the color pink, I teach spin classes here at Clemson, and I am a people-person to the core! I just got back from a month studying abroad in Paris and I’m ready to be back in Clemson! I love being with my friends and family 24/7, and everyday I strive to live by my favorite motto, “have courage & be kind.” 

When I first came to Clemson, I truthfully did not know much at all about the rush process, and I really had no idea the absolute best surprise I was in for! I quickly fell head over heels for Gamma Phi, and now I cannot not imagine my life without this sisterhood. I lived on our Hall on the Greek Quad this past year, and it was easily the best year of my life! I feel like I say that after every year at Clemson, but the Hall was truly a special experience for me and my friends. I got to be with my besties all of the time, and we went everywhere and did everything together. As soon as I came back from class, I went right to the chapter room to hang out with my sisters, and we had a lot of late nights spent down there laughing and making sweet, sweet memories. 

Gamma Phi is such a fun sisterhood filled with girls who always support each other in their goals & dreams. We have sisters involved in an array of things across campus, such as on the cheerleading teams, Clemson Miracle, Volunteers4Life, and lots of other groups and intramural teams, just to name a few! Within Gphi we also have leadership positions, committees, intramural teams, volunteer opportunities, study groups, and so many more ways to get together with other sisters. We have sisterhood events we do together, and we have a lot of fun at our functions, such as semi, Valentine’s cocktail, our country themed function called Boondocks, formal, and so many more throughout the year! 

I know going through recruitment feels exciting, confusing, fun and overwhelming all at the same time! If I could go back and give myself a piece of advice, I would tell myself to enjoy the moment, have fun with it, and try to focus on where you feel loved, supported and comfortable. How you feel during recruitment is how you’ll feel once you join a chapter, so focus on what feels like home! My job for our new members is to be here for you no matter what you need. We work together so that your transition into sorority life is seamless, and also fun! I can’t wait to teach our new mems all about this sisterhood that I love so, so much! 

I’m so excited to make more memories with you, Fall PC ‘23! 

XOXO! 
Elizabeth, PC ‘21 

I can confidently say joining Gamma Phi Beta is one of the best decisions I have made during my college career, and yes, I realize you may have heard every other member of Greek life say this. I rushed in 2020, which meant Zoom Recruitment. I was super skeptical of the recruitment process BEFORE covid so you can only imagine how I felt when Clemson Panhellenic announced rush would be virtual. I was so nervous! Everything had to be perfect, my hair, my outfit, my round one video, I was definitely feeling the pressure to find the right chapter for me. Every time I was dropped my heart broke a little, I didn't understand why I wasn't good enough. The best advice I could give you is to not have this mindset! The girls you are talking to are on your side; we are here to push you in the right direction, not to put you down. The support I have received and the friends I've gained from Gamma Phi Beta made all that heartbreak worth it. I'm currently writing this blog from my desk at my internship, an internship that my social media position in Gamma Phi Beta helped me pursue. These girls have taught me so much about myself and my worth, I deserve to feel real connection and be a part of a healthy sisterhood and so do you! Enjoy the journey :)

- Tommie Swink  

Just three short years ago, we were all standing in your shoes - so anxious and excited for what was about to come! It's crazy to think about how fast the time flew by now that we are entering into our final year at Clemson. We wanted to share with you some things we wish we knew as we started Recruitment.

"In rounds, talk about what makes you happy and what inspires you. Don't just talk about something because you think people want to hear that. We want to know what makes you so awesome!! Don't stray way from your true heart!" - Kayla

"Just be 100% authentic! We want to get to know the real you, and it's the best way to find your home in Panhellenic!" - Hannah

"Be open-minded and look for a place you feel genuinely comfortable in. Trust the process because you will end up exactly where you are supposed to be, whether you know it at the time or not!" - Emily

"Recruitment is a great way to meet new people who are going through the same thing as you, so be open to making connections with other PNMs. Even if you don't end up in the same sorority, they could end up being some of your best friends!" - Mary

"I know this process can be scary and overwhelming, but when you start to feel anxious or nervous, just take a deep breath! Everything will work out the way it's supposed to. Trust the process, and you got this!" - Arianna

These girls have made my experience at Clemson the wildest, most fun adventure of my life! When I look back at where I was 3 years ago, it's insane to see how much I've grown into the person I'm meant to be. But even still, I cannot thank my 18-year old self enough for choosing Gamma Phi and choosing these incredible women to be my sisters. My advice is to try to stop and look around - when you're in line, when you're sitting with your PiChi group, when you're in rounds. Take it all in because these could be the women who not only become your best friends, but also help you to grow into the best version of yourself.
​
Four years doesn't sound like a long time, and it doesn't feel like it either. These four years will bring some of the toughest mountains to climb, but the views are incredible, so make sure you're bringing the best people along. You got this, and we cannot wait to get to know you so soon! 

