“So, what sorority are you in?”
“Oh, I’m not in any.”
“So you’re a GDI? Why?”
Because I am God Damn Independent, that’s why.
I have always been the kind of person that does not fit into one specific group or category. I fit into multiple, and although it’s hard, I’m learning that it’s okay.
At first, being a GDI is rough. You feel excluded. You feel like you have no place, like you don’t really belong. You don’t get invited to those exclusive parties that seem so much better, and more fun than the ones you can go to. You don't automatically have a group of girls who you can call your sisters to have your back no matter what.
To make it worse, it feels like everyone around you is Greek. And when you tell them that you aren't, it feels like they are genuinely disappointed, or at the very least, they seem to feel sorry for you.
So, you begin to doubt yourself, like maybe you should have rushed. After all, it seems like everyone who did is so much happier. It seems like their lives were drastically improved by the ability to wear cute sweatshirts with Greek symbols.
But then again, are you a sorority kind of girl? Do you need to, or do you even want to go Greek? When you think about rushing, are you genuinely excited or are you indifferent? Are you the one that wants to rush --the one choosing-- or does everyone around you want you to rush?
If you truly want to rush, go ahead, and do it. It will change your college experience for the better. But if you don't feel like rushing, that's okay, too. Your college years can be just as great as a GDI.
Just remember that, eventually, life as a GDI does get better. You find other GDIs, who understand why you chose not to rush. And you become friends with girls in every sorority, because to you, it doesn’t matter which one they are a part of. It’s a harder, longer journey, but ultimately, you will begin to feel like you belong as you make your place.
Personally, I kind of like the independence that comes with being a GDI. I feel like I don’t have to choose which sorority is better. I can like them all! I like not having a sorority attached to my name. It forces others to get to know me because they cannot make up an opinion on who I am based on my sorority.
To be honest, I still don't know if I'll rush in the fall. Some days, I really want to; others, not so much. But if I do end up rushing, I'll make sure not to compromise myself in the process. In the end, this is an addition to my life, not the center of it.