Sisterhood Personified: Joining the Spelman College Glee Club (6 pts)

 

    Spelman is known for many things: academic rigor, intellectual sovereignty, and even having some of the best chocolate chip cookies in all of Atlanta (if I do say so myself). However, the aspect of Spelman that is truly unique to our small campus tucked away in the AUC is the sisterhood between past, present, and future Spelman students. My introduction to the Spelman sisterhood started months before I submitted my application when my high school choir had the opportunity to open for the Spelman Glee Club on their “Road to 100” tour in 2024. I remember sitting in the audience, watching each member adorned in a black dress, red lipstick, and pearls sing with an elegance and power I admired. The next day, Dr. Johnson and the glee club members stopped by our school. Quickly, it became evident that they were as much of a family offstage as onstage. After spending 10 years in predominantly white classes and extracurriculars, it was heartwarming to see other girls who looked like me and had similar aspirations lifting each other up in song. One of the girls, Kyerra, even came to me after the exchange, giving me her phone number and telling me to call if I had any questions about Spelman. It was then I knew that I wanted to join the Spelman sisterhood. 

    In August of this year, after nearly 18 months of waiting, I finally auditioned for and joined the Spelman College Glee Club. Kyerra welcomed me with open arms, as did all of the other officers and upperclassmen. While it was a little challenging to adjust to the rehearsal schedule and wide range of repertoire in the midst of starting classes, returning members offered their support and wisdom in navigating glee club, classes, and college life as a whole. Additionally, I have gotten to meet other first-years who love singing as much as I do, and we have connected over many different experiences, from doing theatre in high school to picking up choreography during rehearsal for our upcoming performances. 

    Above all else, joining the Spelman Glee club has given a group of sisters who will always have my back. Whenever we perform, hearing the cloud of sound around me reminds me that I am not performing alone, but rather with a group that is better and stronger together. I have also gotten the chance to meet glee club alumnae that have come to visit our rehearsals, and they give us the same amount of love and support as we give each other. It serves as a reminder of the civic orientation we must have as members of the Spelman community. When I sing as a part of the glee club, I am not just singing to please myself: I am singing to work in tandem with my sisters and spread light and love to all who hear us. 

Best, 

Ariana Singleton

First-year Biology major, pre-medical track