Whenever I tell someone I am in a sorority, they always think the only reason I chose to be part of Greek Life was so I can pay for my friends. Sorry, but that is definitely NOT the reason. “Paying for your friends” is not even a relevant statement to what being in a sorority is like and it’s frustrating to hear people say that.
Entering freshman year of college, I knew no one. I didn’t know much about Greek Life or what philanthropy actually was. I thought you had to be super girly to join a sorority, but as I went through recruitment I found out this wasn’t true at all. Recruitment was probably one of the most nerve-wracking weeks of my life, but it was definitely worth being exhausted and stressed for endless hours and here’s why.
Now that I am a sister of Alpha Epsilon Phi, I have truly found my safe place. I have found girls very similar to me and extremely different from me, but we all ended up in the same house for a reason, just like other girls find each other in other houses and chapters. Knowing that I have over 200 sisters to go to for advice, to go out with, to talk about nothing with and to call in times of need is truly comforting. I live across the country, so having these girls has definitely helped me adjust a lot quicker than I expected.
Not only do I have these great girls to be with everyday, but I also have a sorority house to go to for meals that are the closest thing I get to a home cooked experience. Let me tell you, it’s great. I have the house for when I need quiet and want to study, if I want to nap, if I want to socialize, or if I just want to get away from whatever problems I have. Getting a change of scenery is definitely a plus when you’ve been stuck in a dorm room or apartment room for months.
Besides the fun events sororities get to participate in such as formals and date dashes, we get to do community service and fundraise in fun and unique ways. Every chapter has their own philanthropy and fundraisers that we as a Greek community use to help out others in need. Whether it’s raising money for kids with cancer, packing lunches for children who are underprivileged or helping women fight breast cancer, it's so rewarding to have such an amazing opportunity to help thousands of people from all over the country. A fundraiser in which we sell wristbands that let buyers come to our house and partake in endless desserts and candy as a midnight snack is just one example of our charitable efforts. Every house and chapter does it differently, but regardless of how, it’s the reason why that counts the most.
A sorority is also great for networking. Everyday I get e-mails about new internships, job opportunities or events going on around campus that I probably wouldn’t know existed if it weren’t for being in a sorority. A sorority has also inspired me to be a leader, such as one day hopefully being on the executive board for my chapter. Even though I am not interviewing for a real world job yet, we have had speakers come in to teach us about proper attire and interview techniques that will be very helpful to us when the time comes. How would I ever be prepared without Greek Life?
You must think that being in a sorority distracts you from actual schoolwork, but in fact it does just the opposite. We have to maintain a certain GPA, otherwise we risk not being able to participate in certain events. We have study hours and multiple girls with the same majors that are always willing to help out the younger girls who may be struggling with their work.
Joining a sorority was the first and best decision I have made during my time at college. The opportunities, entertainment, and Greek Life community have kept me stable and extremely happy for my first year of college and will continue to do so in the next three. If you think a sorority isn’t for you, try it anyways because you might be surprised how much it could actually benefit you and how it might be the best decision you will ever make.
