10 Truths About Being In A Sorority | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Truths About Being In A Sorority

(For Girls Who Are Interested In Greek Life)

290
10 Truths About Being In A Sorority
Rebekah Lee

I remember my freshman year oh so well. I remember feeling terrified the night before orientation. The one thing that I dreaded the most was not the new people, the new environment, or even the academic pressure. I was dreading having to talk to sorority girls about Recruitment. I remember cutting off and avoiding any Rho Gamma/Panhellenic Officer that came my way during First Week. I looked at them like they had asked me to cut my arm off whenever they asked me if I wanted to rush. To be honest, I did not even know what rush was, but I knew that I did NOT want to be a part of it. To me, it was dumb. It was a waste of money. It was a waste of my time.

And guess what? I did not rush my freshman year. I spent the first half of my freshman year isolating myself from everyone on campus. I spent all of my time in the library, and then (since I was a commuter) went back home once my work was finished.

I was lonely. I was miserable. I was in need of sisterhood.

Fast forward to my second semester of college. A bad breakup put me into the mindset that I needed to put myself out there. I needed to develop relationships with people on campus. Through my new boyfriend, I became friends with girls and guys involved in Greek life and realized I had made a huge mistake. I then decided to rush the fall of my sophomore year.

I went through rush as a sophomore and even though it was anxiety inducing and stressful, I still found my home. I met wonderful girls who were on the same journey as me and now we share a Panhellenic bond that beats awkward orientation "ice breakers" any day.

Maybe you're interested in Greek life too. Maybe you're just as confused as I was last year. If you are still a little weary about the idea of Greek life, take a look into some truths about what it is like to be a part of a sorority!

1. We Learn How To Lead

As a member of a sorority, you are given the opportunity to run for a position in the chapter. This can run anywhere from the president to a small position. Regardless of the duties and actual job of the position, sisters who hold positions can learn a lot about themselves. Most importantly, they learn valuable leadership skills that they will take with them wherever they go in life.

2. We Have A Financial Obligation

I am not going to lie and say that we don't. But I promise that it's worth it. Contrary to popular belief, we don't buy our friends. Wow. Crazy, right? Our monthly dues go toward important activities such as mixers, socials, formal, semi-formal, and some chapters even use their dues to send sisters to leadership conferences and sisterhood retreats. We pay for our social outlets. And like the cliche goes, "If I had paid for my friends, I surely did not pay enough" Not only do our dues pay for our activities, but it teaches each sister to learn the valuable lesson of controlling her money and paying a monthly bill.

3. We Like To Eat (Together)

You will never sit alone at lunch ever again. Or at Chick-fil-A. Or Moe's. If there is one thing that we love more than sisterhood, it's food. Sisters who eat together, stay together.

4. We Support Each Other

I know that whenever I need advice, support, or someone to be completely honest with me, I can turn to my sisters. There are times when we seriously mess up in life, but we can always count on our biggest supporters. If a sister calls me in her time of trouble, I am more than willing to step in and help her. We sit and listen to each other freak out about papers and tests. We cheer each other up. We are each other's lifeline, no matter what.

5. We Aren't Cookie Cutter Versions Of Each Other

This is a common stereotype about sorority women (maybe it's the matching Bid Day shirts). It's not true at all. In fact, we are a diverse group of women with our own talents and abilities. In fact, we strive to promote diversity in almost everything we do. Each of us brings something different to the chapter and it's not all t-shirt ideas. In one big group, sure, we may look all the same, but each girl is different in their own perfect way.

6. We Still Have Bad Days

We are still human and even though we are surrounded by women who love and support us, we still break. Joining a sorority is not a cure-all for every problem we may face in life. You as a rushee may experience a girl who was not being genuine with you during rush because she's had a tough week. Or maybe we did not stop to say hi to you on our way to class because we just failed a test. We have bad days too, but don't let that sway your decision.

7. We Care About Our Grades

Believe it or not, grades are a very important part of being in a sorority. We are in college to get an education, after all, and our chapters respect this. All Greek Letter organizations have a GPA requirement and though they may differ from one to another, it is strongly enforced. Most chapters have study hours that they are required to attend in order to keep their sisters in their studies.

8. We Have Families And It's Confusing, But Wonderful

There comes a time in every new member's life that they find out who her big sister is. It's one of the best days of her life. But soon after she falls in love with her big, she discovers that she has a twin, an aunt, a great-aunt, a grand-big, a cousin, etc. You have your immediate family (your big, twin, g-big), but then you find out it goes back for ages and it can be really overwhelming. As hard as it is to explain how Greek families work, it's best to just enjoy what is given to you. These are the people who you have another awesome bond with and will always be down for anything with you.

9. We Like To Have Fun

With all the stress of school, work, mandatory events, and late night studying we like to let loose a little. Whether it be a Gossip Girl marathon, a social, or just painting the town red, we like to have fun and we are pretty darn good at it. There is no better entourage than that of your sista friends!

10. We Genuinely Love Our Sisters

I am about to get really cheesy on you but bear with me here. We do not just go around acting like we love our sisters because we wear the same letters on our chests. We don't "pretend" to love the girls we don't get along with because deep down, they are still our sisters.

The bond that we share through sisterhood is a bond that cannot be explained from the outside looking in or the inside looking out. I would go above and beyond for my sisters and they would do the same for me. Even when drama shows up, we can always look back to what holds us together as a chapter. That is what it is all about.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1949
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1191
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200406
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21016
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments