When the opportunity arose for me to be able to live in my sorority house during my sophomore year of college, I immediately shut the idea out of my head saying, “it’s just not for me”. I now realize that “it’s just not for me” is a totally invalid excuse if you’re talking about something you’ve never done before. How could you possibly know that something isn’t for you if you’ve never even tried it? 

Living in a house with twenty other girls can sound like a dream to some people and a nightmare to others. I think it is an experience that pretty much any girl in a sorority is capable of loving and appreciating. Now, I’m not going to sugarcoat this and say that it was the most amazing and perfect year of my life, but it was all of the ups and downs and fights and laughter that made it amazingly imperfect. 

I ended up deciding to live in the Chi Omega house not because I wanted to, but because all of my friends were doing it and I kind of felt like I had no other choice. The first few months were a difficult adjustment and it took me a while to realize that not everyone enjoys alone time like I do, is as neat as I am, and values a good night sleep as much as I do. Once I was able to fully appreciate all of the amazing things that come with a one-of-a-kind experience like this one and put all of the adversities aside, the rest of my time spent in the house was absolutely incredible. 

I always thought it sounded so cliché when everyone would say how living in a sorority house is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and an “experience you will remember forever”, but now I don’t even think these descriptions do the experience enough justice. Living in a sorority house takes you out of your comfort zone and throws you into situations that teach you how to be a more responsible, mature, and open person. I can honestly say that this experience has shaped me into the person I am today and given me the courage to be the person I strive to be in the future. 

I am so thankful for each and every friendship that was formed from living under the Chi Omega roof, and would not trade any stupid fight over giving away left over food, wearing someone’s shirt without permission, or being too loud while people are trying to sleep, for the world. It’s crazy to think about how I used to dread the thought of sleeping in a bunk bed, but now I would give anything to see my best friend Kalee’s head pop down from the top bunk, or read all of the funny messages that the girl’s who lived in the house in previous years wrote on the wood over my bed.            

I’ve always loved the quote “change your thoughts and you’ll change your world” because the truth in it shines through in so many different situations, living in a sorority house being one of them. Instead of dwelling on everything wrong about a person, place, or thing, embrace all of the positive things and life will be much more peaceful and beautiful. Most of the time, the things that hold us back most in life are the things we need to face in order to become a stronger and better version of ourselves. 

Sophomore year of college was hands down the best year of my life, and I’d like to think that’s because of my decision to live in the Chi Omega sorority house. Living with twenty 19 and 20 year old girls with complete different personalities is an unusual experience that is bound to change you no matter what, but it is ultimately in your hands HOW it changes you.