I knew that when I first was applying to colleges that I wanted to join a sorority. Growing up, it was just me and my brother and I wanted to have a group of sisters I can always rely on. Now that I have spent a year in a sorority, I can say that it was one of the best things I could've ever done for myself. My original motives for deciding to go through recruitment are like most, but I now realize that there are even more reasons to join.
1. You have a constant support system.
I went through a lot of hard times during my freshman year and being three and a half hours away from home and at a huge school was definitely didn't help. Joining a sorority made a campus with 40,000 students seem so much smaller and special, which is what I wanted. With the 200 girls in the sorority, there was always someone who wants to go out with you, do homework with you and just love you. It makes the hard times that much easier to get through.
2. It forces you to become organized.
With constant philanthropy events, chapter meetings and clothing pick-ups, it seems like theres no time to do school work let alone have some time to go to the gym. In the beginning, it can definitely seem overwhelming. Trying to keep track of the time of the dodgeball torment and also when my next economics assignment was due without writing it down just wasn't working. By the end of my first semester, I had a desk calendar, one on my computer and a personal planner. This not only helped me hand in all of my assignments in on time but helped me keep track of everything going on in my sorority. This trait is something I'm glad I picked up and I hope to never lose.
3. You want to become a better person.
When you first join a sorority, it can be hard at first to remember all of the guidelines that go along with being a member. There's a certain GPA requirement, certain social media guidelines to follow and events you have to be at. Again, very overwhelming. As time goes on, these seem less like rules and more like something you want to do. It becomes constant motivation to do well in class not only to get on Dean's List, but to be one step closer in getting the over all chapter GPA to rise. Going to philanthropy events seem less of a requirement and more of a chance to get a Chapter of Excellence. It's not all about you anymore and theres more people depending on you then you realize.
4. There are so many opportunities to gain leadership.
There are a lot of vital things that have to go on for a sorority to run smoothly. To ensure everything happens correctly there is an overall executive council that oversees all aspects of a sorority. From grades, social media, new member education and recruitment theres a person that oversees each part. Each executive position has a committee of appointed positions, each having smaller responsibilities that overall help the betterment of the sorority. It also helps appointed officers gain confidence and feel that they can take on a larger leadership role later on.
5. You are apart of something bigger than you think.
Just because you joined one specific sorority doesn't means that's it. You are now a member of your school's Greek life. Whether it is big or small, it is something that makes a statement on campus.
Also, your membership goes far beyond your college campus. There can be thousands of college campuses that have chapters of the sorority you're involved with. This also helps you branch out when it comes to after graduation. There are so many notable alumni from every sorority that the opportunities are endless.
6. You find your best friends.
On top of all of the other perks to joining a sorority, this is the cherry on top. All of the time spent at sorority meetings, philanthropy events and nights out can lead to some of the most amazing memories you can think of. You find your future roommates, best friends and bridesmaids.
