An introvert can be described as someone who turns inward mentally and spends a lot of time alone. A sorority is a social group for college girls who share the same values. Perhaps you are an introvert, yet you are oddly intrigued by sorority life. An introverted sorority girl seems like an oxymoron, and maybe it is, but it doesn't mean you won't benefit from a sorority if you are an introvert. My freshman year of college I functioned as a pseudo-extrovert. I joined one of the most extroverted sororities on campus and went to countless socials, parties, fundraisers, and philanthropy events as I attempted to be a social butterfly. I managed to make wonderful friendships with a lot of people, spending nearly every waking moment around others. It wasn't until winter break that I finally had a minute to unwind and have the alone time I need in order to recharge. Despite what everyone may have thought my freshman year, I was not an extrovert; I was an introvert. I remember thinking that being an introvert was a bad thing-- that it made me inherently shy and aloof, but I now realize it just makes me me. Since then, I have learned that it's possible to be both an introvert and a sorority girl at the same time.

You're probably wondering how on earth an introvert ended up in one of the most extroverted sororities on campus. As an introvert, I hate small talk. I hate mindless conversation about the weather or my classes, so how the heck did I make it through rush week, which is essentially an entire week of extroverting and small talk, and how did I choose my sorority? The answer is simple. I hate small talk, but I can talk your ear off about my passions. I have a lot of really outgoing passions and I related really well with the girls in my sorority, so I had no trouble making conversation because it wasn't small talk at all. I vividly remember talking about my best friend, who I had recently flown home to see and surprise her on her birthday, the charity I supported all throughout high school, and my career goals. So, if you're an introvert scared about rush week, have no fear. When you get to the house you're meant to be at, you'll have no problem making conversation. It will just flow naturally, at least that's what happened to me.

I didn't join a sorority to be a part of a group, as odd as that may sound. I joined a sorority to make close relationships with individuals. That's what introverts truly crave. Introverts need to have intimate friendships, and that's what I got from being in a sorority. To be honest, I still have difficulty being a "team player" because I just want to be me. While being in a sorority does require me to be a team player and participate in a lot of group events, I have found other ways to get alone time in college.

I'm not the girl who will study at the big long table with all her sorority sisters in the library. I use my study time as my relaxing alone time, which I know sounds bizarre, but I enjoy studying alone in a little corner of the library. Sometimes I pass on group dinners and eat by myself in the dining hall, and while most people may feel sorry for me, they don't understand that it's my choice. I'm not an extrovert, but I am a sorority girl. It's possible to be an introvert in a sorority, you just need to manage your time to ensure you have your fair doses of alone time.