Ahh, the greek life. So many events, so many memories created, and so much bonding with a large amount of girls. The process of getting into the perfect house can be the most excruciating, long, and tiring process that is oh so worth it in the end. “Trust the system,” are the famous three words you hear throughout the entire week. And if you play your cards right, you will end up in the dream house you always imagined yourself to be in.
The depictions that Hollywood sets forth is so wrong about sororities. Not every house is “Kappa Kappa (blank),” and not every house has the one queen bee that rules all of greek row. When I joined my chapter I fell in love with the girls in the house who I felt I could be embarrassing in front of and say exactly what was on my mind. I imagined living in the house and making myself at home on the enormous couches that spread throughout the living room. And finally, I imagined myself coming back 40 plus years later still getting that excited feeling of being home. Being in a sorority has been the best decision I made and there are countless things I have to be thankful for it.
I’ve met my bridesmaids.
This is probably one of the most cheesy sayings because of course girls use this measurement of how much they love one of their sisters. But truthfully, I really have found some of my bridesmaids. The girls that I live with and call sisters have seen me at my absolute worst and best, have been at my beck and call in tough situations to help me go through it. They’ve been by my side through all of the fun events and sentimental times we’ve shared as sisters. How could I not add them in on the most special day of my life?!
I’ve learned to put myself out there.
I’d like to think I’m a very outgoing person. But I’ve had situations where I didn’t want to do something in fear of embarrassment. But in these situations, there have been at least 10 girls who have encouraged me to buck up and get comfortable feeling uncomfortable.
I’ve taken pride in tradition.
Every house has their own set of rituals and traditions. If you were anything like me traditions sounded like a sappy dragged out speech that grandma gives at the dinner table every Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, anything that meant the family came together. But traditions in a sorority are so much different. The traditions that are created by the founders are traditions that haven’t changed for decades. If you’re a legacy, knowing that your mother and grandmother did the same thing you’re doing at some point in life is so heart warming to think of. And it’s even sweeter to think that generations later girls will be doing the same thing you’re doing.
It’s given me thick skin.
Sure there are still people out there that have their reservations about sorority life and have no problem letting you know how they feel. I’ve learned to pick my battles and sometimes bite my tongue letting them think what they want. When people tell me I paid for my friends I just smile and say “God bless.”
I’ve learned to hold myself to a higher standard.
Yes, there are rules and regulations with being in a house. But when I wear my house’s letters I always know to represent well. Whatever I do out in public and do on social media is a reflection of my entire chapter, and I’ve learned to make sure it is always in a good light. Having this sort of responsibility has made for a better future for myself and made me an all around better person knowing that I am representing something bigger than myself.
It’s created memories that I will cherish forever.
All of the late nights, the inside jokes, and the social events I’ve attended in what will soon be four years complete my college experience. It has been said that college is the best four years of your life. That statement is not something I would ever argue with. The stories I know I’ll tell my kids one day will all come from being in a sorority, and I know I will talk about all of the girls I was surrounded by.
For anyone that is even the slightest bit interested in joining a sorority I promise it will be the best decision you make in your college years. The journey to joining the right house is oh so worth it. The memories you create and the friendships you gain is what makes an organization so worth joining. My only hopes for girls everywhere is to find their group of 100 plus girls to call sisters of their own.
