February 14th, Valentine’s Day: a day hated, loved, feared, hoped for and everything in between. But for Hannah Switzer, a junior political science major, and Carlee Norwood, a senior sociology and psychology major, the day allows them to freely be the sappy, supportive, sorority sisters right out of “Legally Blonde.”
“I think we could get married in a heartbeat,” Switzer shared.“We’re like an old married couple…we’ll even say ‘Remember, it’s not me against you, it’s us against the problem.’”
Switzer and Norwood recognize the winding road it took to reach that point, however. At first, an unlikely pair, Norwood was serving as Zeta Tau Alpha’s New Member Educator and met Switzer by recruiting her former roommate. Their differences were immediately noticeable to the two.
Switzer was a second-semester freshman with a shaved, purple head and a social introvert. Norwood was and is an admitted extrovert, and at the time, she was rising quickly through the ranks of her sorority. However, after a summer trip to Switzer’s home in James Island with a group of their mutual friends, a true bond was formed between the two.
“After a couple of days, I got sick of the others, but I never got sick of Hannah. As soon as I left, I missed her…”Norwood said.
Their sorority ties are not all that keep the pair close, though. Norwood and Switzer had plenty of words to share about how they’ve kept their friendship strong after the three years of stressful college classes and the ins-and-outs of Greek life.
“No matter what I’m going through, she’s someone that will always listen and find advice that’s always useful.,” Norwood said of Switzer. “Hannah’s always been able to make a positive difference in my life.”
She was not alone in praise of her sister, though. “Carlee weathers me through my seasons and listens when you talk. It’s a support that’s hard to find and it’s hard to find one that lasts,” Switzer said.
The two described their relationship as symbiotic, each helping the other and being there for each other.
“I prefer your company to being alone…that’s the true mark of someone I want to spend time with,” Switzer explained, as she described the mark of a true friend. Norwood concurred, “I pull her out of her shell, and she’s willing to come into mine.”
Stories of friendship and symbiotic sisterhood like theirs are not rare on Winthrop’s campus. Sororities have long held “Galentine’s” celebrations: a popular way for friends to celebrate and appreciate each other without the pressures of romance and gifts. Switzer even writes personal, platonic Galentine’s to the sisters of the Theta Sigma chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Norwood herself is in the midst of planning an “elaborate Valentine’s Day date” for one of her sisters.
In times like these, on days like these, it’s important to remember that love on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be between romantic partners or star-crossed lovers. The comfort of an understanding friend, the freedom to be who you are in their presence and the trust knowing you’ll see each other through the worst is love. A kind of love that doesn’t require Valentine’s Day to celebrate.
But, if you do plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day, this writer suggests you follow Carlee’s example and tell a friend today: “Eww, I love you.”
