Going to college, most girls have firm thoughts on Greek life. They’re either counting down the days until recruitment, or they want absolutely nothing to do with the process. I was the latter. Time and time again, I told people that Greek life was not for me, because my mind was consumed with images from the media of stuck-up rich girls parading from one party to the next. I quickly learned how wrong I was after hearing my circle of friends gushes about each night of recruitment, and then about their new-found homes. A few days later, I started to think that sorority life might be worth a try, and the rest is history. I found my home, and I love it.
In the midst of being taught the names of my new sisters and facts about my sorority, I discovered a deeper meaning of two very important words, home and sisterhood. I learned that home is not just a place, surrounded by four walls and covered with a roof. It’s not just somewhere that you live or spend a lot of your time either. It’s a feeling that lives in your heart. Home is being surrounded by people who love you and knowing that you have a forever family. Sisterhood brings about that feeling of home. A sisterhood is not just a group of girls who wear the same letters, partake in the same rituals, or own the same pin. It’s much more than a word used to describe friendship. Sisterhood is one of the reasons that I wanted to join my sorority and it's one of the reasons that I still love it to this day.
To me, a sisterhood is a family that will stand behind you no matter what. Sisters have your back through thick and thin. They’re your biggest fans, cheering you on at every sporting event, concert, and play. A sisterhood is unique because it’s filled with diverse individuals who are leaders, artists, singers, writers, scientists, teachers, and everything else you can imagine. There’s never any fear of being yourself because you know that your sisters will accept you for exactly who you are. A sisterhood is a group who may not all be best friends with one another, but you know that every one of them would run to the ends of the earth to help a sister in need. They’re always there to pick you up when you fall, hug you when you’re sad, and wipe your tears when you cry.
Each sorority may be different, but they all value sisterhood. To find out what it’s like for others, I asked members of my sorority as well as other sororities what sisterhood means to them. Here are some of their answers:
“It's having very different, unique, and beautiful parts put together to make an incredible unit that never ceases to support and love unconditionally, allowing women to thrive in any endeavor they might face in life.” -Brittney Stuart, Alpha Delta Pi
“Sisterhood is always knowing you have a crowd to cheer you on, arms to hug you on a bad day, and smiles and laughter around a dinner table.” -Emma Brems, Kappa Delta
“[It’s] an amazing community that genuinely cares about one another. There is a sense of belonging and acceptance within the sorority that is hard to put into words, and I am truly grateful for every minute.” -Mary Zavell, Alpha Chi Omega
“It means always having someone there to help you out during your worst times, making friends with someone you would never expect, and always having someone to make new memories with.” -Samantha Taylor, Kappa Delta
“Sisterhood is respecting each other as people and as sisters; it is a connection that you share. A sisterhood is a community.” -Rebecca Fiete, Sigma Kappa
The word ‘community’ was especially prevalent in the answers of everyone that I spoke to. Each person emphasized how the girls in their sorority were not only their sisters, but their best friends for life, who stick together and help each other out at all times. We’ve all found our home, and we all have an everlasting sisterhood. Our letters may be different, but we’re sisters all the same.
