This article is an op-ed. The opinions presented in this piece are that of the author and not necessarily that of Her Campus.
Thinking about rushing a sorority? Read the other side of the story here!
I’ll admit: upon entering college last year, joining a sorority was not on the top of my priority list. I wanted to get involved writing for campus publications, audition for theater productions, ace all my classes—basically, I wanted to be the same über-involved girl I was in high school. To me, Greek life seemed like a distraction from what was really important. And besides, I had already been a high school cheerleader AND a Catholic school girl—adding “sorority girl” to the list seemed like one lame porn plot too many.
But nevertheless, I found myself signing up for rush with the rest of my freshman floormates. I figured I’d go through the rounds to see if I was missing anything, and eventually drop out if I wasn’t.
It turns out I was. Meeting hundreds of girls in the span of two weekends may sound like a total nightmare, but it was the perfect way for me to meet like-minded women: driven, sociable, and engaged. Rush was a way for me to get exposed to groups of girls outside of my freshman hall, and I’m still friends with girls I met during recruitment, regardless of whether I ended up pledging their sorority or not.Â
So here is my experience in the first year of sorority life—I think my sorority spirit could even make Casey Cartwright proud.
Bid Day—“It’s Like Christmas, but Instead of Presents We Get Friends!”
Bid Day is by far the best day of the year. You finally get to reap the rewards of recruitment and celebrate with the new girls who will be your sisters. The feeling of welcome I got from my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, when I joined was unparalleled. This year was especially exciting when I got to welcome one of my best friends into my sorority. Never did I think a crowd of screaming girls wearing matching t-shirts would cause me to be emotional, but my sunglasses fogged up, sure enough.
Girls Got Your Back
Joining a sorority means you automatically have a group of girls to watch your back, no questions asked. Whether you need a walk home after a night out, a chemistry tutor or just someone to attack a pint of Ben and Jerry’s with after a breakup, your sisters are there for you. Although it’s unrealistic you’ll be best friends with 90 girls, I like to think that I could call any of my sisters in a time of need and know they’ll be there.
Your Social Calendar Will Be Bumpin’
Any self-respecting collegiette would never admit to having a tough time finding things to do on the weekend. But there will come a time, sooner rather than later, that you realize you’ve been at the same fraternity house/dive bar/off-campus apartment three nights in a row. It’s easy to get into a routine and let your social life go stale. Greek life is the antidote. Every week, my sorority has mixers with different fraternities, and sometimes even with varsity teams (mm, athletes). We’re constantly, pardon the pun, mixing it up, so there’s always a new group to meet. Oh, and while you’re at it, go ahead and pump up your love life—between all your sisters one of them will have the perfect guy to set you up with (or know the guy you have your heart set on). Being part of a larger network of girls allows you to have access to people on campus you would have never met on your own.
Career Perks
While it’s great to be involved in on-campus organizations, a sorority goes beyond just campus life. Once you pledge a certain sorority, you’ve attached yourself to a nationwide network of current members and alums. This network can give you a leg up in applying for internships, and (gasp!) real jobs.Â
Campus Involvement
For me, becoming involved in a sorority didn’t prevent me from becoming involved in other organizations. In fact, it facilitated my involvement. Navigating a new campus is tricky, and there are so many opportunities out there that you won’t be aware of them all. That is, you won’t be until a sister points them out to you. For example, I did a lot of singing in high school, but wasn’t quite sure how to translate that interest to college life. Soon after rush, one of my sisters turned me on to an open mic night that I could audition for—I never would’ve known it existed otherwise. I auditioned and now I’ve performed multiple times on campus, all thanks to Kappa!
So call me a convert. I relish in the fact that I can call 90 amazing women on my campus sisters and many more nationwide. Without my sorority, I never would have met my best friend, my boyfriend, and many other people who have made my college experience what it is today. I may not be passing around a “snap cup” anytime soon, but I will be thanking the powers that be that I found my home in Kappa Kappa Gamma.