During everyone's senior year of high school the most popular question that every teacher, family member, and boss ask with the greatest intention becomes: "Where are you going to college?" I had been asked this question millions of times before I finally made my decision in January 2015 to attend the best college in Idaho, University of Idaho. I was proud to have a definite answer, an answer that was my decision. My first adult decision. After stating my answer of U of I to the dreaded question of "where are you going to college?", the most popular question following my statement is, "Which sorority are you going to join?"
Typically, this question offended me. I thought of myself as a very strong, independent individual and quite frankly, I looked down on sororities. "I am not joining a sorority. I will not live with sixty other girls" became my tagline in the Spring of 2015. Little did I know a year later, I was going to find my perfect home.
When I came up to college, I was living in the Tower. I became extremely homesick because I was so close to my family so I felt like moving six hours away was pointless. Even during my first week of college, I found Greek life to be even more appealing. I would walk around campus, seeing these cheerful, carefree groups of girls strolling around after class. After doing some research and looking around campus during the winter months, I decided that in the Fall of 2016, I would go through formal recruitment to join a sorority.
After making my grand revolution, I decided to look into the houses on campus so I had a better understanding of which one would be the perfect fit for me. Two of my closest friends knew I was wanting to join a house and, luckily, they were in the same sorority together: Alpha Gamma Delta. They brought me over to the house a few times and I immediately felt like I was at home. Every time I went to Alpha Gamma Delta, I felt like I did not have to pretend to be anyone but myself. I was so lucky because I knew my search had ended.
Because I discovered my home in the middle of the 2016 Spring semester, I did not need to go through formal recruitment; turns out, Alpha Gam kind of liked me back. I signed my bid card in early April and was initiated by the end of that month. Even though I have only been in the house a whole whopping four months, I never knew I could be so happy living in a house with forty other ladies.
Alpha Gam taught me to live with purpose. Creating and adventuring through life with so many other girls can truly be amazing, but the best part of the sorority experience is to better yourself. In 1904, the 11 founders of Alpha Gamma Delta sat down and wrote ten lines of grace to help better every woman who may be initiated into Alpha Gamma Delta; The Purpose. Most days, I can connect one or more lines to pushing myself to be a better person, especially when it is in the form of kind words and actions coming from my thoughtful sisters.
With recruitment ending last week, I think people forget the love and care each house will give you. Yes, girls are so very excited to be living with a giant family where the carpets are permanently littered with glitter and The Notebook always seems to be playing, but the most important part is finding where you belong. It is about finding the house where you can run around in aged, unappealing prom dresses on a Tuesday night. Find a house where you could walk into any room and cry because you've had a bad day. A house where you know they are not judging you as you go up for your fourth plate of fries at dinner. A house that you call home and girls you can call a family.
Because I know what it is like to be lost and not have a community, I believe I love and appreciate my sisterhood more than most. They are amazing women that I am proud to call my sisters. So here is to sisterhood and the bond that lasts a lifetime; I am so overjoyed to be home with my family and I hope you are, too.
