When I received my bid for Alpha Chi Omega, I got a lot of backlash from friends and family alike.
"Wow, I never thought you were like that," they would say. The assumption was I joined to hook up with fraternity guys and to find out where the party was at. While I was at it, maybe I would go bleach blonde and amazingly gain an obnoxious valley girl accent when I was “converted” and drank their kool-aid. Or maybe not.
I wanted to shed off my high school self and think about the experience I really wanted from college. When I was younger, I was given the same advice if I ever had a fight with a friend, "Don’t worry, you meet your friends for life in college." Here I am, 18 and finished with my second semester, and I couldn’t confidently say I had even something remotely close to that. “Where were the adventures?” I wondered. The coffee dates and sleepovers and late night study sessions … there was none of that.
Freshman year was lonely. I was a commuter and even if I was outgoing, making plans with people from class felt less like hanging out and more like an incognito group project. Strenuous, forced. The kind of uncomfortable reserved for Thanksgiving dinners where your distant relatives ask you all sorts of probing questions. I had never considered Greek Life. Like ever. It was a club that I assumed had closed doors. The perception in my head had developed after exposure to a number of movies that showcased the same thing. These are all the reasons I chose sorority life and what I gained that makes me stand by that decision.
1. Friends
I tell people I joined my sorority for a multitude of reasons. One being that I wanted bridesmaids for my wedding. My wish was granted as I can say that I have made friendships with some of the coolest girls I have ever met. For real, some of the most genuine conversations are with girls that I call my sisters. They’re the kind of girls that are unapologetically themselves and inspire me to do likewise. I have gone on impromptu fast food runs at midnight, beach days, ice skating outings, volunteer work and late night study sessions in the library. We share our hearts and swap stories about past loves, insecurities and fears about a future still on the horizon.
2. Community Involvement
Strangely enough, all of the stereotypes I met along my way to college didn’t prepare me for the realization that each organization in Greek Life does a lot for their community. As a member of Alpha Chi Omega, our philanthropy is domestic violence awareness and we work with women's shelters in the area to provide financial support by creating events to raise money. Along with my chapter, each sorority raises awareness and funds for causes close to their hearts. My sisters brought in canned food, donated clothes and tabled across campus to bring awareness to students across the board. Our combined efforts resulted in more support for the shelters that support victims of domestic violence and gave a voice to an issue that doesn’t get enough press. Joining a sorority will provide you with opportunities to better your community and your world around you.
3. Developing Values
Shared values are an important part component of friendships. They can be the glue that holds it together. My organization is governed by five values: leadership ability, personal development, academic interest, character and financial responsibility. Alpha Chi Omega challenges me to grow up into the woman who is strong and independent. It’s an organization that puts my sisters into the same position. These values and the emphasis of ours in keeping harmony in our life by pursuing them is what keeps my sisters and I through tough times and better.
4. Self-Image
When I joined my sorority, it became a push to present myself in the best light possible. I didn’t find myself changing to meet anyone's standards, but I wanted to be closer to the alter ego I fancied myself to be. My self-image was increased by the support of all the sisters who loved and supported me just the way I am. I joined a group of bright, young women who supported each other and encouraged each other learn how to love ourselves more. My sisters are always complimenting each other, they’re as generous with their smiles as they are with their words of kindness.
5. “Home Away From Home”
Being a freshman in college can be overwhelming, but finding your “Home-away-from-home.” Many girls join sororities in their second semester or later because of the same reasons I had: they wanted to belong. You find girls who support you and try to be there for you no matter what. I know sisters who have brought soup to someone who caught the flu, saw another sister eating alone and went to join her, or a sister who gave another advice and a hug after she had failed her first algebra exam. Your chapter will become your family. Sure, there’s some drama sometimes, but there’s a foundation of respect and care for every sister that binds your hearts together. If something feels missing or being homesick is starting to affect your college experience, joining a sorority can be the cure-all.
When you join a sorority, you’re joining a network of supportive and strong-willed women who believe in themselves, each other and the foundations of the organization they give their time to. If you’re joining Alpha Chi Omega or whatever sorority that speaks to you, don’t believe in any of the stereotypes. Take the plunge like I did and find your “forever home” like so many girls have and see what there is to gain.
