Over my two years as an active sister of a sorority, I have been told the following things way more times than I would like to remember.
"You don't look like a sorority girl"
"You're really in a sorority?"
"Sometimes I forget you're in a sorority"
"You're too nice to be a sorority girl"
"You're not going out tonight, what kind of sorority girl are you?"
And this is just the beginning of it. Because apparently people think that a girl of average height and weight with brown hair doesn't look like a sorority girl. That someone with a high GPA who is decently nice can't be in a sorority. That a girl who wants to spend her nights at home or doing something other than partying is a terrible sorority girl. So basically people assume that all sorority girls are tall, skinny, blondes who are mean and rude and who don't do anything but party. And they could not be more wrong.
My sisters and the other sorority girls on my campus and many other campuses are more diverse than you could ever imagine. I have sisters who are 5 foot nothing and ones that are over 6 foot and everything in between. We have all girls of all weights, hair colors, skin colors, religions, majors, personalities, literally everything. Every type of girl you can think of, we have it and so does every other sorority I have ever been in contact with.
Sorority girls are also known for having some of the highest GPAs on campus. At almost every school, sororities have required study hours and academic probation for sisters who aren't meeting the standards put forth by the chapter. This is to help them get better and to make sure their studies are put first.
Also, anyone who considers me "too nice" doesn't know me very well but also doesn't realize that sorority girls aren't all terrible people. I am not saying that everyone is super duper nice but we aren't all bitches like you see on TV and in movies. We are normal human beings. I joined because I wanted to find other good people, who liked to help others and help each other. Not to find bitches who gossip 24/7.
And now about the partying. There is no reason to assume that all sorority girls do is party. First of all, it's college, everyone parties. Go to any party at college and it will actually be a ton of people who aren't members of Greek life and a ton of people who are members of Greek life. Also, many of my Greek friends love to sit around in sweats and watch movies all night. We are all college students, just because you are Greek doesn't mean all you do is party and just because you aren't Greek doesn't mean you don't party.
I joined Greek life for so many reasons, yes a social life was one of them. But I also joined to find girls who would support me in every single way. Whether it was at an event I was running or in a math test I was taking. I joined for the opportunities to volunteer and raise money for the less fortunate. I joined because this is a once in a lifetime chance, literally the only time you can join Greek life is in college, so I took that chance. I joined to find a group that shared my values of loyalty and justice and friendship. I joined because I found my home with my sisters.
I am not saying that you have to joined Greek life, it isn't for everyone. But don't make a stereotype of what we are supposed to be. We are not all loud, confident girls, some of us are very awkward and shy. We are not all perfect, we are so insanely imperfect. We are not carbon copies of each other, we are so diverse and different and yet all looking for the same ideals.
Greek life does so much good, but people only see the bad. When you think I don't fit what a sorority girl should be, rethink what you think a sorority girl should be. I have never tried to be someone I'm not, before and after joining a sorority. My sorority chose me, even when I was awkward and weird and they still love me just the same. I am a sorority girl and I will always wear my letters whether you think I look like one or not.
