“You’re paying for your friends.”
“You just joined for the parties.”
“All sorority girls look the same.”
Trust me, I’ve heard it all. Maybe a year ago, I would have thought the same thing about Greek Life. It wasn’t until after going through recruitment on a whim for me to realize how big of misperceptions these assumptions are about sororities.
Growing up, I never had a ton of girl friends, especially in middle and high school. I never really clicked with any females besides my two best friends from home. I always felt like guys were so much easier to get along with– and a lot less drama.
After a full year of college under my belt, and having to deal with breakups and heart breaks, I realized I needed a girl gang to turn to. I needed a closet to raid, someone to confide in after horrible decisions, and someone to have late night talks with over pancakes at iHop.
While I was going through recruitment, I still wasn’t sure if joining a sorority was what I wanted to do. It wasn’t until the final day of recruitment that I found my home in Delta Phi Epsilon, a sorority filled with some of the most empowering women I know.
Without this chapter, I probably wouldn’t have met some of my best friends and future bridesmaids. I know that I am not paying for my friends because I could drop tomorrow and they would still have my back through thick and thin.
I definitely didn’t join to party. When you’re in college, you can literally walk down the street and find a party. Sure, we have some socials here and there. But what a lot of people don’t know is these events are regulated with rules we are required to follow (like no underage drinking at socials, designated drivers and sobers, etc.). If that doesn’t sell you, we also only have these events after having service socials, where we build sober relationships and give back to the community.
The myth that all sorority girls look the same (bleach blonde hair, 5’4, size two, total babes) is absolutely false. Actually, one of my sorority’s philanthropy is Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, so we focus on promoting body positivity and celebrating our differences. We recently had a photoshoot and put together a video showing how diverse and beautiful the women in our chapter are. But it’s not just us–I know every other sorority on campus strives to empower women too, looking past superficial things like appearances and status.
Because of Greek Life, I always pass a familiar face when walking to class. I have stepped outside my comfort zone and put myself out there. I have become actively involved in the CMU community and am now a leader on campus. Most importantly, I am more aware of my actions and how they reflect my character. I no longer only represent myself– I represent the women in my chapter and the rest of the Greek community.
Photo Credit: Monica Bradford