I guess for all of you out there that actually know me, this didn't come as too much of a surprise to you: I love people, I'm loud, and I can be pretty spontaneous, I call myself an introverted extrovert :). But, I guess people do hear things about what might happen, with things like high expenses, over partying and getting drunk, and sexual assault horror stories, and a bunch of other stuff...But, it's true when those "stereotypical sorority girls" do say that you find some of your best friends/sisters in that environment.

Truth be told, for my first two years of my undergrad, I was involved in a Christian sorority called Sigma Phi Lambda (Phi Lamb), which was actually a super cute and neat sisterhood to be a part of. I was joining along with some of the other girls that had been in my Ignite camp, which was a UT Austin church camp for incoming freshmen. Because of this, naturally I was inclined to join, because Jesus + great gals = a wonderful time. I did meet some amazing people, such as my big and my little, but I couldn't help but feel kind of excluded from them. It didn't feel like a totally welcoming environment in the sense that apparent cliques were there, such as those who were going to become Ignite counselors the following summer. I couldn't help but feel the reason why I didn't leave sooner was because of the expectations that surrounded me: I was a Christian girl who should surround herself with other Christian girls. But, conversations felt kind of flat and awkward, and I guess that's my fault because I tend to be kind of awkward...

So, earlier this semester, I decided to leave that sorority. I just didn't really feel any positivity towards the group, only apathy. So, I am a person who deeply cares for some type of bonding, friendship, and community. Because of this, I actively sought out different groups, such as spirit groups, service-oriented sororities, and a Latinx sorority. But none of these options really felt right to me. Just then, I had remembered seeing on my friend Elizabeth's Instagram that she had joined a sorority the year before, and I thought, oh my gosh maybe this is it, she's one of my best friends and I'd love to spend more time with her! So, I reached out to her, and she had told me that there was actually recruitment going on, and she gave me a link to the UT chapter website of the sorority, which is called Sigma Delta Tau (SDT). I found out about it a day after their open house night, so I went to their other two nights, and I was immediately hooked to this sisterhood.

Along with Elizabeth, I found another girl who had been in my Ochem Lab class the previous semester, and even my own Genetics TA from the previous semester...it was wild. I was like wait really people do things other than school??? (JK) but also the whole place was so organized and everyone was color coded in their outfits and they all looked so pretty! I was like THIS IS THE SISTERHOOD IVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

But a new environment to me is always scary. I often have cases of paranoia where I overthink not only things in my present, but how these present things can affect/lead to things in my future so I was freaking out, so I was constantly reaching out to my friend, and she was so so helpful <3. It was also weird just because most of the other new members were freshmen so I was just thinking wow am I too old to join one of these then??? But luckily I met another girl named Mariangela who was also a junior and was also from the RGV, my heart SOARED. Like, y'all have no idea how excited I get when I meet someone else from the RGV. But yeah, we mostly talked to each other, and now I can say she is one of my very best friends!

I loved how after events, all of us new members would go out to do something, like the first night we all officially met, we all went to Pizza Press and I specifically talked to my friend Mariangela, and I met a new friend named Nimisha. We all just conversed with each other about the most random things, but getting to know each other like that was awesome :).

Being a new member was an all new experience for me, really. I'd never really been a part of a group so welcoming and overall energetic before. This sorority also has a suite at UT, which was pretty cool to hear about also. I guess I was a little worried about how it could interfere with my school obligations, but then I saw that study time was a thing they also made a priority and I was basically even more hooked than I had been before, lol.

So many new and different things happened where I went out with my "sisters": I went roller skating and to get ice cream and to just walk onto campus, it was a fun time. I even got a big (pictured carrying me)! And I wish I could say even more about this wonderful place, but honestly, I have to wait until next spring, haha.