I had a lot of precoceived ideas of what I thought my college experience would look like. I envisioned living in a dorm, spending a lot of time with new friends, and enjoying the new-found freedom. One thing I never did envision though, was joining a sorority.
Joining a sorority was something I never envisioned for myself. I didn't see myself as a "sorority girl." Drinking and going out was never my thing, and I'm not the most girly thing to walk the planet. (Turns out, it's a running joke in my sorority, I'm actually quite disgusting.) These were all things I thought being in a sorority meant, and though I had nothing against them, I never thought it would be for me.
I still remember the fateful day my good ole mentor Megan (you're welcome for the shoutout) forced me into signing up for formal recruitment and the whining and moaning I did about doing it, now it's easily the best decision I made my freshman year of college.
Being in a sorority is not what everyone thinks it is, and here are some of the best aspects of being in a sorority for me.
1. Sisterhood.
Honestly, again with my preconceived ideas, I didn't know how much I bought into the whole "sisterhood" idea. But let me tell you, it really is just that. I don't know if it's the hours and hours upon more hours that you spend together or if it really is some magical bidding girl-fest magic that makes you click instantaneously but it probably hadn't been a week and I felt like I knew the girls in my sorority my whole life. I know that no matter what, I can always count on every single person in my sorority to be there for me if I need them, and I will do the same for them. I can't count the amount of times people have been there for me through my countless emotional outbursts, all the late night food trips (including the extra drive to Taco Bell at midnight), and someone to lay around with and house me in their dorm rooms for countless days.
2. My pledge sisters.
Your pledge sisters really are the real deal. Baby Phi, I do not know what I would do without you guys. I honestly couldn't have made it through pledging with anyone but you and I can't imagine living the rest of my life without you guys. You were the people I could go to when we were all confused about what was going on, when we ran on two hours of sleep and when we sat on the bathroom floor trying to figure out who our bigs were and matching handwritings. Although I don't talk to each of you every day, you guys take up so much of my AST heart and I love you guys so much. (Also, our wonderful pledge mom, we definitely wouldn't have made it a day without you. Sorry for the Groupme blow ups.)
3. Big/Little Love
I truly think I would cease to exist without my big. A big is supposed to be someone to mentor you, guide you, console you, and teach you the ways of the sorority. Their general purpose is to be a big sister to you and basically shower you with love. My big does all that and more. From the day you revealed yourself to me after being my AO, I knew I needed you to be my big. Thank you for building up my love for this sorority and my love for you. I know you would drop anything for me and I know no matter what happens, I can always count on you to be there, no matter what happens. Thank you for all the dates to get food, to get our nails done, and laying on your bomb futon and not moving for hours at a time. Thanks for begrudgingly posing while I take nine million photos of us and for giving me life. I hope to be as good of a big to my future little as you are to me. I couldn't imagine my life without you and I hope to make you as proud of me as I am of you.
4. Philanthropy
As cheesy as it sounds to say that giving back feels good, it really does.And it helps that you're doing it with all your friends. Every sorority has a different philanthropy, and they're all equally amazing and unique. Nothing feels better than pulling yourself out of bed, and kicking off your day with something great. There are honestly very few things better than seeing the immediate reaction of happiness and appreciation when you help someone or make someone's day with something as simple as a craft.
Although these are basic ideas of a sorority and what a sorority entails, and no matter how unmercifully sorority girls are mocked (Moriah, I'm looking at you), these are the things that are the glue in a sorority and make the time worthwhile. Every girl in a sorority can relate to the immense joy these things bring you. I love being a member of Alpha Sigma Tau and can't wait to spend the next three years of my life doing something that makes me so happy.
