1. Lots of Girl Friends 2. Instagram Likes 3. Greek T-Shirts.... Just kidding! These are the stereotypical things that people think members of sororities receive. Sororities are often belittled for offering nothing substantial to their members - of course, these claims often come from those who have never joined a sorority, or bothered to learn anything about them. Yes, joining a sorority will fill your closets with more greek apparel than you would have ever thought possible - but it'll also fill you with much more. Sororities offer excellent opportunities to grow tremendously as a person. Discover your inner-leader, your inner-activist, your inner-philanthropist. Take on leadership positions you'd never thought you'd take, in a comfortable environment full of your sisters. Find a home full of role models that will help you grow in ways you never would have expected. I've only been in a sorority for my first year of college so far, but here's how my sorority has helped me grow.
1. It gave me leadership opportunities.
Sororities provide so many leadership opportunities, with a full Executive board with assistants, as well as a Junior Executive Board. Additionally, leadership positions pop up throughout the year during recruitment and philanthropy events. One way or another, each member receives some sort of responsibility in the chapter that will help them grow as a leader. A sorority full of your close friends provides a comfortable environment for this growth, so there is not as much pressure as a leadership position in other organizations.
2. It provided me great role models.
My sorority is full of 100+ talented women, exposing me to their many majors, hobbies, extracurriculars and achievements. Sororities bring together such a diverse group of women who love to learn from each other. In my sorority, I met girls I probably would have never have known otherwise. In them, I found role models who had already traversed the difficult path of being an underclassman, and could advise me along the way. Hopefully one day, I'll be a role model to my younger sisters as well.
3. It taught me the importance of being accountable.
Although you are comfortable in your leadership positions, your sisters are still relying on you. You would be surprised what a large issue reliability can be for college students, and sororities can help with this. Sororities often operate on "points systems" in which attendance and timeliness at events are measured on. If the point system is completed, sisters can attend their formal. Additionally, giving each sister a leadership position requires them to be accountable. Sisters will be forgiving of your mistakes and shortcomings, and it is a great way to grow in this area people often struggle with.
4. It taught me financial responsibility.
Sororities have dues that are required to run the chapter, for events, housing, recruitment and the like. My sisters are informed of our chapter's budget, and the breakdown of their dues. Furthermore, many of my sisters pay their sorority dues themselves, furthering this growth in financial literacy.
5. It helped me with time management.
Greek Life always seems have some fun event going on. These events provide something to look forward to during your three hours of nightly biology homework - if you finish, of course. Sorority life can also come with a lot of responsibility, with weekly chapter meetings as well as other events. With this busy schedule, you will need to learn time management. Sororities provide both fun events and responsibility as motivators to manage time well. Also, your sisters will always be there to help you study!
6. It taught me the importance of self image.
When you join a sorority, you are joining an organization that is bigger than yourself. Your sorority's history most likely extends over a hundred years. In a sorority, you are often told, "You are always wearing your letters". This means that even when you are not physically in your sorority's apparel, you are representing your organization, and inappropriate behavior will reflect poorly on it. This mindset is valued in many workplaces and companies. We've most recently seen an example of this with Ryan Lochte being dropped by all his sponsors after his Rio incident. When you are affiliated with an organization, your behavior will be used to judge the organization itself. Your sorority teaches you to make your organization proud, which is a lesson that will translate well into the rest of our lives.
7. It made small talk comfortable.
Small talk is notoriously uncomfortable. After sorority recruitment training, small talk no longer creates a pit in my stomach. While I used to be terrible at small talk and was often regarded as quiet, my sorority has helped me carry on any type of conversation. Sorority recruitment requires talking to hundreds of potential new members, and you need to know how to hold a conversation. Sororities teach members how to make small talk comfortable, and how to transform small talk into meaningful conversations. Awkward mixers at your job will no longer be awkward! Another skill that is very helpful in all areas of life.
8. It put me out of my comfort zone - in a good way.
I'll be honest, going through sorority recruitment was uncomfortable for me. I was nervous and almost didn't go through with it. Communicating who I was as a person in a five minute conversation with women from many different sororities was difficult for me, but in the end, I found my home. A sorority puts you out of your comfort zone in that you meet so many new, different people and are exposed to so many new events and responsibilities. Without exiting my comfort zone and joining my sorority, I would have never grown as much as I have in the past year.
Imagine the kind of person I'll be in three more years! A special shout out to Alpha Chi Omega for making tons of Real, Strong Women all across the country.
