The idea of having my own room, bathroom, and closet is foreign at this point. Coming to college, the thought of having a roommate scared me. I am someone who likes my quiet time. I like my walk-in closet and my queen size bed and my bathtub. I could count on one hand how many times I had slept in a bunk bed. How was I supposed to live with other girls in the same room, every night?

The beauty about living in a sorority house is, contrary to my motto that I always need my quiet time, is that you are always surrounded by people. Always. It seems strange to go from going through your daily routine in high school to always having someone by your side at any time of the day. The awesome part about it is that you truly do not have time to be in a bad mood. Why be responsible for putting a downer on someone’s day, when the things that could be making your mood not so great may not be so important? It makes me take a step back and wonder if what I get upset about is that critical. This is one of the most beneficial lessons I have learned while living in house… being surrounded by 60+ girls at all hours of the day, who wants 60+ girls being in a bad mood because of me? Might be kind of a stretch, but bad moods are contagious, and it’s hard to put up with one girl in a bad so I couldn’t imagine more than that.

Another incredible aspect with living in house is the constant support. It’s so rewarding to be able to come back to the house after a long day of classes and studying without a doubt that your day will make a turn for the better. Knowing that you always have someone that will stay in when you want to stay in, go out when you want to go out, will order a large pepperoni pizza when you want a large pepperoni pizza… what a cool feeling. There’s so many people under the same roof, there’s bound to be someone that has the slightest understanding of what’s going on and is right there with you.

My favorite part about living in the sorority house is the sense of feeling at home. And not just the sense of home where these girls are your family, but the physical aspects of living in a house that make it so comfortable. Having a house mom always making sure that everything is fixed and clean, having a kitchen to cook and easy access to food, a TV room with the comfiest of all couches and unlimited access to your choice of movies and TV series to watch… it’s all those feelings you get to feel again that you missed about your home while you lived in the dorm.

These girls are your sisters, and the friendships that grow from living in are so incredible to witness and to experience. You see them at their worst, at their best, and you can’t help but love them even more because of it. Some of the all-time best moments are the ones getting ready for Saturday home football games together in the bathroom, going “shopping” in everyone’s closets for the perfect outfit, or wrapped in the softest blanket on the couch watching another rerun of Grey’s Anatomy. Whatever the case may be it is an eye-opening time that you will never be able to experience again. The best part about it is the look of confusion you give to those giving you that identical look of conclusion… as if it’s a normal thing to live with 60 other girls. It’s a thing, okay?