First off, congratulations on starting a new chapter of your life by joining a sorority. I know how much courage it must have taken for you to take that leap and sign up for recruitment, but just look at you, YOU DID IT!

Now you must face a new battle...navigating sorority life as an introvert. This can be a bit of a challenge, as the media has shoved the idea down our throats that sorority girls are super energetic and outgoing, traits that aren't exactly introverts' strong suits. But hope is not lost, my lovely newbies. It is definitely possible for an introvert to have a wonderful sorority experience, and here are a few tips to help you get started!

1. Socialize

Believe me, I know that it can be mentally draining to interact with large groups of people, especially when it is all small talk. This is because as introverts, we excel in the exact opposite environment, small groups of people engaging in intimate conversations. But when it comes to your new sorority, the solution is fairly simple: socialize in a manner that works best for you. Try taking on small groups of people or interacting in a more intimate environment, like a study session or a shopping trip, to help take off some of the overwhelming pressure you experience when interacting with too many people at once.

2. Initiate

This is a big one for me. During my active years, I noticed that many new members come in under the impression that once they joined a sorority, they would just instantly become close friends with all their new sisters and be inseparable.

But realistically, this is not always the case. Though the active members are always very welcoming to new members, they cannot be expected to instantly be besties with every new member, especially if they don’t really know you yet. For an introvert, this can be extremely discouraging, as it takes us a while to warm up to new people and let them into our hearts. The best way to solve this situation is to take matters into your own hands. Instead of waiting to be invited somewhere, initiate an invite to the active members. By doing this, you are showing them that you are definitely interested in getting to know them better. The big plus about initiating is that you can help determine how many girls you interact with at a time whilst steering the location of your hangout to somewhere that you feel more comfortable. This way, you can function in the best environment for introverts such as yourself.

3. Don’t feel overwhelmed

For most introverts, participating in multiple large social events can seriously drain our batteries to the point that we no longer want to interact with people for a certain length of time.

Cue Netflix binge-session. A word of advice: don’t ignore this desire to break free from the crowd just because there are Greek events happening around you. There will ALWAYS be different chapters putting on different events, so if you miss some in order to take a break, it isn’t the end of the world. The most important thing is allowing yourself the alone time you need to regain your sanity. This way, when you do go to these events, or are participating in one from your own chapter, you are not completely overwhelmed.

4. Never second guess your value

It can be difficult to not feel a little envious of the energy exuding from the extroverted sorority sisters that surround you. Sometimes you can even get stuck in the mindset that they are more likable than you because of their “outgoing-ness”. I know I’ve certainly been there. But I need you to understand that never, for one second, should you use their social abilities as a measurement of your own likability. You may not be the life of a big frat party or the one who hangs out with everyone, but you can be the girl who shares her passion, loyalty and friendship with those who truly take the time to get to know her and who she holds close.