-Jenna

“Why did you choose Clemson?” is one of the many questions you’ll be asked time and time again before you get to college, as an ice breaker in lectures, and even as an alumni. Maybe it’s because Clemson has your major, or you’re a legacy, wanted to go out of state or stay close to home. Clemson was such an easy choice for me as soon as I was accepted for three reasons

1. Clemson is in my home state, but far enough away from home that I could feel an independence I hadn’t felt before.
I’m from Columbia, South Carolina and it’s comforting knowing I can go home quickly if I need to, but while I’ve been here, I’ve found a sense of independence and learned how to live on my own.

2. Clemson has a large student body. I went to Blythewood High School, which had about 2,000 students in the whole student body. When I was looking for my perfect fit, I wanted somewhere where I could branch out and meet more people. I wanted a big school because I didn’t know anything other than a small town. And while Clemson is a “town,” you’re apart of a family there. Something bigger than yourself.

3. Clemson is a perfect college town. I knew I didn’t want to go to school in a big city, so Clemson stood out to me from the beginning. Clemson has a great student centered atmosphere that makes you feel safe and secure. There is nightlife, great places to eat, and sports shops lining the streets of downtown. There are also wonderful study spaces, diverse majors, fields of study, and students from all backgrounds who all have one thing in common, they chose Clemson. It’s a decision I haven’t regretted since I enrolled.

When I enrolled, everyone was talking about rushing a sorority. I had no idea what that was about. My mom wasn’t in one, but all my friends wanted to do this “rush” thing. I didn’t. So freshman year, I sat back and didn’t really involve myself in much because I wanted to focus on academics. I watched some of my friends form long lasting friendships with their sisters, go to functions, and get involved in their philanthropy. Freshman year is what made me want to rush, because seeing my friends involved made me want to be involved too. Freshman year also helped me learn to manage my time and know what I could handle academically and socially. As soon as I could submit my registration sophomore year, I did. Now I’m forming life long friendships in Gamma Phi, getting dressed up for functions, and loving being involved in our philanthropy (that I love so dearly, pls talk to me about it). Gamma Phi has given me a sense of self confidence, a group of leading women who build me up, study buddies, friends, and most importantly the sisters I never had.

​-Grace C.

My senior year of high school I held a leadership position in all of the clubs and organizations I was a part of, so finding leadership opportunities in college was really important. Going through recruitment as a freshman, I really looked for an organization that would allow for me to pursue leadership roles that genuinely interested me. As I head into my senior year at Clemson and final year as a collegiate member of Gamma Phi, I have had so many different chances to pursue this passion. 

Once I realized that New Member Educator (aka Pledge Mom) was a position in the chapter I knew that it was something I was very interested in. I was elected to be Pledge Mom  starting in the second semester of my sophomore year and worked with the best group of 10 COB girls. It was definitely a stressful job, but so worth it to see all of them get initiated and continue to grow as Gamma Phis. Then in the fall I was entering my hardest semester of college and had 95 new members asking me questions about all sorts of things. I was constantly stressed and doing 10 million things at once, but it was so worth it because I knew that my job would directly impact each and every one of the new members. I really did feel like a mom; I gave rides, I became a therapist, I helped them make their spring schedules and I watched each of them find their place within the pledge class and the chapter. Because of these interactions, I fell in love with being pledge mom all over and remembered why I had wanted to be a leader within Gamma Phi. 

After such an eventful fall semester I decided that I could handle the pressure and demands of a larger position and decided to run for Executive Board as Education Vice President. I had had an inside look into what the EVP’s responsibilities were when I was New Member Ed. I have been EVP since last spring, and while it comes with its own set of challenges, it has been one of the best things I have done as a Gamma Phi. I get to be on exec with my bestie since bid day, Kelly, and I have grown so close to all of the other members of exec. We each bring something different to the table that allows us to do our job to the best of our ability. Jayme and her Google calendar make sure everyone knows what’s going on and when. Ashton’s passion pushes all of us to remember the bigger picture of our roles.  Audrey’s creativity allows all of us to deal with any curve balls that come our way. Gwyn steps up in stressful situations and gets the job done. Liv’s sass and sense of humor keep everyone laughing. Kelly’s ability to listen makes her the best person to vent to. And Erica’s support and guidance as our advisor keeps all of us sane. 

