There are many articles that explain what it is like to join a sorority. However, none of those articles prepared me with what was to come. I was not ready for the late nights sitting in the kitchen of the house in a meeting knowing I had not started my homework for the next day. I was not ready to make meaningful paddles and creative canvases with puns. Although they were unexpected, I wouldn’t trade the small aspects for the world.

1. Crafting.

I figured the crafting would eventually come into play, but I didn't know about the canvases and picture frames I’d have to make. Another downside is that I’m fairly artistic, so everyone has asked me to work on something for them. Currently, I am making two paddles and a multitude of canvases.

2. Dress codes.

For some events, like initiation, chapter or philanthropy events, dress codes make sense, but I wasn’t expecting them to tell us what we had to wear to class. The clothes, like dark jeans and shoes, are planned out and sent in an email to us the night before.

3. Pictures.

Even if it is not a big event, you can bet there will be groups of girls taking pictures just because they happened to wear a vest the same day as someone else.

4. Many shirts.

When I first joined a house, we only received the shirt we were given on Bid Day. A lot of us were feeling deprived only having one shirt, so the second we had access to places where we could buy shirts, everyone went crazy. Now, I don’t know what to do with all of my shirts.

5. Meetings.

I figured a meeting would occur, but the weekly new-member meetings turned into a weekly chapter, which escalated into recruitment workshops. All meetings are mandatory.

6. New Instagram followers.

The amount of Instagram followers you get in the days after Bid Day is overwhelming, but you can always count on them to like your pictures.

7. Attachment to your letters.

I still don’t know everyone in my house, so I’ll see people around campus wearing my letters and not recognize them. However, I have to wave to them because we are sisters

8. The support.

It may sound cheesy, but the support you receive from a sorority is unlike anything you would ever experience. You cheer other sisters on as they compete at a philanthropy event, then they cheer you on just as much.