Before you get any ideas, let me clarify: I’m not talking about an engagement ring. The ring I’m talking is much more important — THE Agnes Scott Ring that each Scottie receives during her second year at Agnes. The ring is presented during Sophomore Family Weekend, one of the most beloved Agnes traditions. As the name suggests, many Sophomore Scotties’ families come to Atlanta for the weekend, which culminates in a ceremony where each Scottie is called by name to the stage to receive her Agnes ring. It really is a special weekend and allows you to feel like you are truly a Scottie once you have that distinctive, unique and identifiable ring. In the almost 8 years since I graduated from Agnes, I never cease to feel so joyful when I’m identified as a Scottie due to my ring. It happens more than you might think and I always love it.
In fact, it happened last week and truly made my day! I was on the bus home and the weather was rainy, so of course traffic in DC was horrific. I was tired and wet and just really wanted to get home quickly. As I was standing on the bus, a young woman next to me inquired, “Hi, did you go to Agnes Scott?” I practically shouted (okay, maybe I did shout) yes! We started chatting and as luck would have it, she was the college roommate of one of my Agnes “little sisters” – go figure! We’d actually probably met at Agnes! Furthermore, she also goes to my newly found, super awesome church! What are the odds that I’d find an ASC grad, who lives in my neighborhood and goes to my church on a slow bus ride home?! I’m telling you, it’s the power of the ring 🙂
I love that a wonderful Agnes tradition has the power to bring women together and I will continue to treasure both my experience at Agnes and THE Ring for the rest of my life. Choosing to attend Agnes was one of the best decisions I ever made and THE Ring is a tangible expression of that decision. It’s a conversation starter and always provides an opportunity to share my amazing alma mater with others. I love getting to share my small, liberal arts women college (NOT girls school, mind you) with the world.
hahaha first sentence was perfect!
VT has a huge tradition around class rings too. love it! I actually almost missed mine because of confusion on the “right” year.
p.s. I still think your class ring is gorgeous.
I love to tell people about “the” ring! I’ve never been identified as a Scottie grad because of it, but I’ve had lots of people inquire where I got it, and I always launch into this long explanation of the tradition and how awesome Agnes Scott is. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your ring story. Have you also thought about posting it here: http://blackringsisterhood.wordpress.com ?
I got spotted by my ring just a few weeks ago by a girl scout who recognized the ring because her mom was a graduate. Of COURSE I bought cookies from her!
Sadly my small women’s college (which was admittedly an integrated part of a larger university) no longer exists… but I cherished my time there. I have never had anyone recognize my college ring, but perhaps I should start wearing it (at least once I move back from Europe) and see if people do!
Aryn – you definitely should!! Where’d you go to undergrad? And Amber — thanks I def will! Linds — I bet now you are going to run into an agnes alum bc of the ring 🙂