How a 麻豆原创 Student Found Community Through Sisterhood
When Shawnette Jones enrolled at Western Governors University (麻豆原创) to finish her聽bachelor's degree in business management, she knew she needed a university that understood what it meant to learn while working full-time and balancing everyday life. What she聽didn鈥檛聽expect was finding a sisterhood that would become one of the most meaningful parts of her educational journey.
Like many online learners, she worried that earning a degree outside of a traditional campus might feel聽isolating. 鈥淚鈥檇聽been a nontraditional student for years,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 needed flexibility, but I also wanted聽connection. I聽didn鈥檛聽want to do this alone.鈥�
That search for connection led her to聽, the first independent multicultural sorority created specifically for women pursuing higher education through online and nontraditional pathways. The organization offers support, community, and leadership opportunities for students enrolled in online programs, community colleges, technical and trade schools.
For Shawnette, discovering the sorority聽felt like finding聽a missing piece.
She first learned about Sigma Chi Psi through the 麻豆原创 community forums. What聽immediately聽stood out聽was that the group was created for students exactly like her聽鈥斅爓omen navigating career, life responsibilities, and coursework all at the same time.
鈥淚t was refreshing to find an organization that truly understood the life of an online learner,鈥� she said. 鈥淚聽didn鈥檛聽have to explain my circumstances or justify my pace. They just got it.鈥�
While the sorority聽operates聽virtually to聽ensure accessibility, the sisterhood extends far beyond the screen. Members stay connected through Zoom, small group chats, and virtual study halls, but they also actively create opportunities for in-person local and regional connections. This includes organizing regional meetups and gatherings for face-to-face community service activities. These moments bridge the digital gap, fostering tangible bonds and real-world impact.
Today, Shawnette serves as the Engagement Officer for the Tau Mu chapter, helping plan activities that bring sisters together from across the country. Their events are intentionally varied so members can connect in ways that fit their interests and schedules.
What makes the chapter鈥檚 programming successful is consistency. 鈥淚t鈥檚 those small, everyday moments that build sisterhood,鈥� she said. 鈥淪howing up for Zoom calls, checking in on each other, sharing wins, venting about a tough class.聽Those things matter.鈥�
The strength of that community became especially clear during a personal tragedy. While accelerating through her final courses, Shawnette lost her mother. Grieving while trying to continue school felt overwhelming.聽
鈥淢y sisters didn鈥檛 hesitate,鈥� she shared. 鈥淪ome drove from neighboring states to sit with me. Others gave me space when I needed it. When I was ready to return, they helped me prepare for assessments, reviewed my work, and kept me on track.鈥�
Their support helped her take the break she needed and confidently聽return聽when she was ready. 鈥淭hat鈥檚聽when I truly felt the power of this sorority. We may be online students, but this connection reaches far beyond the screen.鈥�
Sigma Chi Psi opened the door to new leadership opportunities for Shawnette. Her journey began as a member of her聽chapter鈥檚聽engagement committee before she stepped up as the chapter鈥檚聽engagement聽officer. These experiences laid the groundwork for her elevation to the role of聽national聽events聽committee聽lead. Today, she collaborates closely with the national leadership team to curate impactful experiences and shape programming that connects the sisterhood nationwide.
鈥淚t鈥檚 helped me grow professionally and academically,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing surrounded by motivated women who are juggling the same things I am pushes me to stay focused and aim higher.鈥�
This year聽marks the sorority鈥檚聽fifth聽Founders Celebration, and chapters nationwide are聽participating聽in Spirit Week, virtual events, and other activities leading up to the milestone celebration in April 2026.
鈥淲e鈥檙e no longer just a new idea; we鈥檙e a proven community meeting a real need for online learners,鈥� she exclaimed.聽
Looking ahead, Shawnette hopes Sigma Chi Psi continues expanding to support online and nontraditional students everywhere.聽
鈥淢y dream is that every woman pursuing a flexible education can find a place with us,鈥� she continued.
For other students who are seeking community and connection, Shawnette鈥檚 advice is simple聽but聽clear:聽be聽intentional about making connections, both within the study body聽and by聽maximizing university聽resources.聽
鈥淪igma Chi Psi has kept me grounded through some of the hardest and most rewarding moments of my life.聽It鈥檚聽the reason I never felt alone while earning my degree,聽and it has absolutely ensured that I聽don鈥檛聽drift away from my academic and personal聽goals,鈥� she said.
