When I first thought about joining a sorority, I was a little bit skeptical about it. I wasn't sure how I felt about being part of an organization of so many girls. I was back and forth about whether I really even fit in anywhere or if being in a sorority was my thing. I wasn't exactly what I thought a "sorority girl" was.
For the girls who are skeptical about going Greek, I'm going to give you 17 reasons you should join a sorority.
1. Friendships
When you join a sorority, you join a group of girls who are waiting to be your friend. You'll meet so many people and as you get to know them, you'll develop a bond that is irreplaceable and cannot be found anywhere else. These girls will become some of your very best friends and you'll begin to wonder how you ever lived without them.
2. Dances
When you think about high school, what's one thing that every girl misses the most? That's right...dances. A sorority will guarantee that your days on the dance floor are far from being over! You'll have formals, spontaneous themed dances, and if your pledge class is anything like mine, you'll have the occasional dance party that breaks out of nowhere when you're just trying to study together for finals.
3. Endless Support
Being in a sorority means that you'll have the biggest group of supporters around. Whether they're your #1 fan when you have exciting news, eating a gallon of ice cream and watching chick flicks with you after a breakup, or taking care of you when your night has been a little bit too crazy, they will always stand behind you and cheer you on. Your sisters want you to be happy and will always do whatever they can to be sure that you are.
4. Getting Involved
Sororities make so many opportunities available for you to get involved with your community or campus. You'll hold your own events as well as attend other organizations' events. You'll do service hours that will not only make you an active member of your community, but will also build your character.
A lot of sorority members will even join intramural teams together or join different clubs together just to be more active and involved on campus. Getting involved together is a great way to build your relationships with your sisters while getting more connected.
5. Diversity
When you go to college, you tend to cling to the people who are just like you. Sometimes you need to switch it up and a sorority is the best way to do so. Each chapter is full of girls who are from different races, religions, or sexual orientations. There's a variety of personalities and no one girl is the same. Our differences may cause us to butt heads sometimes, but at the end of the day, we embrace our differences because they are what makes ourselves and our chapter unique.
6. Better Grades
"People in fraternities and sororities only go to college to party." WRONG. Each chapter has a set of academic standards. You are required to maintain a certain GPA chosen by your chapter and to acquire a certain amount of hours in the library each week. Failing to meet the GPA requirements can result in academic probation or even getting kicked out of your sorority. Academics are taken seriously and your sorority will always give you an incentive to get good grades.
7. You'll Never Be Bored
When I say never, I mean it. There is always something going on when you're in a sorority. You have chapter meetings, recruitment practices, recruitment, socials, dances, philanthropies, sisterhood events, and most importantly....crafting. You can never do too much crafting! But you get the point. There's never an excuse to be bored.
8. The Chance To Prove Stereotypes Wrong
You've all seen "The House Bunny." In my head, that's the way society depicts sororities. This is both terrifying and hilarious at the same time. It's terrifying how incredibly inaccurate the image is, but hilarious that people actually believe we're that ridiculous. We do more than just have pillow fights in our pajamas and wash cars in skimpy clothes.
Actually, we do neither of those things. When you're in a sorority, the most common and annoying thing you'll hear is "you don't seem like the sorority girl type." This is the moment that you're proving to people that sorority is not a "type." It's an organization that does not fall into the category of a stereotypical sorority and that you could not be more proud to be a part of.
9. Clothes, Clothes, and More Clothes
If you're anything like me, this will be one of the best parts of being in a sorority. You will have a never-ending wardrobe of cute clothes with your letters on them. You get a shirt for every philanthropy, intramural team, and dance. But wait, there's more! You also get hand-me-downs from your Greek family. Did I mention that there's also someone in your chapter who is in charge of making sure there's always something designed and ready for purchase? Or that Facebook even has pages where people will sell you their old letters and other sorority items? That's just the start.
10. You Get Really Good At Being In Awkward/Uncomfortable Situations
I can sum this up in one word...ready for this? Recruitment.
11. You Never Have To Do Anything Alone
Whether you're going to dinner, the library, to do service hours, or even just to the bathroom, you'll never have to do it alone. There's always someone who is willing to do something or go somewhere with you. All you have to do is send a group message to your pledge class and all your problems of going places and doing things alone are solved.
12. Your Social Skills Improve Drastically
Before joining a sorority, I was so socially awkward. Being in a sorority forced me to come out of my shell by always throwing me into social situations such as recruitment. During recruitment, you literally talk to complete strangers for hours trying to get to know them. You get put in enough situations like this and it basically makes you a professional. By the time you graduate, you'll be able to talk to anyone and everyone at any given place or time.
13. You Make A Difference
When you're in a sorority you do all kinds of things for your community. You're given so many opportunities to make a difference in people's lives whether it is directly or indirectly. You're working towards a greater good and it's such an amazing and rewarding feeling.
14. Travel
When the school year comes to an end, your adventures are just beginning. Over the summer, your sisters will be scattered all across the country in the places that they call home. This gives you the perfect opportunity to take a summer road trip with so many options of where you can go. You get to visit your sisters while taking on the adventure of exploring a new place and creating more memories.
15. Personal Growth
You will see yourself grow as an individual so much in your time in a sorority. Having more experience, the older members are able to act as mentors and help guide you. They help you become a better version of yourself. You will always be finding ways to challenge yourself and push yourself to be the best you can be.
16. Philanthropies
Philanthropies are events that your sorority puts on to raise money and awareness for a specific cause. A lot of people participate in your philanthropies and you will also support other chapters by participating in theirs. It's such a great way to support a good cause while creating memories that will last a lifetime with your sisters!
17. You Find Your Home Away From Home
The girls in your chapter are your best friends, your support system, your second family, and your sisters. They give you a sense of belonging, show you that you have a special place where you belong, and they always accept you for who you truly are. Home is not a place, but a feeling and these girls become your home away from home.
If I could encourage you to do one thing in college, I would encourage you to go Greek. My sorority has made my college experience so much better than I could have ever imagined it would be. It has given me so many opportunities that I wouldn't have come across without it. Greek life has so many things to offer and your opportunities are waiting for you, so don't miss out!
