Being in a sorority was always the picture perfect way in which I imagined starting my college career. I mean, you see sorority girls in all of the movies and TV shows and let's be honest- they’re perfect. They walk across campus and all the boys stare, their hair is the definition of perfect no matter the weather, and they always, always, look like they’re having the time of their lives. Now, of course the reality of sorority girls isn’t so picture perfect, but walking onto campus the first day of class and seeing all of these intelligent, beautiful young women proudly wearing their letters made me want to become a part of it all. I know what you’re thinking, “everyone says that”, or “you have to say that or they’ll fine you”, but that’s not the case. I give you my word that going Greek changed my life in many ways, so here are just a few.
1. I found my best friends.
Yeah, yeah everyone says that, but it is true. Going to college is scary. Whether you’re staying home or moving far away you still have to connect with people and find where you fit in. What better way to do that than in an organization that upholds the same values and ideals as you? The friends I have made within my sorority are the friends that I will have for life. Not just because we happen to be sisters or because we have to spend lots of time together, but because we really should’ve been friends anyway, my sorority just brought us together.
2. It gave me confidence.
Let’s be honest. We are all insecure about one thing or another. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. But, when you’re starting a new chapter in your life and leaving behind everything you’ve ever known, those insecurities really come to light. When I joined my sorority I found confidence in myself that I didn’t know I had. It’s not in some big profound way either. It’s within all of the little things that I didn’t know I needed. Always having someone to walk across campus with, or go grab Chick-Fil-A with, or to call about what you should wear, gives you the confidence to face all of these terrifying changes with ease. Having 100+ women encouraging you to follow your dreams and take chances gives you the confidence and the courage to do things that you never would have done before (like sing and dance on stage in front of hundreds of students, teachers, parents, and frat guys).
3. It helped me give back.
The views that our society has towards sororities are very far from the truth. Being in a sorority is so much more than looks and a social life. Each organization has a philanthropic focus and is paired with an international organization that shares that focus. All of these fun events and pictures that you see everywhere are really going towards raising money for a charity organization. Sororities raise thousands and thousands of dollars for charities every year. If you’re like me, you were used to being in clubs and volunteering in high school. Joining my sorority gave me the opportunity to continue my volunteer work but on a much larger scale and in a more intimate way.
4. It holds me to a higher standard.
Little do most people know there is a certain grade requirement to join and remain in a sorority. Sisters take pride in having a higher GPA and usually having more challenging majors. Joining my sorority has held me accountable and made me obtain a higher GPA than I might have otherwise. I mean, we are in college to get an education, remember? Not only does my sorority hold me accountable in academics, but in other ways as well. Once again, sorority life isn’t just about partying and living it up with frat guys. There is a certain image and integrity that my sorority expects me to uphold, and they make sure that I do in fact uphold it. Of course you’re gonna have those few that get caught doing scandalous things, but honestly there is a bad apple in every bunch. If my sisters see me behaving in any unacceptable or potentially damaging way, they intervene and that is a huge comfort to have.
5. Time management and balance.
These are all life skills that you think you have already mastered right? Wrong. So very wrong. College is on a whole other level when it comes to time management and balance. Professors seemingly gang up and decide to further ruin our lives by scheduling all of our exams in the same week and effectively causing many nervous breakdowns. Now, you think, “No problem, I had to do this in high school”. Lol young naïve one, little do you know, college actually requires this new technique called studying. By joining a sorority I gained some much needed time management and balance skills. Your calendar gets filled with events and social affairs and volunteer work. So, not only do you have classes to contend with but you have to learn to manage study time work time and sorority time. At first it seems impossible, but once you get the hang of it you gain skills that you will need for the rest of your life.
So, I can say with confidence and pride that going Greek was the best decision that I ever made. It has made college an amazing experience filled with people and memories that I will never forget. If you find yourself wrestling with the decision to go Greek- take a risk and give it a chance. I promise you will not regret it.
