Sisterhood: it is a bond that cannot be broken. You laugh together, cry together, fight, make up, share secrets, tell stories. They are your best friends, whether they are your sisters by blood or sisters by oath. They will always be with you through the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. 

However, growing up with two younger sisters, and now having gained 54 new sorority sisters, I have come to realize that there are some major differences between these two types of sisters. 

First of all, there is the age difference. Your pledge class sisters are, for the most part, the same age as you are, whereas your blood sisters are usually a few years older or younger.  Especially when you are growing up, these few years can make a huge difference in your relationship. Your sorority sisters are going through the same stage in life as you are --  the same struggles with classes, boys, friendships, careers, etc. Sharing these experiences helps you become closer; it’s a bond real sisters cannot touch.  

However, your sisters by blood have a closeness to you on a level sorority sisters will never match. You have grown up with your real sisters, so they probably know way too much about you. They have seen you in your cute baby stage, your awkward middle school years, and your slightly less awkward high school years, and they can hold every minute of it against you from bad haircuts and weird boyfriends to the matching outfits your mom made you wear every Christmas. Of course, you have shared all the great moments of your life with them, too. Sorority sisters, after all, are just college friends, so they will never know you on this deep level. 

One of the best parts about having both sorority sisters and real sisters is that your wardrobe exponentially multiplies. However, the dynamics of sharing clothes are much different between the two types of sisters. With your sorority sisters, borrowing clothes is fun. You want your sisters to borrow your things because it affirms that you have good style, and you want to borrow theirs because you know you can trust their taste. Your real sisters may have equally cute clothes, but borrowing them is not so much fun as it is frightening. Fights ensue about whose shirt is whose, and whether or not you asked before you took it. My house has been filled with these screaming matches numerous times, so my advice is stick to your sorority sisters’ closets.  

With both types of sisters, your relationships will go through many ups and downs, but you know you will always be there for each other. Whether they are sisters by blood, or sisters by oath, they will always be your family and you will love each other unconditionally.