A lot of people attribute joining a sorority, or a fraternity, as one of the best decisions of their college careers and I have to agree. Joining a sorority was one of the hardest things I had to do but also one of the best, for many reasons. First of all, it was the right decision for me because of the friends that I have made. I have only been in a sorority for one semester and I have already made many new friends that quickly have become some of my best friends on campus. Meeting these girls and realizing I had so much in common with many of them was an indescribable feeling. It was like gaining new friends by the handful.
These friends also understand like no other the schedule you have that keeps you so busy because they have that same schedule of events and meetings you need to attend. That is not to say that your other friends will not understand, but as Greek life is a very big time commitment, these new friends will be there with you throughout this time commitment in the same position you are in.
Second, the exposure I received to new diversity was a large reason I loved joining my sorority. Never before had I had friends from all over the country, from many different religious backgrounds and ethnic backgrounds. It was humbling to learn about their culture firsthand instead of from a classroom or out of a textbook. It gave me a new appreciation for these things and I gained a lot more respect for these cultures I probably would not have gained otherwise.
Third, participating in philanthropy events was extremely rewarding. Personally, my sorority has an event each spring semester called "Take Back The Night" and it's goal is to raise awareness about sexual assault on college campuses (and in general). People can personally tell their stories if they so choose and people can make a donation to help survivors. Participating in philanthropy is usually not one of the top reasons people join Greek life though they know that they will do it when they join, but let me say firsthand it is one of the best reasons to join Greek life. Participating in these events and donating money to good causes makes you walk away feeling like you're actually making a difference in the world, no matter how big or small.
Fourth, the leadership roles you can take on really help prepare you for the future. Not only do these roles look good on a resume, they show you did not just join a Greek organization to party a lot. These leadership roles are serious and are big time commitments but being a part of these Greek organizations you have the chance to take on these leadership roles you maybe would not have had you not joined Greek life. These roles afford you skills you may even use in the future in your life after college.
Fifth, the networking gained through joining my sorority was great. Now, when registering for classes, I have a ton of other girls I can ask that may have taken that class and can help me, if need be. Also, the alumni and other sisters can help you gain contacts for life after college, such as gaining an internship or maybe even a job later on in life.
While these are just some of the reasons joining a sorority was the right decision for me, joining Greek life was one of the best decisions I could have made in my college career. I wouldn't change it for the world.
