For as long as I can remember, joining a sorority was always something that I wanted to do when I got to college. This desire to join such an organization came from my camp counselors, who each day would proudly rep their chapters letters, and would tell my friends and I about all of the great things that they have accomplished and achieved from it. From the second that I accepted the bid to my sorority freshman year, my life has changed for the better.
1. Gave me more of a home on campus.
My university has almost 19,000 undergraduate students. Before I became involved in Greek Life, I would walk through campus and only see a few familiar faces on my way to class. Before I became involved in Greek life, I barely knew anybody in my 400 student lecture halls. Joining a sorority blessed me with 200 familiar faces to say hi to on my way to class, and increased the chance that at least 1 sister would be in my large lecture classes. Not a day goes by that I don't walk through campus and see multiple sisters on my way to class. Knowing so many familiar faces all over campus really makes my school feel like home to me.
2. Allowed me to meet people from all over.
There are almost 200 girls in my sorority, and these girls come from all over the United States. From New York, to Boston, to California, and everywhere in between, I have friends from so many different places. This gives me a reason to travel to see my friends and explore different parts of the United States.
3. Allowed me to become a part of something bigger than myself.
Lots of people associate being in a sorority with having lots of mixers and social functions. While that is an aspect of Greek life, that isn't everything that a sorority is about. A big part of being in a sorority is giving back to your community and being philanthropic. My sorority is connected to two different philanthropies, and each year we engage in fundraisers to raise money for those important causes. Before joining my sorority, I didn't realize how much of an impact such an organization can make on the world, and it taught me to give back to my community.
4. Gave me the opportunity to get involved.
Just by joining a sorority, there are so many ways to get involved. There are countless opportunities to try out leadership positions and discover things about yourself that you didn't know existed.
5. Gave me my best friends.
I think that the best thing my sorority gave is my best friends. For these girls, I would drop everything to be by their side in times of need, and I know that they would do the exact same for me. They are the people who drive hours to surprise you at the airport when you have been away for a while. They are the people who I can be completely myself around. They are my support system. They are not only my best friends, but they have become my family.
If you are struggling with whether or not to rush a sorority, my advice is that it never hurts to try. It is for some people more than it is for others, but you never know how much of an impact it may have on your life until you give it a try. As there are negative connotations associated with Greek life, it is important to push those aside and think about all of the positive things that joining a sorority can give you. If there is one thing that I did right in my life, that was pledging to become a sister of my sorority.
