I don't want to sound like that typical college girl that goes on and on and on about how great her sorority is and how shes gained 100+ sisters...but the truth is, it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. As a freshman, all you want is to go off to school and make a lot of new friends and have a sense of community at your new "home". I never pictured myself to be the sorority type and all freshman year I denied the idea of going out for recruitment but I felt as if I was missing out on something, and I wasn't really sure what it was. When sophomore year came along I put all my assumptions about being in a sorority to the side and decided to give it a try. And I haven't regretted it a single minute since that day.
I have learned to break outside my comfort zones. I am no longer the shy person that I used to be. Being apart of a sorority has taught me how to be comfortable with myself and accept myself more and more each day. Because of all the people I have met, I have learned that people like me for me and for exactly who I am. It was the first time that I truly felt like I could be whoever I wanted to be and no one would judge me for it.
I have learned how to be more professional. I never realized thought I would care so much about how the rest of the school viewed me until joining a sorority. People recognize and associate you with that sorority so when you do something embarrassing or unprofessional, it not only makes you look bad but the rest of the sorority as well. I also never thought about how underclassman look up to the older girls and that they copy what you do. I've learned how to be someone that others want to be like and someone that they can look up to.
Being in a sorority has also taught me to value you the good things that I have in my life. Through our philanthropy and other community service things I have done, I have seen how much worse it could be. I have learned to value the little things I take for granted that others wish they had. I have also learned how important it is to give back. I have found a better sense of accomplishment after doing some community service projects and seeing how one thing I did is benefiting so many others.
I have opened up in more ways to the friends I have made through my sorority in ways that I didn't think were possible. I have learned to let people in and to share things with people that I was too afraid to share before. I know have a better understanding of the word friendship and what the really entails. I have become a better friend to those outside of my sorority and value each and every friendship I have.
I have now become a better version of myself that I didn't know I could be. I have been given so many opportunities to thrive and be myself through joining a sorority and I can't thank that organization enough. Going Greek was hands down the best thing I have done for myself in college and I can't imagine what my life would be like without it.