If you're anything like me, your mom made you sign up for recruitment, you thought you'd hate it, and then you ended up in love with your letters and on the exec board multiple times. Or maybe, you always knew you'd be in a sorority, got the perfect Big in the perfect family, and made it to every social. Either way, you love greek life, and will have no idea what to do when it's all over. For the past four years, my chapter has been my home and my sisters have been my best friends. I know I made the most of my time as a member, but there are still lessons I had to learn the hard way, so here's some advice to all of you actives from a sorority graduate.
To the freshman class: The biggest thing I have to say to you is quite possibly the biggest cliché in all of sorority history: you get out what you put in. Make the most of it. Take on leadership positions, learn to love and appreciate your entire pledge class (not just your group), and don't be scared to do things you never thought you would try. Your chapter and your sisters will always support you. Sometimes, that support will come through tough love (i.e. trips to standards), but I promise you that you will become a better version of yourself if you embrace those times with an open mind and open heart.
P.S. Take recruitment seriously. Your older sisters are counting on you to help them get the best new members. Plus, you find your Littles during your first recruitment, so you should be nothing but excited and happy to help.
To the sophomore class: You guys get three short months before you are juniors, which is arguably the hardest year of school for literally everyone. Your classes are going to be tougher than ever before, leadership matters, and internships are on your mind. Plus, everyone is busy turning 21, so sometimes you're too busy celebrating to figure out that you should be studying for your test instead of doing yet another vegas bomb. My advice to you is this: Don't get burned out. Don't let each other down. Don't leave your chapter. During my junior year, I contemplated hanging up my letters for good more than once, and I am so glad my mom and friends talked me out of it.
To the junior class: You guys are closer to every senior's heart than you will ever know. You are their Littles. They are leaving their chapter in your hands. You have big shoes to fill, but you can do it. When you are seniors, there will be times when you will feel too big for your house. You will absolutely hate going to chapter meetings on Sunday, you will feel old and ready for the real world, and you might not feel relevant anymore. Trust me when I tell you this: You are not too big for your house, there will always be room for you. When you hate going to chapter, remember that Sundays are the only times when you will be around all of the people who are always in your corner. And remember that you are absolutely relevant. Everyone will look up to you, (especially your GG) and everyone will root for you and your success, just like you did for the seniors before you. Plus, adulting sucks and the real world is hard, so you should use your senior year to have as much fun as you can. Stay up late, laugh until you cry, and most importantly, keep going to all the events and sisterhoods you can make.
And to the graduates: You did it! You helped build your chapter and now you have to leave and join the real world. Stay close with your pledge sisters. They will understand every rant you have about living in a new place or being the new guy at work. Check in on your little, she will still need you. And finally, join your alum chapter. You'll meet new sisters over margaritas. What could be better than that?
