**Disclaimer: Every sorority is worthy of consideration and has its own wonderful traits. This is just a fun article used to showcase love for Alpha Chi**
Being a part of the Greek community is something that gives you a new perspective on life. It opens up thousands of doors, allows you to explore yourself, and teaches you to stand a little taller. For many people, going Greek helps them strive to reach goals and become stronger individuals. While deciding to go Greek is a great thing on its own, figuring out which sorority you want to join is even more exciting. For me, I found my home after the first day of recruitment – I walked in and instantly fell in love with everything going on around me. I loved the people I met, the attitudes I picked up on, and the atmosphere in itself. While this isn’t the case for all PNM’s, it made recruitment that much more exciting when every morning I learned that AXO invited me back to their house.*
Although recruitment can make it seem like a sorority is putting on a show for their new members, I was not disappointed to learn that Alpha Chi was still as wonderful even after I was initiated. Don’t get me wrong, every sorority is amazing and should be considered with an open mind, but here are ten reasons why you should consider recruitment with Alpha Chi Omega.
(*If you don’t get invited back to house you thought you belonged to, don’t give up! Trust the system! You might just be surprised at how well it works!)
1. Sisterhood – While almost any sorority you join will have strong displays of sisterly bond, I believe that Alpha Chi has shown me what being Greek is really about. You walk in and are instantly surrounded by genuine, down to earth people, who really do care about more than what shoes you’re wearing. Everyone welcomes you in with open arms, and if you need someone, there are tons of girls ready to support you at all times. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy spending time with other people who love pizza as much as you do?
2. Philanthropies – We believe that as a whole we can make a difference in the world. Together we raise money for two foundations: the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and Domestic Violence Awareness. The AXO Foundation is used to support our educational and our philanthropic purposes. Our funds for Domestic Violence Awareness help people to get out of violent situations and back onto their feet and into society. In addition to working to support our two personal philanthropies, we also make an effort to support the causes of our fellow Panhellenic organizations.
3. Tradition – Our traditions go all the way back to when we were founded in 1885, and to this day are still celebrated. Although we no longer have a musical requirement, we still stand by the passion for music by celebrating Hera Day and MacDowell Month. Plus we still follow the same ceremonies and events as they did in the 80’s. Girls of the Golden Lyre we shall remain.
4. Friendship – One day you’re a lonely college freshman, and the next day you’ve got 200 friends who love you unconditionally. All of a sudden that big campus doesn’t seem quite as huge when you’re walking to class and pass three of your newfound sisters. You also now have people to binge watch Grey’s Anatomy with and that speaks for itself if you ask me.
5. Accountability – We hold our girls accountable for all of their actions. This means that you will be pushed and encouraged to be your very best at all times. (But don’t worry, we also understand that you are human and are therefore flawed).
6. Endurance – When you have an alumni meet up with your sisters, you will realize that AXO really has a never ending bond. Our girls stand together way past college and continue to love and support one another. Plus, we don’t give up on each other just because things start to get tough –we’re all in this together. It’s not four years, it’s for life.
7. Standards – We hold ourselves to the highest standards possible. We have five core concepts we each try and maintain: Character, Leadership, Academic Interest, Personal Development, and Financial Responsibility. By striving to reach these five goals, we allow ourselves to grow into real strong women.
8. Love – When in doubt, hug it out. Alpha Chi has a very strict anti-hazing policy, which honestly I didn’t even feel we needed considering the fact that as soon as you walk into the house you are showered with an insane amount of love and friendship. We truly have an instant bond that can’t be put into words.
9. Seeking The Heights – Allow yourself to become great surrounded by other great people. We pride ourselves on our abilities to look into the future and see ourselves accomplishing wonderful things. What’s even better is that most of the time you get to achieve these goals with your sisters right by your side, cheering you on.
10. Real. Strong. Women. – What more explanation do you need?
In addition to writing about why I believe Alpha Chi rocks, I decided to reach out to my sisters in other chapters, with the exception of my beautiful Big, Kait. Here is what they had to say about our sorority:
Melissa B. (Sacramento State University):
I’m starting this fall as a 4th year and I was recruited in Fall 2014. One of the main reasons I joined Alpha Chi is because of what we stand for. I love that we stand for real strong women and that our philanthropy is Domestic Violence Awareness! I decided on Alpha Chi because of the immediate love and feeling of being "home" that I got during recruitment. It was an amazing feeling!
Kaitlyn B. (Ohio State University):
I’m a junior and I joined because I felt like I had real conversations with all of the girls I. I remember going into houses feeling like I had to do my best to impress them and with the conversations at Alpha Chi I got so involved that I didn’t feel that kind of stress. I love the statement “individually unique to get complete” because we are all so unique and we pride ourselves on our individual strengths but we all really enjoy each other’s company and fit together so well. I may not see a sister all the time, goodness knows you can’t keep up with 160 girls, but I know that when I finally get to catch up with them we can just pick up right where we left off.
Caroline B. (Marshall University):
I’m a junior and I was recruited my sophomore year. I joined Alpha Chi because right off the bat I clicked with the girls in my chapter. They were so genuine and clearly loved being an Alpha Chi Omega, not just for the close sisterhood, but for the philanthropy as well and that’s really important. Each one of my sisters brings something different to the table which makes the chapter stronger and more complete.
Katy B. (Florida Southern):
I’m currently a sophomore, but I joined my freshman year because I wanted to become a part of a sisterhood that would help me grow as a person, a friend, a student, and help prepare me to face the real world as a real strong woman. I immediately fell more and more in love with AXO, and what they stood for, during each day of recruitment. Accepting their bid was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I now have lifelong friends who’ve helped me become the best version of myself!
While I may be slightly biased about Alpha Chi, I want to end this article with a comment to anyone who is considering joining Greek life.
The Greek community as a whole is more than what people make it seem on the surface. It is a group of individuals who want to better themselves, who want to make a difference, and who want to be a part of something bigger. While I wrote this article on Alpha Chi Omega, keep an open mind during recruitment and try to avoid listening to stereotypes, because nobody can predetermine how a group of people will make you feel. No sorority is going to be perfect, and they don’t expect their new members to be either. When you go through recruitment, be yourself, have fun, and know that you will end up at the right house. Every sorority is amazing, unique, and has standards that they strive to uphold. While we don’t all share the same letters, we are all still flowers in the same garden – beautiful, strong, and important.
Always remember: people don’t join sororities, people join people.
LITB,
Bree
