Congratulations, you’ve made it through recruitment! You’ve gone from house to house, searching for the one, and finally you decided which house is right for you. Now it’s time to show your new sorority that they were right to extend you a bid and this is where you belong. 

It’s nerve wracking; you’re brand new and only recognize a few people in this group of girls who are now your sisters. Everyone is watching your every move and it doesn’t take long for you to see that the time you have before initiation comes is make it or break it for you. Not only is it the most important time to show them what you’ve got, but it’s also the time when you decide if you made the right choice. Whether you’re a legacy or the first to go Greek in your family, this is still the moment when you realize you’ve got a lot of work to do. For me, the first in my family to even know what a sorority was, I was terrified. I didn’t know where to start or who to talk to, let alone where to stand. So, I've decided to share the five top ways to be the best new member you could possibly be.

5. Go out of your way to meet as many girls as possible. This is a no brainer, but some girls don’t realize its importance until a few weeks in, and if you don’t start right away, you’re already missing out. Getting to talk to the girls in your new sisterhood for the first time since your forced conversations during recruitment is when you really learn about your sorority and the people in it. This is the time to see if your new sisters are girls you can see yourself being close with for the rest of your life, girls who share your values. You’re not going to love everyone right away, and that’s okay, that’ll come with time. 

The more girls you meet, the more you find out what you’ve gotten yourself into, and the more you realize that they are all just as nervous and excited as you are. The more sisters you befriend, the more sisters you’ll have to help show you the ropes and help you through the next few weeks as a new member. Along with all the help you'll get, the chances of finding your perfect big also increase with the more girls you get to know! I was lucky and knew from day one who I wanted as my big, but some girls don’t find their other half until later on. If you don’t set out to meet as many girls as possible, you diminish your chances. You’re bound to find someone you instantly click with; you just have to look!

4. Ask questions. As a new member, you know virtually nothing about anything. There are so many things that you are thrust into and if you are too scared or intimidated to ask questions, you won’t get very far. To be successful you have to be brave enough to ask the older girls when you don’t understand something. Don’t think that they’ll be mean or think you’re dumb; they’re your sisters and they’re here to help you! You’ll be looked upon much more highly if you are proactive and get what you need to be successful all on your own, rather than waiting for someone to tell you what you need to do, or that you’ve done it wrong.

3. Study. When you decide to join a sorority, you have also decided to follow your new sorority’s traditions. Most don’t realize just how much there is to learn about your sorority before they will let you be initiated. New members don’t just get initiated after a certain period of time; most sororities test you on their values and histories before they’ll let you become an initiate. Sororities have been around for quite some time, and the rituals they have in place are not as simple as you might think. There are founders, mottos, colors, flowers and so much more. Memorizing all this information takes some time and dedication. Make it easier on yourself and study every chance you get. Make flash cards and recruit study buddies – there is no better way to meet the girls in your pledge class than to bond over learning the things that make your sorority unique. It’s much better to take the time to study a little bit at a time, than to stress yourself out at the end when there’s too much information for your brain to process.

2. Go to every event you possibly can. As a new member, it was intimidating for me to attend my sorority’s socials and philanthropy events. I barely knew anyone and didn’t think I’d have fun. What I didn’t realize is that every event I passed up was another lost opportunity. It is so important as a new member to attend every event you possibly can. How are you going to meet your sisters if you don’t go out with them? How are you going to learn about your sorority’s values if you don’t attend their philanthropies? Before you know it you'll realize that you have been missing out, but there’s no way to get back lost time. Every senior’s words of advice include telling their sisters to go to everything and, if you follow their advice, you’ll thank yourself later. You don't want to look back at your time in your sorority and regret wasting it, but look back and be happy you made the most of it. Don’t let the fears of being new and not knowing many people scare you, these girls aren’t like most others – they’re your sisters.

1. Bond with your pledge class. You’re new and you feel all alone on the journey into this unknown sorority life, but every girl in your pledge class is thinking the very same thing. The sooner you realize that you're all in the same boat, the sooner you become excited about your new sorority, rather than frightened. The most important piece of advice I can give you is to do anything you can to bond with the girls in your pledge class. Yes, it is important to get to know the older girls, but make sure you don’t forget about your fellow new members. These are the girls who will be with you throughout your entire experience in your chapter. They are the ones who will be there when the older girls graduate, the ones to help you teach the younger girls what your sorority is all about and, most importantly, the ones that you'll realize you don't want to be without. Make sure to appreciate all they have to offer. The sooner the better.