Glitter & The Girly Girl: The Blue Key Honor Society: Also a Dedication to Tayler & Ashley

Over the summer I got a call while I was in a store at the mall. It was the President of Emporia State University's wife, Mrs. Shonrock. She was calling me to tell me she read my blog post I had made about them and that she appreciated it. Then she went on to tell me about this honor society in which you have to be invited to by the President. She didn't know much about it just yet, but would keep me updated. As the semester started, I started to learn more about it through talking with Mr. and Mrs. Shonrock when I would see them at events and what not. One day I ran into Mr. Shonrock on the way to work and we chatted about how well the T-Shirt Exchange was going and he told me that I was going to be getting a postcard in the mail soon telling me that I have been selected to be in the Blue Key Honor society. I called my mom and held back tears. It wouldn't be the last time I would tear up because of this honor society.

Later on, I found out that Ashley and Tayler had also been selected. When I found this out, I couldn't help to be proud of the three of us. Freshman year, we had applied to be Ambassadors and made it. We have continued to work together and now all have executive positions on the board for Ambassadors as President (Ashley), Spirit Co-Chair (Tayler) and Vice President (myself). We definitely have a special bond as friends and as leaders at Emporia State University.

The dedication and ceremony for the Blue Key Honor Society and the new room named The Blue Key Room was an amazing experience I won't forget. To explain a little better, The Blue Key Honor Society came about at ESU and the first class was in 1962. They had 11 members and all of them were male. Women were not allowed to be a part of the group. It died out in the 1980's. President Shonrock is a Blue Key member and wanted to bring it back to Emporia State. Past Lt. Governor, Gary Sherrer and President Shonrock are the co-advisers for the society. They picked 12 students, 6 boys and 6 girls to be in the Blue Key Honor Society. You have to be a junior/senior and have a certain GPA requirement as well as have established yourself as a leader at ESU.

Out of the original 11 men, 9 of them are still living and all of them were able to come to the ceremony. That night, we were all dressed up and surrounded by a lot of older distinguished people and past Blue Key members. The original class was in the middle of getting their picture taken. As we waited, Tayler got my attention and whispered to me, "Do you see any other black people here?" My eyes looked around the room and I couldn't spot one. That's when I realized Tayler was going to be the first African American to be a part of this society. She explained to Ashley and I that she had broken down a little bit earlier that day as she realized she would not only be one of the first women in the group, but the first African American as well. Then it was our time to take a picture with the original class. As we gathered and I was about to sit down with a couple other girls in the front row, one of the original men looked up at us and said, "Girls." I don't know if he was joking or not. It seemed like he was a little taken back to see us as members. We took the picture and then our own picture. Technically we are the second, first class of the Blue Key Honor Society.

We went into the Blue Key Room and we had to sit in these two rows at the front of the room facing the crowd. They had us stand, raise our right hand, and take an oath. We also got certificates and a pin. The atmosphere of the room was filled with rich history with grand old fashioned furniture, a portrait of the first class on the wall, and a variety of distinguished people as they watched proudly. I couldn't help but smile, tears hiding behind my eyes. Afterwards, all the people came by as we sat at the front of the room to shake our hands and chat with us. One woman, shook Ashley's hand and said, "It's nice to see women in it. We could never break through."
We signed our names in a book that will always be at ESU so we can come back years from now and see it in there.

It was one of my most proudest moments yet. I got to be a part of history as one of the first women to be inducted into the Blue Key Honor Society. I couldn't have been happier getting to experience this with Tayler and Ashley. Ashley and I were so happy for Tayler. Tayler and I had a little heart to heart moment the next day. Heart to hearts aren't a regular thing for us, so it was extra special. She is beautiful and amazing with a huge heart. I really do admire her for coming to ESU and making her mark and setting an example as an empowered woman. At ESU, she is definitely a minority. Freshman year, there were only 4 African American girls, including her, on our floor. She doesn't let it bother her and definitely owns who she is. She is simply and uniquely, Tayler Wash.

I can't wait to see what happens next with us and what else we will do for ESU! That night, I was already picturing us as old ladies visiting ESU as Alumni still joking around like usual. :)

Sparkle & Shine,
Rachel

P.S. I feel like I should also mention they got me my stuffed animal kitty, Sprinkles. A time I needed it most! Amazing friends for sure :)