To the girl that has not found her home, you are not alone. Whether it be you might not have gotten your first pick, decided greek life was not for you or completely ended up alone in your sorority, I promise there is someone else who has been in your same teepee. I say this not because I am some kind of cynical girl who hates Greek life but because sometimes the system does make mistakes. I remember rushing for a sorority my freshman year of college and my Rho Chi’s repeatedly telling us “There are 16 sorority houses and one is for you. Trust the system and you will end up where you are meant to be.” I struggled to find my home that week and eventually, on Bid Day, I ran home to the house that I thought was perfect for me. I cried tears of joy and became a sorority-obsessed girl that people would just wish to shut up. However, this excitement soon fades as everyone begins to see each other’s true colors. This doesn’t necessary mean it is a bad thing and sometimes it is great once everyone becomes all cozy and close with each other — but to others, this could mean the end of their sisterhood.

First, let us not forget that cliques still do exist. I can tell you first hand that my sorority has one giant clique that tries to ruin it for everyone. With that being said, there are hundreds of absolutely beautiful, kind, genuine, down to earth girls who wouldn't dream in a million years of hurting a single soul. It would be ignorant however to overlook the fact that mean girls still do exist and yes they do affect individuals. The clique in my sorority is so bad that they have to “vote” girls into their friend group for fear of their hard-core, old-row fraternity group-y clique might be tainted. They call themselves the NRA: No Rats Allowed. I kid you not, this group is real. I personally have no problem calling them out in this article because so often they have had no issue directly humiliating innocent girls on social media, in front of everyone in the sorority and even insulting their character, bank accounts, style, major, or anything else that they could get their hands on to bring someone down. I do not blame those victims for wanting to drop their sorority. Although, there are hundreds of other amazing girls, all it takes is one person to hinder your happiness and that is the sad and unfortunate truth.

Second, sororities cost money and a lot of it! My sorority costs roughly $7,000+ a year to belong to and that is not including all the super adorable t-shirts, hats, fanny packs, sweatshirts and whatever else they come up with to entice your girly fashion senses. It is expensive. Not everyone can afford to belong even if they so desperately want to. This does not mean they are weird, an outcast, cynical or any other thing you try to pin to a G.D.I (God Damn Independent), it simply means that belonging to greek life is not within their means. Now, contrary to that I know many girls including myself who have to work endlessly in order to pay for their sorority themselves but that does get tiring especially while taking 16 credit hours on top of that. Balancing school, work and required sorority activities can be a lot for a college student.

Third, some girls are just too successful to be in a sorority. I say successful because how could being overly involved not be an accomplishment? Being in a sorority takes A LOT of time out of your schedule, especially as a freshman. When following your other passions it could become difficult to manage something else that is probably 10-times more time consuming. Congratulations on being involved and following your passions! Do not let anyone criticize you for it. To the girls who can balance both being involved and sorority life, you rock!

Fourth, some girls would rather not... It is okay to not be about that sorority life! If you feel like your life is great without it then you do you. More people in this country are not involved with Greek life than those who are. If it is not your thing then guess what? You are the majority! At big southern campuses like The University of Alabama, LSU, UGA and so on, it becomes easy to feel like you are the outcast and I am here promising you that you are not.

To those who feel the need to judge anyone who isn't affiliated with Greek life, please find yourself something more concerning. Just because someone else isn't a part of the same things you are DOES NOT mean that you are better or even have the right to criticize them for it. I actually applaud those who go against the “cool girl norm” and say YOU GO GIRL for doing you. There are thousands of girls who say “NOT AH, NOT FOR ME” to sororities and those girls are every bit as cool, beautiful, and fabulous as the girl who said it was for her.

From one girl in a sorority to the girl who isn’t, I feel you. Most likely, I have been in your shoes at some point and I am sure plenty of others have been too. Being in a sorority is not as easy as it looks. It is challenging, can be lonely at times, and it is indeed costly. You are not any less of a human for choosing not to take on that task. To the girl who was in a sorority and dropped, I don’t blame you either. I have thought about it and I won’t lie about that. More girls have thought about it at some point in their life than those who haven’t. I guarantee those girls don’t blame you either. From one girl to another, it is okay if you have not found your home in a sorority, there are an infinite amount of other ways to find your happiness. One organization does not define one's life.