An honest blog post from Delta Omega's least likely blogger

Mary Welch (left) | Senior | Spring 2017

I don’t feel like I’m the best gal to be writing this post, because my involvement in DO has looked less-than-conventional: I pledged the second semester of my sophomore year; I’ve never taken a Little; and I was inactive this past spring.

But, nonetheless, I wanted to write this blog post.

I‘m not best friends with every single girl in the club, because—at least for me—that’s not what a club of ninety girls is able to be. However, what it can be is a community to surround myself with, and man has DO been a phenomenal group of young women to be surrounded by. They are some of the wisest, funniest, godliest ladies I’ve ever met.

They’ve helped me see my world with new perspectives.

They’ve sat with me during the very darkest time in my life.

They’ve made me laugh until literally my ab muscles are hurting so badly that I’m hoping it can count as a good strength-training workout.

They’ve blasted Shania Twain with me in the car and talked theology with me in a coffee shop.

As I sit and reflect, I‘m in awe of how special my relationships with multiple DO girls in my life actually are. DO is not what necessarily brought us together, but the club is a connection I share with some of the most inspiring ladies I know in God’s church.

I think of Graysen McConnell. She was by my side co-leading a mission team this past school year. Every team leaders’ session, every team-wide Sunday night meeting, and every day of spring break in Guatemala, I got to see Graysen’s leadership skills shine.

I think of Bethanie Jones. Pledging with her gave me the longed-for comfort of a friend who gets my sense of humor.

I think of Maddy Powell. She transferred into Lipscomb the semester I was abroad, so we haven’t been around each other a whole lot. I was on a Maymester with her this summer, though, and sisterhood took on a whole new meaning. While we were at our hotel on the Red Sea, the 11th plague (aka food poisoning) HIT me. While I sat on the bathroom floor by the toilet (tragic), Maddy texted to check on me, came to my room and finished my laundry, and blessed me with her pre-med knowledge on how I should best treat my feeble self.

I think of Macy Glassco. And Elizabeth Cluck (shout-out to the new DO President!). And Lydia Rubenic. Going to Guatemala with them is a privilege. Wisdom and laughter, kindness and intelligence, a good work ethic in the day and even better singing voices for devo at night—those girls are the mission trip team members from Heaven.

I think of my Big, Kate Proffitt. Whether grabbing a meal in the caf, singing along to Judah and the Lion in the Ryman, or talking in the car on a ten-hour road trip to Washington, D.C., I want to be with Kate. She has shown me reckless friendship over the past year and a half. She’s the big sister I never had, a light of Jesus’ love, and my real-life Elle Woods. I’m so sad she’s graduated from Lipscomb, but I’ll definitely be visiting the UT Knoxville School of Law a few times this next fall. She is my biggest blessing from this sisterhood.

At our last event of the spring semester, we have a time for each graduating sister to impart a tidbit of wisdom to the younger girls they’re leaving the club to. The piece of advice that stuck out to me the most is the same encouragement I hope our club keeps at the forefront of our minds in the coming school year:

“You are not Delta Omega; Delta Omega is you.”

I love that quote. Like I said, I never would pick myself as a poster-child “DO girlie” to contribute to the club’s blog. But the girls who make up this club are girls worth recognizing, and I’ll post on a blog about them all day long.

About the Author

Mary Welch

Favorite City: Rome, Italy

Favorite Cracker Snack: Goldfish

Favorite Study Spots: Fido & the Nashville Public Library Downtown Branch