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.
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

444770
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

18307
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

42479
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

21847
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

322287
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments