All of my life I have been scared of public bathrooms. It’s part of my insane fear of germs. So when it came to choosing a residence hall I picked one with a private bathroom. Then, it came time to move into my sorority house and I could no longer avoid the public bathroom. Suffice it to say, I was scared of the sorority house in general, and not just the bathrooms. I was scared I would never get any sleep in the sleeping dorms, I wouldn’t have any privacy, and that I would dislike everyone within two days due to the close proximity and frequency of sightings.

Within two days of living in, however, I realized these fears were irrational. Everyone is trying their best to be respectful of each other and the beautiful house we call home. The sleeping dorms are really comforting as they are twenty-four hour quiet and dark, so it doesn’t matter that there are multiple women in the same dorm. No one would think of barging in or encroaching on your privacy in any way, and I know that no matter if we get into fights or not, my sisters and I will always love each other and know that we have each others’ backs.

In fact, living in has been a blessing. It has given me a much better opportunity to get to know my sisters than I’ve ever had before. It’s hard not to get to know someone when you see them all the time or when they hang out just down the hall. It has also made the upper class-men way less intimidating to me. Last year they seemed so much more mature than me and they felt a little out of reach sometimes because they were so comfortable around each other and I was always so nervous. This year, however, they are the people freaking out with me or sleeping in the bed at my feet. They are just another sister in this huge family we call a sorority. In this way living in has given me a whole new perspective on my sisterhood and my sisters themselves.

The other thing that is just really nice to have when living in house is all of the “free” items. My laundry, printing, and Wi-Fi are free, although I assume I pay for it somehow. But, when you remember how comparable living in house is to the dorms but add in all the extras like Wi-Fi, printing, and laundry it definitely adds up. Plus, the meals here are amazing, and if you have any dietary restrictions the kitchen always more than willing to help and accommodate you. I have found that they want me to want what they serve and not just eat it. Living in has some amazing privileges, both monetary and in terms of growing closer together as sisters.

Living in my sorority house has not only gotten rid of all of the fears I had had, but it has also been such a positive experience it’s made me feel extremely blessed for this opportunity. Living in can seem like a chore sometimes when women talk about it, but it is honestly such a privilege. I am so excited now to spend the rest of the year with my sisters!