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to hold a leadership position for the last two years because it has made my Gamma Phi experience all that I hoped it would be. I have been able to grow so much as a leader through all of the relationships, meetings and conventions I have attended. I was lucky enough to know exactly which roles I wanted to hold but there are so many different departments and committees within the chapter that anyone could find a leadership role for their interests. Serving as a leader has been an honor and something that I will remember forever. I’m so grateful for all of the support my sisters have given me, all of the chances Epsilon Theta offers and all of the memories I’ve been able to create as New Member Ed and EVP. 

- Sarah

​When I graduated high school, I had no idea what I was going to do. I think I changed majors about five times before I even registered for classes. I couldn’t decide where I wanted to go--I knew I wanted to be near my family, but none of the schools around Seattle seemed like the right school for me. So I settled for spending my freshman year of college at a small liberal arts school about 45 minutes from my parents’ house.
        
I like to say that school is the polar opposite of Clemson. This school had no football team, a distinct lack of school spirit, lots of unfriendly people, and no Greek life. But it was a very typically Pacific Northwest type of school, and if you know me you know that’s basically my whole personality. No matter how much time I spent doing homework in the very indie on-campus coffee shop, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the Perfect Fit I had been dreaming of. When it came down to it, I wanted to go to a big school with a good football team and Greek life. I knew I couldn’t get that in Washington, because the University of Washington was really hard to get into and Washington State University was six hours away. So I felt like I had to settle.
 
Halfway through my freshman year, my parents started seriously considering moving to Charleston. I immediately thought of transferring to Clemson. My dad got a job lined up and I applied to Clemson. It was the only school I applied to. I had all my eggs in one basket. I remember checking Clemson’s Twitter page to see that they had sent out the acceptance letters one weekend while I was home. I was not expecting to receive my acceptance letter that day. I think my neighbor has security footage of me crying in joy and relief next to my mailbox.
 
I registered for recruitment as soon as I could, which ended up being a couple days after I moved to Charleston. I was excited but also nervous. I’d heard horror stories about sororities in the south being super intense and super crazy and super hardcore. Greek life in Washington state isn’t very widespread--if a school has sororities, it probably doesn’t have more than two or three. So formal recruitment was quite the culture shock to me! I was hoping to meet at least one girl from Seattle or at least from the west coast. I think that’s one of the things that originally made Gamma Phi stand out to me--the recruitment decorations included a map with pins in all the cities the sisters were from, and there was a pin in Washington state.
 
It’s the corniest thing and I know everybody says it, but Gamma Phi really has given me a home away from home. I mean that somewhat literally--Rebecca is the first girl I made friends with and now we’re roommates. My big, Kayley, lets me hang out with her cats when I miss my own. Miranda, my twin, is the only person I trust to keep up with me on the dance floor at all the functions. It really does feel like one big sisterhood. It took me a little while, but I finally found my Perfect Fit.
 
-Haley

Spring semester of Sophomore year at Clemson I went through a lot of personal issues and stopped doing many of the things that I once loved. I had a hard time finding ways to pursue my passions and felt small at a school with thousands of other people. I become really lost with myself and the things that made me happy, and while this caused me to miss out on a lot of the  sorority functions and events, I never really felt alone or left out. Whenever I would go to a meeting or event for Gamma Phi I would talk to different sisters and it would be like I didn’t miss anything at all. I could go without seeing them for a month but still feel at home the next time I went. There have been many times where I went to an event fearing being alone, but my friends would come up to me and talk to me and embrace me like the numerous times before. The support and acceptance that I have received within Gamma Phi have helped to create a comfortability within myself and in the person that I am today. Before I would be too shy or fearful to get involved and put myself out there, but thanks to Gamma Phi I am more confident in myself than ever. Not only do I know that I have a group of people at Clemson who really care about me and my success, but I know that they enjoy being around me and that I am an important part of the sorority – that I am liked and valued.
 
