I have always been told that college is supposed to be the best four years of your life. While those words excited me, they were also intimidating. What if I didn’t choose the right school?
I knew I had made the right choice the moment I moved into the Coronado dorm at the University of Arizona. The parties, the sports, the weather, the people -- U of A seemed amazing from the start. After moving me into my postage stamp sized room and meeting my roommate’s family, my parents finally drove away. As they left, it hit me. My life would never be the same.
But there was no time to shed tears, because within minutes I was attending my first recruitment meeting. The next morning I was awoken by my alarm at an ungodly hour for the hardcore girl flirting that we like to call recruitment.
Going into this experience, I had no idea which sorority I would ultimately choose. Hell, I wasn’t even completely sure what Greek life was about. All I knew is that I wanted the chance to make friends and be in a house that could make Tucson feel more like home.
Two sleep deprived weeks later, bid day arrived – surrounding me with the girls who would soon become my best friends.
Fast forward a year. My sorority has become a major part of my life. I won’t lie, the parties are fun and our clothes are cute, but I’ve gotten more out of this organization than I could have ever imagined. My sorority has made me feel confident in myself, proud of the woman I am becoming, and is an integral part of many of my best memories.
For the first time in my life I have friendships that are more than superficial. I have friends who know me better than the ones I grew up with. They accept and love me for who I am. There is no act I have to put on to fit in.
I have friends who will pick me up from the gym, even though it’s less than a mile away – simply because I don’t feel like walking. I have friends who will move my car for me when I oversleep and forget so that I don’t get a ticket. I have friends who know my order at Taco Bell by heart, and will always go with me to get it. My friends road trip with me, have late night dance parties with me and take on just about anything with me.
Coming to the University of Arizona was the best decision I’ve ever made. I love this school more than words can express. But more importantly, my experience at U of A would not be the same without my choice to go Greek. My sorority sisters are what take my college experience and fill it with unforgettable memories. I’m lucky because my best friends are also my sisters.
