One of the comments I have heard during my time in a sorority was, “The movies made it seem so much scarier than it actually is in real life!”
That, my friends, could not be truer. I feel as though everybody has this mental picture in their head of what being in a sorority is like and how the process really works. Twitter has posted videos of the “gates of hell” opening where it is all the sorority girls singing in the door and I hate to say it but that really does happen and surprisingly it is not as easy as it looks. Although It may look intimidating, going Greek really was the best decision of my life. Luckily, before attending Illinois State, I had a little background on what Greek life was all about.
My sister recently just graduated from The University of Alabama and if you know anything about that school it is typically that Greek life there is HUGE. And when I say huge, I mean that there bid day is actually nationally called “The Running of the Bulls” because the number of girls running to their houses makes it look like a stampede. I was introduced to this life as a sophomore in high school and have been following her journey since she joined her sorority freshman year of college. Trust me when I say I have a lot of knowledge and experience to tell you why you should be going through the recruitment process.
Although Alabama is definitely a step above Illinois State when it comes to Greek life, Illinois State still has a strong Greek life community that makes your college experience the best it can be. We may not have beautiful multimillion dollar houses and money out the wazoo, but we still have everything in between. Going Greek isn’t just living in mansions, having a chef (even though that is THE BEST perk of living in), and having the perfect “party” social life. It is about so much more.
Go Greek for friendship. After going through recruitment, I got 100+ more sisters! What more could a girl ask for? If you want one thing coming out of college and that one thing is having girls that will be your bridesmaids, then joining a sorority is where you should go for that. I have met the greatest people that will hold a place in my heart forever. I am living with my best friend next year in the Phi Sig mansion and I could not be more excited! I have found girls that will literally be there for me whenever I need them.
Go Greek for leadership. If there is one thing I wish I did differently in high school, that would be not taking a role in the environment that I was in. Greek life is a great way to be involved and take on a leadership position. Stand out and take initiative because it looks great on a resume. Being involved and being a leader is a commitment that will help you grow as a person and help your chapter out in more ways that you can imagine. A community like this needs people with motivation and perseverance to join.
Go Greek for the overall life experience. Besides the friends you make and the roles you take, there is so much that goes into a sorority that forms you into the person that you are today. College is a hard place to be in. We are literally dropped on a campus and are told to make a huge decision that will take us down the so called “road to our success” in our future lives. The experiences you will have in a sorority help you feel a sense of relief from the world around you. It is your time to socialize, make decisions (even though some might always be the best decisions), and discover who you are as a person. You will find that in a sorority because everyone around you, wants you to thrive and live your best life.
I highly encourage everyone to go Greek. It benefits you in so many ways and offers you so many opportunities that are right in front of you. Yes, we all want to live in a luxurious house, have all our meals cooked for us, and have endless amounts of fun, but the friendships, bonds, and experiences that you will take from a sorority will be with you for the rest of your life.
Go Greek!