To the girl who thinks sorority life is for her,

Lily Pulitzer. Monograms. Bro tanks. “Lampshading". All pink everything. Hand-signs. Spirit Jerseys. Greek Letters.

So Srat.

All of these things are pretty much automatically associated with being apart of a sorority. Like most stereotypes, there's a stigma affiliated with sorority girls. Don't all sorority girls have to go out on the weekends? Don't all sorority girls chase after the boys in fraternities? Aren't all sorority girls buck-wild when it comes to the party scene?

Before entering college, all of these questions ran through my head at one point or another. In my case, none of the women in my family had previously been associated with a sorority in college. For me, this was completely new territory. As I entered a large school in the SEC, I figured practically 99% of the student body was Greek affiliated anyways, so I could give it a try. My initial desire to join a sorority stemmed from the desire to meet new people, make new friends, have new experiences, and to have fun. After all, isn't that what college is all about anyways? But between the time of entering formal recruitment and now being initiated as a member of a chapter, I have learned so many things on a deeper, more personal level about who I am and what it means to be “a sorority girl."

However, the process of learning these things hasn't been particularly easy. After formally accepting a bid to my chapter, I was immediately thrown into uncharted waters. I thought initially that becoming apart of a sorority meant I just had to dress a certain way. Extra large t-shirts, so it never looked like I was wearing running shorts, with a monogram baseball cap became the daily attire. In the beginning, I thought it was just about appearing to be associated with a sorority. But before my initiation as a member, I went through an even tougher struggle of thinking I had to change who I was in order to fit the mold.

When I became involved with an entirely new set of friends in my sorority, I had the chance to start fresh and display who I truly was. Unfortunately, I chose to make this a time to completely reinvent myself. Over the course of a few months, I watched my language, actions, and even thoughts evolve in a negative way. Things that were never okay with me before became the norm. Parties that I never attended became habitual. I was aiming to fill the stereotype of a “sorority girl", even when I didn't have to. I felt like I had to transform even the deepest parts of myself if I was really going to be a part. It wasn't until later down the road of becoming a member, or “sister", if you will, that everything finally clicked.

Through the entire process of changing myself, it never occurred to me that maybe people, my sisters, would like me for who I was. I thought that I needed to live up to the modern ideal image of what a sorority girl should be. (You know…the picture perfect party girl that every frat guy loves?) It never even crossed my mind that most all sororities are founded on distinct, Christian morals and founded by poised women. The history of my sorority is founded concretely on true sisterhood. And yet here I was, focused on all of the other pressures of being involved in a sorority when all I had to do was be myself.

I am now fully committed to being the best version of me I can be, not only for myself, but also for my sisters. Over the past few months, I have become apart of real friendships. These girls are unlike any other. I realize that these people actually want to invest in each others lives. We encourage each other. Love each other. Just do life together.

So, I speak all potential “sorority girls" when I say rid the mold. Be who you really are when you sport the letters. It's not about a stereotype. Love each other. Speak in kindness. Encourage each other. And Go Greek.