Up until my freshman year of college, I never ever would have thought that I would go through sorority recruitment or ever actually join a sorority. I grew up in Wisconsin where Greek Life isn't nearly as big of a deal as it is down south, but I decided to go to a school in Alabama. When it came down to deciding whether or not to participate in rush, my reasoning was simple: I wanted an easy way to meet friends because I was going to school 16 hours from home. So somehow I became a sorority girl, but I'm really glad that I did. If you're considering joining a sorority, here are some reasons why you should.
1. Friendships
This is the most obvious reason to join a sorority, and it is ultimately what drove me to go through recruitment. I didn't have any friends from high school going to the same school as me, so I wanted to make sure I had a good plan to make friends in college. My high school friends and I were a really close-knit group and I wanted to feel the same kind of bond that I felt with them in my friendships in college. When I joined my sorority, I was definitely not disappointed. I instantly made friendships with my sisters that I'm confident will last a lifetime. I found future bridesmaids before I even signed my bid day card!
2. Accountability
When you're part of a sisterhood, you're part of something bigger than yourself, so you've got a lot of people helping you stay on the right track. The classic stereotype that sorority girls just party and have fun isn't really true. Joining a sorority has held me to a high standard when it comes to not only my academics but also my morals.
3. Role Models
Being a part of a sorority gives you older sisters to look up to. As a freshman, you're able to connect with upperclassman who can help you schedule your classes, give you important life advice, and help you with your eyeliner. The Big/Little system is great because you have an entire family that's willing to help you out. In turn, when you are an upperclassman, you get to be a role model for the freshman too.
4. School Spirit
While sorority girls all love their sorority, we all love our school as well. Being a part of a sorority in college really helps boost your school spirit because you go to all the pep rallies, participate in Homecoming Week, and tailgate at home games with your sisters. I'm not sure I'd have nearly as much school spirit if I hadn't been participating in all of this since my first week of freshman year.
5. Volunteer Opportunities
In college, everyone should be trying to volunteer in their community. Whether you just want to add a bullet point to your resume or if you want to get involved in your college town, volunteering is a wonderful thing to do. Each sorority has their own philanthropy that they support, but being a part of a sorority also allows you to hear about different local volunteer opportunities that don't necessarily have to do with your philanthropy.
6. Love and Support in Tough Times
Although the benefits of having a sisterhood are clear during the good times, they're even more obvious during the bad times. The loss of a loved one, a breakup, an injury, or struggling with depression and anxiety are all extremely challenging things to deal with alone, but thankfully, when you're in a sorority you have 180+ sisters to comfort and pray for you in your time of need.
7. A Home Away from Home
Going to school far from home can be hard sometimes, but having a sorority house and sisterhood to call your home makes everything a lot easier. While I personally do not live in the sorority house, I still consider it a safe, welcoming space where I can relax and be myself.
8. Fun Social Events
When you think "Greek Life," this is probably what you think about first. The social events are a definite perk of being in a sorority. While most girls only get to have prom once, sorority girls get to have a formal every year, but it's way more fun than prom. Of course, there are the other types of social events like date parties, semi formals, swaps, socials, and mixers, so there's something for everyone if you'd rather wear a toga than a formal dress.
9. Leadership Opportunities
Joining a sorority allows you the opportunity to pursue leadership positions within the sorority, but also makes it easier to pursue leadership positions outside of the sorority. When you've got all your sisters backing you up, it is a lot less nerve racking to run for an SGA position or exec board position in another club.
It's clear that there are so many wonderful benefits that come with being a part of a sisterhood. These are just a few things to keep in mind if you're wondering if you should go through sorority recruitment.
