When I arrived to the college I transferred to this past year, I knew I would be at some social disadvantage. Coming in as Junior to a “smaller” university, I knew I everyone would already have known each other for a good two years, leaving me to rely on friends’ connections to get to know everyone. Regardless of this fact, I was just so happy to be finally reunited with my best friend and living together for the very first time.
It was the first week of August and after I was all moved in, I realized my dorm was completely silent. This was because all three of my roommates were in three different sororities, including my best friend, and were participating in Formal Recruitment. My best friend encouraged me to rush. I just laughed and said “maybe next year!’ After two days of complete boredom, endless amounts of Netflix, some sorority research, and might I add two pints of Ben and Jerry’s, I quickly realized I already regretted my decision not to go through Formal Recruitment.
For weeks after, I basically lived through my roommates. While they crafted for their soon-to-be Littles, I crafted for myself. To see how stressed, yet excited they were to have someone to mentor, love, cherish, and guide through their first year as a New Member, made me realize it even more that I had a complete misconception of what a sorority was really all about. Here I am thinking that these sororities are all about a social affair, when really it was nothing like they have been portrayed in the movies.
One day after class, I was walking through the student union, only to see a group of perfectly manicured and uniformed girls who looked almost too happy and excited to be handing out flyers and talking to other students to be even true. I was drawn to them. Not drawn because of their absolute perfection. But because these women looked SO happy. I still don’t know if they had some super powers to draw us all in. But whatever it was, it worked. I walked up to their table and before even opening my mouth, I was immediately greeted by a barbie doll. “Hi! What’s your name?!” I didn’t even know where to start, what to ask or even say. This girl was amazing. She just let me talk till I couldn’t think of anything else to ask. Needless to say, after our conversation, she invited me to a “get to see what we are about,” event.
With a bit of uncertainty, I went to the event to see if this was an organization I could really be in. I left class and speed walked my way to the event, little to realize I was extremely early. As I sat in the sitting area, I found myself already introducing myself to so many great women. There was one very special person I met on this first ever event, and that person today has become my Twin or I like to call my Twittle! Hi Twin!!! I love you! (For those of you who may not know, if your sorority has just been founded, you have a Twin, because everyone is starting out in the same New Member class instead of a Big or Little). After meeting so many incredible women and also hearing more about the organization, I was very interested. The next step I had to conquer was..the dreaded interview.
After my interview, I was invited to the last event before Bid Day. I still had some doubts. I thought to myself, “maybe I should just wait till next fall, when all of the sororities are present, because what if this isn’t the one for me?” So I told my best friend, “If I go to the event tonight, and am not 110% sure, I will just wait till next Fall. So I went to the event...And...well...The rest is history!
Almost a year 10 months later, I am the happiest I ever thought I would be. I have had the most amazing experience being in this organization, and it hasn’t even been a year. This organization has allowed me to find my true self. This past year, I have served on the first Executive Board our sorority has ever had, with the most amazing group of women I could ever ask to serve on it with. I have learned so much about myself as not only a leader, but also as a listener.
Now…Let’s get to the point. The beating heart of my sorority. My sisters. I can honestly say without any doubt, that each and every sister in this organization has truly touched my heart in some way. I am so blessed to be in such an amazing sisterhood with an incredible group of Real Strong Women. There truly hasn’t been one day where I have regretted the decision of joining this Organization. It is amazing to see the loyalty that each of my sisters has to this sisterhood. Of course being new to campus, we have experienced some of the infamous trials and tribulations that come with each of these organizations being brand new and coming onto campus. But what is truly is amazing is that even through it all, we’ve stuck through it out all together and it honestly has made us stronger and closer because of this. The experiences that we have shared thus far only makes me so excited to see what next year has in store for us.
But when it comes down to it, there are six young women in this sorority that I can confidently say will be in my future bridal party. Just writing this is bringing tears to my eyes, because who would’ve thought, I would ever meet such a group of friends so fast that I have created such an amazing bond with. To my best friends, I love you. Thank you for being the reason I wake up every day, and smile from ear to ear. Thank you for the laughter, for the tears we shed, for our weekly dinner dates, and just for the incredible memories we have shared thus far.
I guess I will end this article by saying this, to my sisters, all of you, thank you so much for all of the memories we have shared so far. I hold each and every one of you close to my heart. I am so happy to have met such an incredible group of women. Who make me feel so good about myself and all of the things I do.I hope that each and every one of you know how much you mean to me, and to our sisterhood. I cannot wait for what is to come of us. But I know no matter what, I will always have such an amazing support system through it all. For any young woman reading this, a sorority is more than just a way to be social. It may a way to find yourself on your campus, but it also a way to find yourself in life. Each organization is unique in their own way. When you find the one, you will know. To my future sisters, welcome home!
Love Always,
T.Red
