Picking a sorority isn’t like picking the perfect dress for formal or a handsome date for GRUB. It isn’t something that can be captured in an Instagram picture or even in a magazine article. It is, however, an overwhelming sense of peace, of happiness, and of belonging that will stay with you the rest of your life. It makes a sometimes intimidating campus seem more comfortable and a group of beautiful strangers into family; without even fully realizing it during recruitment, choosing a sorority helps define your college career.
However, you shouldn’t let the negative reputation or stereotype of your respective sorority upset or define you because most of them, as it turns out, aren’t even true. Within our sororities we have dancers, artists, athletes and musicians. We have girls with a variety of majors and an endless number of individual interests. We are ambassadors, we are student government representatives, we are honors students, we are team members and we are all Tigers. Most important, though, we are proud and intelligent young women privileged to be a part of a sisterhood at LSU so much deeper and more incredible than we ever could have discovered or even developed on our own.
Sororities were not designed to bring us down emotionally, but should instead be something that raises our spirits and makes us proud to be Greek women. Despite labels different chapters down the row are given, no one sorority is “better” than another. We are all held to the same Panhellenic standards, awarded the same opportunities, and expected to conduct ourselves in the same respectable manner. Controversies may arise and rumors may spread, but at the end of the day we need to remember that we are all in this together. No girl or chapter should ever feel attacked; drama is inevitable, but causing girls in other sororities to feel bad about themselves will never be okay.
Zeta Tau Alpha’s president, Amy Pinac, is a perfect example of a dedicated leader, caring sister, and outstanding Greek woman. “For me, being a leader in my chapter is about trying to give something back to an organization that has given me so much," she said. "I wouldn't be who I am today without ZTA. Serving as a chapter leader means setting an example. I hope that I can inspire the younger members to take on leadership roles.”
She also remarks, “One of my favorite things about ZTA is that we respect the term 'sister.' It doesn't matter if you've met once or you're best friends, in ZTA we are all here for each other all the time.”
Amy’s thoughts reflect the ultimate goal each of us should have down the row: treat each other as we would want to be treated. At the end of the day we are all Greek sisters that have the responsibility, together, to show the rest of the LSU community what great gifts and talents we have to offer.
