Coming to college is full of brand new things. Hundreds, maybe thousands of new people, an open campus instead of cramped hallways and about a million different ways to get involved with your school's community.
Let’s be honest here, going to college is scary. It doesn’t matter who you are, how big of a school you go to or how bubbly or laid back your personality is. It is scary for all of us. You get into the swing of things eventually, but how do you do it? I recommend you get involved. Like I said, and everyone will proceed to tell you, there are a million different ways to get involved on any college campus. But “going Greek” is definitely the biggest and easiest way to get involved, if you’re looking to get involved in more than just one thing.
Going Greek was certainly not on the top of my to-do list when I came to school. I was never fond of the idea of going to live in a house full of 50+ women. I mean, I know how moody I can be, I couldn’t begin to imagine living in a house with 50+ more mood swings to deal with. But look at me now, I’m in love with my house and I adore all of my moody, but loving, sisters. I could never regret going through formal recruitment because it brought me to some of my closest and craziest friends.
Now let’s get to the point of why I’m writing all of this. I am tired of people telling me that, “You bought your friends by joining Greek Life.” It’s pretty high up on the annoyance scale. But maybe, just maybe, I can sit here and explain to you that in an odd way, you’re both right and wrong.
Yes, I went through recruitment to make sure I had some friends going on this crazy new adventure that is college. No, I did not go Greek to buy all of these friendships. Sure, by joining my favorite house I got the opportunity of a lifetime. To befriend all of these wonderful and powerful women, that I may not have gotten the chance to know if I hadn’t tried out Greek life. But I didn’t do it to just buy myself some friends. I can do that by just being me.
By joining my sorority, I came across friends that I can stay in with, go out with, order a horrible amount of pizza and not feel horrible about it with, etc. There will always be someone around to do something with, no matter what time it is, how crazy it is or how much homework they have due the next day. My pledge class became some of the girls I could depend on for anything, even if I didn’t know them all that well. I know that they’re still here for me no matter what. I joined a tiny little family that has a history that goes on for ages, and meeting all of them is a weird/good feeling, knowing you’re a part of something much bigger than yourself. A group of 50+ is working to help the house's philanthropy and you’re working toward a goal to make a difference in people’s lives. I learned how to open up and know that being myself is perfectly acceptable because you’re surrounded by women who are just as goofy as yourself.
By joining my sorority I realized that there is no better feeling than knowing that you have so many shoulders to lean on at the end of a long day. I learned that I’m a much more bubbly person than I was before I came to school and my people skills improved drastically. I know that I have a math tutor next door and a Spanish tutor in the room above mine. I now know I have no worries about who my bridesmaids will be, but that the only issue is how many I am allowed to have (unfortunately not all of them can be up there with you). And honestly, who really is going to complain about having 50 more wardrobes to pick from? Can’t find something, you can bet the girl next door probably does.
Last but not least, I joined a sorority because I feel at home. Home is the place where you can run around in baggy t-shirts, no makeup and uncombed hair and it’s fine because everyone around you is basically doing the same thing.
Maybe I am paying to be in a sorority. Maybe I do pay to live in and be a part of a place I could easily call my second home. But maybe I am in complete and absolute love with this house, the smart and beautiful women inside of it and the difference we make in our community. And maybe you will never be able to understand why. Because unfortunately, either you couldn’t, or you never gave it a chance.
But seriously, stop and think before you tell the next sorority girl that she “bought” her friends by going Greek. There is more to Greek Life than just living in a pretty house and occasionally dressing alike. We simply want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
