When I first heard about the greek life at Kettering University (which was late in my high school career), I was surprised. So many people were involved. I had never thought about greek life. No one close to me had ever gone greek, and all I knew was what I saw in movies and TV, and none of that has a very positive portrayal. There was times when I would sit and think, “Oh that girl will totally go greek in college. She screams sorority girl.” I was never a part of that category—not even close.

Rolling up on campus for the first time, being greek was still not on my mind, I knew that it was a big thing, but I was so focused on other things that to even think about rushing—not that I even knew what rushing was. Going to all the orientation events was hard; I was glued to my roommate because we were separated from the rest of our unit since we had too many people. I wanted to meet new people, and at the carnival of clubs, we learned of all this events with the sororities, and I was like why not. "Just because I go, doesn’t mean I have to go Greek; it’s just nice place to meet people," was what I told myself.

Over the next month, I went to every event. I met new people, including my current best friends. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. It was so fun, and it was something to do twice a week. I was never sure that greek life was what I wanted, but everyone was going and so I kept going. But near the end I decided, “this is for me. I want to be a part of this. This is everything I want.” It was replacing the closeness I felt in high school with all the girls I played volleyball with. To me it was the same thing; a group of women with similar goals just trying to get through life together.

Then preference dinners came. I was only invited to one house’s event. I was disappointed by that, but at least it was the house I wanted. I was so nervous going into that dinner, but it was nothing to be scared of. I cried about women I had never even met, but I felt like I did know them through the people around me. After the preference dinner, I did get nervous. I was confident I was going to get a bid, but anxiously wondered, "What if I didn’t?"

I was wrong to be confident, a common thing for me. I didn’t get a bid that next morning, and I was more crushed than I thought I would be. That was the point in time I thought maybe this isn’t for me, but it did prove to me how bad I wanted it.

After not getting a bid, I had to watch all my friends go to all these things without me. I felt left out, but I am a big girl, so I got over myself and decided to rush again the next year. Then out of the blue, right before the end of the term, I got an email from the president extending me a bid. I was so happy.

I always felt like I was a second choice, but as the next school term progressed, every one included me the same as everybody else and I felt loved and wanted. I met all the girls like I hadn’t before, and made so many new friends. It just kept getting better, I am surrounded by so many loving and nice women. I wouldn’t change a thing. The whole experience is so amazing, even the part of not getting a bid because that taught me something about myself. I have learned so much through this whole experience.

I love being in greek life. I love explaining to outsiders all about this wonderful organization. Most don’t understand why I do it, but I don’t care. I just can’t wait to show other women on campus what a wonderful opportunity it is to be an Alpha Phi member. Show them all the joy and love which I have experienced.