If you told my high school self that I would be in a sorority in college, I probably would have laughed in your face and said you were crazy. Greek life was not anywhere on my radar. When I was picking a college, I never once asked about Greek life or looked into it. I was even excited about the fact that the school I chose (SUNY New Paltz) was not big on Greek life at all; it was not something that everyone else seemed to be doing. I have to admit: I always thought that girls in sororities were dumb, ditzy, loved to get drunk and whatever other stereotypical traits they were often associated with.
I assumed that I would never fit in with a sorority. I don’t go out and party that much; I like to stay in and watch movies; I’m not a skinny little blonde thing. If you picture the stereotypical sorority girl, I’m the exact opposite of all of that.
How I pictured sorority girls:
Me:
It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I got involved with Greek life on my school’s campus. Let me tell you a little bit about why I went from judging sororities to joining one.
1. I was looking for my core group of girls.
Somehow I managed to make a majority of male friends when I came to college. That was fine, but I was missing that bond between a group of girl friends. Even though I’m not a super girly girl, I was missing friends who wanted to have cheesy sleepovers and talk about cute boys with me. At home, I always had my group of girls to call at a moment’s notice. Before going out, we all got ready together and helped each other put on makeup. We were all there for each other whenever someone broke up with their boyfriend or when we just wanted to order pizza and watch movies. I was missing this at school. There’s nothing that can replace just pigging out with some junk food and putting on a movie that you barely watch because you’re all talking throughout the whole thing.
2. I actually wanted to do the community service.
For some, this isn’t the appealing part of Greek life, but for me personally, this was one of the main reasons I wanted to join. In high school I did a lot of volunteering, so I was looking for a way to give back while I was at school. Community service is a great way to bond with new friends and can even be a lot of fun.
3. I was looking for leadership opportunities.
It’s easy to get lost in the crowd in college. In high school, I was very involved and well known, but once I got to college I was just another student trying to make themselves known. Compared to the people at my high school, I may have seemed ambitious, but here, I was just as ambitious as the next person. I tried to be an Orientation Leader, but I didn’t get picked, so then I was at a loss for leadership roles on campus. Being in a sorority seemed like a great way to gain leadership skills. There are many different positions to hole within the organization, and I have a shot at actually getting them.
4. I wanted to find the place where I felt I belonged.
Being on a campus with thousands of students can be very intimidating. How do I find my niche when there are so many places to look? It can be tough to find somewhere to start. I ended up finding a sorority with girls that are a lot like me. They aren't anything like the stereotypes that go along with sorority girls. They are smart and strong and are all different shapes and sizes.
If you are anything like me and are feeling a little lost in college, don't discount Greek Life just because you already made judgments about it. It's a great way to meet new people and get involved in the campus and community. Go out and get to know the organizations that your campus has to offer. Even if one doesn't work out, try another! You really never know what you might find.
