As I'm getting more accustomed to this new sorority lifestyle, I've noticed that a lot of people are very confused as to what a sorority is. Well, for those without a clue, the dictionary definition for a sorority is an organization for female students of a university or college. It is not a cult and it is not a gang. It is simply a group of college girls socializing and giving back to a community. The Greek community constantly gets these questions thrown at them, or so I've noticed in my short time being a part of it. There is also just an incredible amount of hate towards the Greek community from those not a part of it.
I notice the hate thrown at the Greek community predominantly on anonymous apps like Yik Yak. Whenever a sorority or fraternity have a huge event on campus, the anonymous haters lash out on Yik Yak to display their emotions against the Greek's. As someone who is a part of a sorority now, this boggles my mind. Sure, I had my doubts about going through mostly due to the stereotypes that come with the title, but those views quickly changed for me when I got my bid.
A sorority is not always like your typical beautiful blonde girl who drinks her life away. A sorority is a mixture of many girls. They are not your sorority Barbie doll. There are different races, different hairstyles, and different personalities. You get to meet people you would never think you'd associate with and you wouldn't believe the amount of connections you could get just by now being acquainted with 50+ girls. Not everyone is the same exact major as you, so there is always a new conversation to be had with all of the diversity.
Another thing that bothers people on Yik Yak is the chanting and the screaming. Yeah, I get it, we can be some pretty loud people, but you have to understand that we have certain traditions in our sorority or fraternity. To be honest, we only really scream or chant when it's a huge event for us too, so it's not a daily thing. When we do this, people seem to think that we are a part of some giant fake cult that twists around these ideas in your head and turns you into a living breathing robot.
Well, I hate to break it to you haters, but I'm a human being. I still have feelings and a mind of my own. A sorority or fraternity is an option that some people choose so that they could meet new people and maybe even perfect themselves. No, this does not mean that they are looking for Greek life to turn them into these chanting robots that people think they do, it really will change you, but for the better.
You learn a lot of social skills and by surrounding yourself with such a diverse group of people, you learn to just let go and be you. The chanting and screaming is all just a part of the Greek history that comes along with joining a fraternity or sorority. There are so many questions that I have been asked since becoming a part of a sorority and there is such overwhelming criticism about it from others. It's really not all that bad. It is an experience that you make better or worse for yourself.
...and this is not a gang sign.
