Most people go to college somewhat knowledgeable of sorority and fraternity life. This is especially true in the South. With the University of Alabama harboring some of the biggest rush numbers the United States has ever seen, the South definitely is a place where sorority life is extremely prominent in collegiate life.
However, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, sorority life is not quite as big. Yes, there is Greek life on campus and, yes, there are plenty of sororities and fraternities to join but on a scale of one to Alabama, UAB sits at about a two or three on the big number scales.
This is why I love it. Not only is sorority life on a much smaller scale at UAB, it's also more diverse. I was so afraid that I would stick out like a sore thumb when I decided to rush the fall of 2014. I definitely did. I rushed as a senior and as an African American woman.
Needless to say, I found myself upset after the first night of rush. I was so scared. I was thinking that no one was going to invite me back because I was a senior, and I also felt out of place because I am African American. But come to find out, they didn't see me as what I had labeled myself. I had let other people tell me that I wouldn't get a bid because of my race, and the fact that I was a senior. I had listened to negative voices about which sorority I should choose, and this that and the other. But this all changed once I realized I had been invited back. Then, the next day came in which I had been invited back, again. Finally, bid day came and I ran across the green to my home with Alpha Gam.
What I learned from this experience is that it's not about your age, religious background, race, or sexuality when it comes to being in a sorority with women who love you unconditionally. It's about being a part of a bigger unit. It's like your home away from home.
When I tell you that I was nervous, that is a huge understatement. I was beyond nervous. I was anxious, and got that feeling that you get when you're up really high in the air on a roller coaster. I guess you could say that I was super scared. That was the most important thing about it to me -- conquering my fears. Because I told my fear to shut up, I was able to join a group of women who accepted me for who I am, and for all that I am. It didn't matter to my sisters that our skin color wasn't the same, or that we had come from different backgrounds. It didn't matter that I was a senior, and that most of them were sophomores and freshman. It mattered that they cared about me as a sister and welcomed me with open arms.
So, if you're one of those people who has found yourself wondering if the sorority life is for you, it definitely is. Not only did I make friendships that will last a lifetime, but I also gained opportunities to get more involved with my campus and different organizations I had never even thought about joining.
Take a leap of faith, and just do it. I can tell you from personal experience that joining a sorority is not only one of the most rewarding experiences in the world, but also one of the most memorable experiences I've had since enrolling in college.
