When most people hear that you're a part of a fraternity you don't get much enthusiasm. Usually, we are met with eye rolls and people asking what you had to do to be a part of a frat. There is such a negative stereotype for the females of a fraternity, and I'm here to set the record straight.
Here are 10 things you will understand if you're a female member of a fraternity.
1. You were chosen because you love each and every brother.
True, not everyone gets along all of the time. But for the most part we all love to be around each other. We are here to help one another. All of the sweethearts and Lavalieres are not only here to help the brothers but we also all love each other. We chose to come hang out just to be around everyone because it makes us happy. They love us and we love them.
2. You love to wear stitched letters.
When you get your first pair of letters it's like Christmas day. You are so excited to have been chosen and included in their organization. Getting to wear those Greek letters on your chest feels so right. Walking around campus with them on makes you feel so important and honored. If you're like me you don't want to take them off for almost a week after they are given to you and you borrow shirts from a handful of brothers so that you can have a different shirt everyday.
3. You are treated with the utmost respect
The brothers always make sure to say hi to you. They invite you to all of their events. They will walk in the rain for you, they will pick you up late at night, and their house is always a safe place for us to go. I have yet to be treated badly by a single brother and that's how it should be.
4. But that doesn't mean you don't have fun
(There's a sweetheart under this group hug^)
Yes, they respect us, but that doesn't mean we don't joke around and make fun of each other. We spend most of the time annoying one another, dumping glitter on the guys, having them prank us with bugs, playing Xbox and play station or just sitting around and talking. We're practically all siblings and we love it.
5. You get to be a part of Greek Week.
At my college and many others, we have an event for all Greek life called "Greek Week". This is when we really get to show our pride for our guys. We scream our heads off at their events and we're there to raise the flag whether they win or lose! We even get to be a part of the biggest event at the end of the week, the sync. A week of being together non-stop. What could go wrong?
6. It's an honor, not a privilege.
(The night I became a Lavaliere. 2015 Delta Sigma Phi Informal^)
You aren't given letters just because you want them or because you helped with that one event that one time. You are given letters because each brother likes and trusts you and you really make a difference in their lives and in their chapter.
Being given letters isn't just about being liked it's about being loved.
7. You gain new sisters
Yes, we may all be in different sororities and some aren't in any other organization at all but all of that goes away when we all are wearing the same letters. We all have a common goal and we grow to love each other. :)
8. Going to the parties is awesome.
Yes, you probably helped pick the theme and did a lot of the setup work for the party but all those outsiders are coming to your house. You get to be in the spotlight for the night. My fraternity has a VIP lounge at their parties and I know that I could easily just walk right up and sit there the whole time if I wanted to. I can walk into any room and be at home. Having the comfort and convenience of a party at home is pretty nice.
9. You make memories and friends to last a lifetime
This isn't just for your college years, this is for every year after. You'll go to the alumni events, come back for a few parties, and years later you'll find your closest friends are still some of your brothers. You are forming a bond to last a lifetime and we wouldn't want it any other way.