Only in my sophomore year of college, you would be surprised with how often I get the "Oh! What sorority are you in?" question.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for sisterhood and empowering one another. I've always wanted to have a big sister and a mentor rolled into one. I love volunteering, going on social outings and developing close knit friendships. By saying all that alone, I probably sound like a stereotypical "sorority girl."
Being at a university where Greek Life is prominent, it is easy to feel left out. When I tell girls that I'm not in a sorority and I'm not interested, I always get the same reply, "Go through recruitment! It'll change your mind!" I have no doubt it would. I've been fairly close to rushing on a few occasions. Although I ended up deciding not to, I also have nothing bad to say about girls who are in a sorority or Greek Life in general.
As a non-sorority girl, I can safely say that not all these women are the same. I will also not try to stereotype a whole population. Each women in a sorority is unique and brings a different personality to their family. I've had bad experiences with sorority girls, I've had bad experiences with non-sorority girls. These awful interactions with these individuals who were or were not wearing letters on their shirts does not speak for the population as a whole. It only speaks for those individuals. Being anti-sorority because of one bad experience with one girl is like being anti-men because of one bad date. It’s pointless.
So why am I not in a sorority? My response is this: there are simply not enough hours in the day for me as of now. I love to help out within the community and volunteer in any way that I can. The downside is, once I make a commitment to something, I intend to go 1000%. But there becomes a point where exhaustion sets in and I physically cannot add anything else onto my list without experiencing (many) mental breakdowns. I know, there are other people in your chapter with crazy schedules and commitments but they still manage to be part of Greek Life. To that, I say good for them, but it is not something that works for me right now.
The most important thing in college is about finding a group where you can fit in and get involved on campus. That could include Greek Life, or that could include a plethora of other things. Go out. Make connections. Meet your future bridesmaids. Don't feel pressured to join a sorority but don't be afraid to, either. Make whatever decision is right for you. Just remember, college isn't forever. So make it worthwhile.
Maybe someday I'll proudly wear letters on my shirt. Until then, I'm happy doing my own thing.
