Before college, I was anything but a "sorority girl." In fact, I was the furthest thing from it. Granted, the only things I knew about sorority girls were from movies like "Legally Blonde," "Sydney White," and "The House Bunny" or the TV show "Greek." Now after joining a sorority, I can see that these are not accurate depictions of Greek Life, whereas before it was my only insight. Trust me, in high school, I was a total theater and science nerd who had never heard about Lilly Pulitzer or Vineyard Vines and never cared about the Kentucky Derby.
How did I ever come to register for recruitment and accept a bid? After weeks of my grandmother telling me that I should at least go through the process to meet the girls, I finally registered just to please her, not thinking I would actually join. Now, recruitment was hands down the scariest thing I had ever done. I was never one to have a ton of best girlfriends in high school, so entering a room full of women where I had to find some common ground with a complete and total stranger while trying to hear over the loud chanting and clapping of the other Actives greeting the new PNMs (potential new members) was terrifying.
Another scary recruitment memory was being in the Rho Gamma groups, with a bunch of other PNMs, feeling very intimidated by their fashion sense and confidence that seemed to come so naturally. It felt like somehow I had missed the meeting during puberty where these girls learned how to look flawless at any given time of the day, walk in heels, and have great interview skills. In all honesty, I felt completely lost.
Even so, when I walked into the room where all of my future sisters were waiting, everything felt at ease. It was an instant connection where I was not trying to force myself to go on and on about where I was from, what my major was, and why I moved to Chicago. Everything felt natural. It felt like these women cared about what I had to say. It was the first time I had felt like I wasn’t trying to impress someone with all of my service hours or my leadership qualities. I was simply being me.
Of course, once bid day came everything went into hyper-speed and all the sudden I was being initiated and had already been to my first formal. So no, I may not wear Lilly Pulitzer or own anything from Vineyard Vines or ever care about the Kentucky Derby, but I am still proud to be a sorority woman and grateful to have met other amazing and wonderful women who have allowed me to become a part of something bigger than I ever could have imagined.
Being in a sorority is more than parties, Greek Week, and wearing all the stereotypical sorority brands. It’s about being a woman who wants to make a difference in the community, being passionate about everything you do for your philanthropy, becoming a strong leader, and having unconditional love for all your sisters.
While I came to college not really knowing what it would be like to join a sorority - and thought I would be the last person to join one - I've learned there is no certain "type" for a sorority girl. I came from high school as a theater and science nerd who never left her house without her Birkenstocks, but I've found that what you are on the outside doesn’t decide whether you can join a sorority. It is what’s on the inside that matters.
