To the quirky girl who joined a sorority

Any girl who's gone through recruitment knows how much time and effort goes into joining a sorority. From shopping for that perfect Open Rounds dress to spending your last 20 bucks on a manicure the day before, there are a boatload of emotions that surge through you. From total excitement at the prospect of being apart of this elite group of women to the ever-present fear of rejection that hangs around in the back of your mind, the weeklong recruitment process can quickly turn into a roller coaster ride of emotions for any girl. But for girls like us, quirky girls, the ones who'd rather stay home on a Thursday night, sprawled out over an old ratty blanket reading some fantasy novel, the girls who would rather rock out alone in their room with an EDM playlist on full blast than spend the night out frat-house hopping, for us....recruitment is just a sneak peak of how our lives would be forever changed.

Looking back on my experience now, there's a lot I wish I could go back in time and tell myself but since time-turners have yet to make their way out of J.K. Rowling novels, the best I can do is share my advice in the hopes that a misfit sorority girl somewhere will find it to be of some use.

First things first: Do what you love to do, despite what others think about it. A huge mistake I've seen so many girls make, including myself, is that when we entered sorority life the lives we had before that didn't exist anymore. We hid from sight anything remotely whimsical or odd because we learned blending in made us cool and being different was sometimes a risk. While, sorority life gave me some of the best years of my life and I met some of the best people in those short 4 years, I can't deny that somewhere along the way the pressures of fitting in rattled me, changing me. I didn't realize until senior week, my final week before going alum, that my quirks were what so many of my sisters loved about me, that my slightly unhealthy obsession with all things Disney and Tim Burton, are what they found most memorable. So if you find yourself hiding the best parts of you....don't. Those who matter won't mind and those who mind won't matter.

Secondly, don't dull your sass. If you're jazzy, be jazzy. I can't tell you how many times I've gone shopping and put something back on the rack because I didn't think my sisters would approve. I think I can speak for everyone when I say what we put on our bodies comforts us, allows us to feel confident, to express ourselves without words: to get be ourselves. But when you're looking at a room full of well put together women all dressed in piko dresses and riding boots, their Alex and Annie bracelets jingling in unison, it's hard not to second guess your decision to wear that electric blue pencil skirt and chunky gold bracelet. Or how about when it's time to decide the theme of next months social and everyone's going for the classic "American Dream" theme but in your head you're picturing how cool it would be to ditch the cowboy boots and bandanas for a night jamming under strobe lights in a makeshift crop top at a social themed to mimic a music festival, like Coachella. These situations come a dime a dozen, and it's easy to feel out of place in them but your originality is what makes you come alive. Don't apologize for that. Be unapologetic about who you are. No need to compete or compare because you are one of a kind and that will always shine through!

Third, Hold on tight to your friends. You had a life before sorority and because you're such a unique person, I'm sure you have a ton of friends who aren't in Greek life organizations. Don't lose contact with them. One of the most common issues I've seen is that, sometimes, when we join a sorority, we don't have much time to devote to our prior friendships. However, our hometown friends know us best! They've been there through our awkward middle school phase, were there to pick us up after major life disappoints and if you're lucky, remained by our side even when we were too busy to give them the time they deserved. You're friends are going to be the ones that remind you who you are because they know and love you: the real you. Value the people who've shown you constant love and support whether it be a friend or a sister. Know that they love you for that crazy whimsical person you are and that will keep you grounded. You don't need anyone's approval because you are already so loved. Hold on to that and remember it. If you ever feel like you're living Unauthentically or like the pressure of fitting in is getting too heavy, phone a close friend, make plans to go out, or just stay in and watch a movie. Surround yourself with those you feel most free to be your with.

Lastly, spread yourself around. Be present! It's hard to feel comfortable when you're the odd ball but if you let loose a little, you'll see that your sisters actually don't care if you're a little wacky, they'll love you even more for it. Go to things like chapter bonfires, sisterhood nights, and socials. Don't be afraid to speak up and share your ideas with them. Not only does it help you get the most out of your sorority experience but it helps you become more confident, too. The fact is that your sisters chose you to become a part of their sisterhood because they liked you, so there's no need to worry about them changing their minds now. You were already perfect when you walked into your first house on Open Rounds and you are still perfect. To the quirky girl who joined a sorority:

Never hide your pizazz. Be daring. Be different. But most importantly, Be you!