The words “sorority” and “fraternity” bring a lot of different thoughts to mind for most people. Different media outlets, television shows, and movies have continuously reinforced certain stereotypes about what it means to be Greek, some good, and some bad. Now, this article isn’t about what’s wrong with public perception of the Greek system or an all-encompassing view of what being Greek really means; this article is simply meant to share my personal experience after “going Greek,” in the hopes of sharing some honest thoughts to anyone who may be considering going through recruitment, or anyone just curious in general.
Before entering college, I definitely thought about going through recruitment a lot. No one in my family was in Greek life, and so I really had no one to tell me about what to expect. So, naturally, I checked TSM, Pinterest, sorority tumblrs, and yes, even Greekrank every so often, trying to figure out if I wanted to go through recruitment and what being in a sorority might actually mean. I saw the cute hand signs, the carefully bedazzled crafts, and all of the Lilly Pulitzer. I watched the beautiful blonde girls in recruitment videos, bouncing in unison to some peppy tune. I wanted to be one of those girls. So I signed up for recruitment.
Somehow, through the recruitment process that I get exhausted even thinking about, I figured out what I wanted Greek life to be like for me. I was scared that being Asian-American might affect my chances, as I attend a Catholic university with a predominantly Caucasian population, but it really wasn’t too much of an issue. Fast forward through the four days of chanting, the endless girl-flirting, the lemonade, and the party dresses. One house began to stand out to me because of the subtle things. I watched the girls interact with each other in subtle ways, smiling genuinely at each other when they passed, giving little encouraging squeezes and making funny faces when they thought no one was looking. These girls genuinely liked each other. Somewhere between meeting (and loving) the president of my chapter (and having no idea she was the president...whoops), talking about my passion for service but also my favorite foods on Philanthropy Day, and listening to the senior girls stand up on Preference night and tell us all about the times that their sisters were there for them when they needed it most--it clicked. This was where I belonged. These girls were everything that I aspired to be, and I was so excited by the thought that I might have them as my role models for the next four years. Things like rankings and formals and popularity had lost all importance. All that mattered was that I knew that no matter what, I could be myself here and be supported by so many incredible women. On bid night, I got to run home to the place that epitomized everything that I had found the word “sorority” to mean. Cheesy, I know.
Over the following months, my sorority exceeded all of my expectations. I met so many girls who were all doing amazing things and were equally excited to meet me. These girls were smart, they were funny, and they were genuinely nice people. My roommate and best friend joined my sorority a week later through a round of informal recruitment, and so we got to go through all of this together. I went to my first chapter meetings and couldn’t wait to get my hands on one of those beautiful badges that all of the actives wore. I met my big. We met up for ice cream and while my roommate and my grandbig chattered away, my future big and I hardly said anything to each other. We just sat there and gave each other knowing looks. During the first night of big little, my big made me a "Gilmore Girls" door decoration, and from then on I knew she was perfect for me. I wouldn’t trade our wine nights, rant/cuddle sessions, and in-n-out trips for the world.
Being in a sorority isn’t all about the hand signs, monograms, the crafts, and the glitter. It’s not for the formal pictures or getting to meet more frat boys. Sure, some of that can be a factor, or even the main motivation for some people to join, but I truly hope that every sorority woman is able to experience what I have. I love watching the girls in my chapter score great internships and dream jobs or perform in a show. I love hearing them talk so passionately about different organizations, philanthropies, and matters close to their heart. I love how we are able to support one another constantly, knowing that our individual success motivates others to pursue passions of their own or discover new possibilities. I love how diverse we all are in both our backgrounds and our interests, and yet we are able to find common ground in three special letters. Sure, you’re not going to get along with everyone all of the time, and going to chapter every week can sometimes be a bother. Preparing for recruitment is a whole lot of time, effort, and money. Paying dues every quarter results in my bank account crying a little bit (the same way it would be if I had chosen to join another club or organization). But it’s all worth it.
I hope that every sorority woman has been able to find a home away from home, a support system 150+ people strong, a safe place to land. I hope they are constantly inspired by the desire to represent your chapter, your sisters, and your letters well. I hope that you are proud to be a sorority woman, attempting to be the best version of yourself. I hope we all realize that we are carrying on a legacy while trying to defy some of the negative connotations and encouraging the positive ones. Just like any sport, club, or group, being in a sorority is what you make of it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
TLAM,
Haley
