Reflection Letter: Mary Riolo on her time here at USC as an ADPi

The woman I am now is drastically different from the girl who arrived at the University of South Carolina on a hot August day almost four years ago. From the moment I stepped foot through the doors at Alpha Delta Pi, I was changed. Of course at that moment in time, I had no idea the ways in which this chapter and its members would come to shape who I was and who I would become. As my journey as an ADPi began, I was overwhelmed with admiration for the girls who surrounded me. Funny, compassionate, outgoing, driven women who I looked up to every day. And not just the girls who were older than me, but the girls in my own pledge class, my friends and peers. Their influence on me was immediate, and in the best way possible they taught me how to be a better person, a better friend, a better leader. Their selflessness and commitment to others was inspiring and humbling, and each of them radiated such an infectious energy. They encouraged me in my pursuits, supported me on my bad days and laughed with me on my good ones. They pushed me out of my comfort zone, challenged me to be kind and put love into everything that I do.

The things that I learned from my peers and the support that I received from my friends were all so important to me throughout my time in ADPi, but the most valuable lesson that my sorority gave me was teaching me how to be confident in myself, and how to radiate that confidence out into the world.

I entered campus as a reserved, more soft-spoken girl, trying to find my place in a sea of people; I am leaving as a woman who speaks her mind, has the courage to go after the things she wants, and is able to make a name for herself in a crowd. The opportunities that ADPi has given me to push myself on a path towards personal growth are immeasurable, and I know that the values that were impressed upon me throughout my time in this sorority will be something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I know that ADPi has given me the confidence in myself to pursue my dreams and to be ambitious in pursuit of the things that I love, and entering law school next year, I will be much more comfortable in myself and my abilities to succeed as a student and eventually as an attorney. I cannot thank Alpha Delta Pi enough for allowing me to flourish and grow throughout my four years as an undergraduate at the University of South Carolina, and I can’t wait to see the ways in which this sorority will stay with me and continue to teach me things about myself through the rest of my life. Alpha Delta Pi has been a gift and a privilege, and I feel truly blessed that I was given the opportunity to be apart of this sisterhood.

Forever to thee and loyally, always,

Mary Riolo