One of the most important things that I have learned from joining a sorority my freshman year, is that there is no such thing as a typical sorority girl. I went into college with a picture in my head of what to expect from rush and what to expect from the girls I met that were in a sorority. But I was wrong, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

I would not call myself a huge girly-girl. Yes, I do love shopping, glitter, and Starbucks, but I still didn’t view myself as someone who would fit into a house. However, almost every girl I knew and/or talked to had decided to rush, and for that reason, I took a leap of faith and decided to go along for the adventure. My continuous motto was “if I don’t like it, I don’t have to continue.”

Let me tell you something I learned from this … do not be afraid to do something that makes you uncomfortable! I went through each round realizing more and more each time, that I really enjoyed meeting the different types of girls in every house.

Honestly, there are different houses for a reason! Every house I walked into, I was surprised at how different I felt at each one. Some houses have more girls on the cheer team, some houses have more girls in the band, but every house had a variety. I loved it! It was during the rush process that I began to realize that being in a sorority does not require a label.

Out of at least 20 sororities, I can MAYBE put one into the “typical” sorority category, and my house was not that one.

I got many mixed reactions to joining a house. My parents would say things like “can you really see yourself singing songs and clapping” or “are you ready to be crafty?” Yet several of my friends felt like it was a great decision.

After this past year, I would tell anyone that asked that being in a sorority doesn’t mean you have to party all the time, wear designer brands, straighten your hair every day, or only be friends with those in your house. I am not that stereotype and there is not a single girl in my house that is.

Every house is different, just like every girl is different. If you have any amount of interest, go through the rush process! You may find the house that fits you, and whether you consider yourself a typical sorority girl or not will define you as such, or not.

It’s a matter of perspective; anyone who is in a sorority, of any kind “typical house” or not, is a sorority girl, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. I love my house, and I love my sisters, and have learned to love crafting, which can happen to anyone of any look, personality, or upbringing!