Learning To Keep My Head Up

When I was younger, my mother used to yell at me for always walking with my head down. She thought it was because I had terrible posture, but the truth is, I always looked down because I didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone. I was terrified of awkward hellos in passing. This act of shyness soon became a habit that I carried with me throughout my childhood and into college. One of my biggest insecurities is coming across as awkward. I have always been extremely self-conscious of that. I am guilty of pretending to check my phone just to avoid making long, silent eye-contact with someone as they pass by. When I first came to TCNJ I continued with my habit of “checking” my phone. I would do it on the way to class, while waiting in Eick, or in the elevator at the lib. I wasn’t close with too many people when I first came to TCNJ, so I never knew if I had to say hi to people that I passed when I had only met them once.

Everything changed when I joined Sigma Kappa. All of a sudden, I had a whole network of people to say hello to on my way to class. I slowly started to put my phone away during those walks or trips in the elevator. I noticed that I would say hi to ten people during the span of a five minute walk. That’s why I think Sigma Kappa and greek life at TCNJ in general is so great. It gives you a whole network of people to talk to and wave to on your way around campus. I don’t check my phone on the walk to class anymore, because I know that if I do, I’ll miss a bunch of friendly people to say hi to.

Sigma Kappa has made me much more of a confident person. I have found a group of sisters who love me no matter what and who will support me through thick and thin. Sigma Kappa has taught me to keep my head up and walk with confidence. I am so grateful for that. No longer am I the shy girl who walks with her head down, instead I walk with pride, knowing that I will always see a smiling face on my way around campus.