Gamma Phi has introduced me to so many individuals who inspire me to be a better self. I see my sisters traveling through countries around the world, working their dream jobs in different cities, and really living their best lives. I have become the type of person who now wants to get involved and share my ideas instead of remaining quiet with the fearing being rejected. I know that I will not be judged for who I am or for showing my real personality. The people in Gamma Phi have many individual differences, yet we form a group of people who genuinely enjoy being around each other. We do not need to pretend or to fit a certain mold to be loved. After joining Gamma Phi, I have become the type of person who isn’t afraid of being myself and I know that I do not need to act a certain way to be accepted. My sisters have showed me that our passions and talents are what make us unique. It took many years, but I finally feel confident in the person I am and want to showcase my unique traits. I credit a lot of that to my sisters and the healthy environment that Gamma Phi has created. 
 
To my big, Sara, and my grand-big, Autumn, thank you for helping me get more involved in the Clemson community and for bringing me into the most supportive family. To my little, Virginia, thank you for inspiring me with your kindness and adding more laughter to my life. To PC 18, thank you for introducing me to so many unique people and making life more interesting. And to Gamma Phi, thank you for always accepting me and helping build confidence within myself that will last a lifetime.

​-Maddie

Moving 12 hours away from my family, leaving all my friends behind, going to a school where I didn’t know a single soul, about to begin a recruitment process that I knew absolutely nothing about, it was scary, to say the least. But it was also exhilarating and new too. And I was so excited to see what was in store for me. 
 
I had no clue what to expect from recruitment. I didn’t know if it was going to be small interviews, presentations, or something else. So of course I felt scared and unprepared when I walked into Littlejohn Coliseum that first day. No one knew me and I knew nobody. I could choose to be anybody I wanted to be, and I decided to just be unapologetically me. I reminded myself of every time I stepped into a new room, meeting new women from different sororities. The fear that was weighing me down started to lighten and I began to have fun. 
 
Gamma Phi was not the first sorority I had met, and I’m actually thankful for that because, as the long day wore on, I got more comfortable with showing off who I was. So when I walked into that Gamma Phi room, and the woman, who would later become my Big, scooped my arm, I felt at home. And yes that sounds so cliche, but there’s really no other way I could describe it. I felt like this is the place where I could walk around with no makeup, in a baggy t-shirt, and still feel loved. Jayme was the first woman I talked to, and we discovered that we’re both from Pennsylvania and bonded over the fact that Wawa is way better than Sheetz. The next round, I met Liv, who was surprisingly from my small hometown. I had known Liv for all of 2 minutes and I felt so comfortable talking to her about how scared I was leaving home. Gamma Phi made me feel like, not only could I find my place at Clemson, I could find my home.
 
It’s been almost two years since those conversations and I can still say that I am beyond grateful that I chose Gamma Phi. In that time, I’ve made friends whose homes are far away like mine and friends whose families live just around the corner. I’ve made friends whose parents took me in for tailgates and dinners when I needed family time the most. I’ve made friends who go on adventures with me and know how to make me laugh when I’m feeling homesick. I’ve made friends who I can’t live without so decided I need them as my roommates. I’ve made friends who push me to be my very best, as a Clemson student and as a person. I’ve made friends who are my family. And I have Gamma Phi to thank for that.

​-Jenna

Last summer, I applied and was selected to go to Gamma Phi’s Real Leadership Experience, at the Psi Chapter of University of Oklahoma. For my four day stay, myself and 39 other gamma phis from all over the country got to learn and live together. Through mini workshops we learned about how to be a stronger woman and honed in on our leadership skills.

While the week can be summed up into just a few short sentences, the experience that I walked away with is one that will stick with me forever.

By some odd string of luck, Annabel Jones, the International President of Gamma Phi Beta, was my small group leader. RLE was hosted at the facilities of the Psi chapter, the same chapter Annabel was an initiated member at and walked the very halls of as a collegiate member over 30 years ago. There was a fire in her voice when she talked about Gamma Phi, a kind of love I don’t know if I’ve ever heard and that same love radiated from every sister that I met that week.

Every time someone describes an organization they are part of, they mention how they love that they can be a part of something far bigger than themselves. As cliche as it sounds, RLE showed me that our sisterhood at the epsilon theta chapter is only a small portion of the sisterhood that bounds two countries and 145 years. I fell in love with Gamma Phi Beta all over again and it was for the same exact reason as the first time- the love, the acceptance, and the trueness of the bonds formed. It was as if I was initiated into a second chapter of Gphi. Every day we text in our groupme updates from our chapters. We share the same excitement for bid day, big little reveal, and every thing life related.

I am so grateful for all the memories that I gained from RLE but I’m most grateful for my true and constant friends.

-Kristian