This time last year, I was getting ready to transfer to a new university an hour away from my hometown. I was excited to live in a new city, to go to a new school, make new friends, and experience another chapter of my life.
Since I lived far enough away from my new university, I knew I would have to move. I thought the only housing option available to me was a dorm on campus, until I began receiving emails from the Greek Community informing new students about their option to rush a house. When I mentioned this to my mother, she urged me to rush a sorority. Her argument was "I didn't have a chance to join one at my college, so you should."
The only thing I knew about Greek life and Dorm like were what I had seen on TV. I thought the Greek community would be a sure way to make friends, have a fun and active life on campus, and make connections for the rest of my life. I believed that Dorm life would be miserable, with students hooking up all over the place and roommates from hell out to torture you.
Despite how much better the Greek life sounded based on my pre-conceived notions, I just couldn't see myself as a sorority girl. I didn't think living in a house surrounded by dozens of girls at any waking moment sounded appealing. I knew in my heart that I would be happier if I didn't do as my mother suggested for this one moment in my life.
I knew other friends who had joined the Greek community at their schools and love it, and I knew of others who joined and ended up dropping out of their respective houses. I got along great with both Greek and Non-Greek girls, so it was a coin flip on whether I would be happy or not.
Ultimately, I decided that the Greek life was just not for me and that I would be living in the dorms for my first year at college. I rejected the promise of a sisterhood with matching outfits for the mismatched group of friends that I made in the dorms on campus. And I couldn't be happier.
These friends that I have made over the past year are some that I know will be around for a long time. I met my three new roommates in my dorm, I met my current boyfriend of almost a year in my dorm, and I made so many good memories in the six short months I was living on campus.
Had I decided to join the Greek community, I would not remember the midnight runs to the on campus food store for snacks. I would not remember the time maintenance turned off the hot water for an entire long weekend in the winter. I would not remember the time we built a box man in the common room of my dorm floor. Nor would I remember the times we had floor movie nights when we were first getting to know each other. Each of these memories are special and involve a different friend I made in the past year, none of which I would have if I listened to my mother's advice all those months ago.
Since ultimately choosing the dorm life, I have met and made friends with many girls who are a part of a sorority and each of them is nicer than the last. Sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice in not joining the Greek community, but then I look at my ridiculous and amazing friends and I know that I have no regrets.
The dorm life didn't chose me, I chose the dorm life, and I loved every minute of it.
