As a child, I always admired the sororities in movies. I remember vividly watching "Legally Blonde" and seeing Elle Woods and her Delta Nu sisters in their sorority house. Since that moment, I knew I wanted to be in a sorority. Little did I know back then that it is more than just a group of girls who live in a house together.
Coming to college is a huge change, especially for young women. Many girls do not know other students on campus, and that was me. My parents were not a part of Greek life at their colleges, but they always have encouraged me to try new things and were supportive of my decision to join a sorority on campus.
I was scared but decided to dive headfirst into recruitment with an open mind. I rushed during the fall of my freshman year. After a week of talking to lots and lots of women and touring houses, I found my home at East Carolina University's Alpha Delta Pi Chapter.
To many people, a sorority may look like just a group of women wearing the same letters on a shirt, but to us, it is much more. Joining a sorority has allowed for others and myself to become part of an organization that will support and lift me up during challenging times, taught the true meaning of a home away from home, and allowed for me to grow as an independent young woman, scholar, and leader in my community.
In April 2019, ECU's Greek community lost two students in a fatal car wreck. During this time, members of both fraternities and sororities across campus joined to support one another. We lifted each other up during this time, shared memories, and we were constantly there for our brothers and sisters. Being a part of Greek life has allowed its members to forever have others to be there and support one another. In the short amount of time being a part of Greek life, I've grown closer to members in all different chapters on campus than I have with people that I've known for years.
During the beginning of my sophomore year, my dad was diagnosed with auto-immune liver cirrhosis. He was in and out of the hospital and things could change very suddenly. There were a few situations where I would have to drop everything and drive back to Charlotte because the doctors were not sure if he would make it through the night. During this time, my sisters sent flowers, wrote my family cards, sent messages, and were constantly a shoulder to cry on and a hug if needed. These small actions were so comforting, supporting, and showed me the true meaning of a home away from home.
Being a member of a sorority, we are encouraged to be an independent young woman, scholar, and take leadership not only in our organization but in our community. Each member in each chapter must uphold a certain GPA each semester which allows for us to be scholarly women. We are encouraged to meet and have good relations with our professors, as well as attend study sessions around campus. Being in a sorority provides opportunities for leadership positions and connections to be made with successful alumni. Each sorority on campus has a philanthropy we donate and host events for every year. For Alpha Delta Pi that is The Ronald McDonald House. I have personally been able to attend events and cook for the families who stay at the RMH house in Greenville, N.C. Through volunteering, I have become more appreciative of the life I have and have made great connections and friendships with the staff and families there.
When writing this article, I decided to ask members in our Greek community here at ECU the question "why is a sorority more than letters on a shirt?." One young woman said, "It is a group to belong to and last past your four years in college. It is finding your best friends and always having a place to call home." As a member of a sorority, I feel as if all members of all chapters could relate to this and agree that this is truly why a sorority is more than letters on a shirt.
