Throughout high school I looked down on “sorority girls.” I thought they were vapid, obsessed with partying, and weirdly cult-ish. I never ever thought I would one day join a sorority, because I thought it simply was not for me.
After transferring to a new school and making friends who were thinking of rushing, I started to think about it, too. I was completely torn. Part of me really wanted to do it, because as much as I hated to admit it, there was something about sorority life that was appealing to me. Another part of me was still stuck in the mindset that sorority girls had to fit a certain stereotype that I did not see myself in. So I did some research on Greek life at Pitt and Greek life in general, talked to a variety of people, and finally decided that if I didn’t sign up for recruitment, I would regret it.
I went through recruitment and with every new day I realized that I was excited. I wanted to be part of an organization that values philanthropy, academics, sisterhood, and so much more. I could not stop thinking about the day when I would proudly wear letters, and it dawned on me that I truly had made the right decision.
Bid day arrived and with the excitement of suddenly having seventy new sisters, I could not help but think back on the things I had previously thought about sorority girls. My new sisters are nothing like the stereotypical girls you think of. They are real, unique, and diverse girls that accepted me with so much love from the minute I received my bid.
If you are unsure about whether or not Greek life is for you, my advice is to just go for it. You might end up deciding it isn’t for you, but at least you can say you tried. I found that talking to people really helped me decide what to do, especially talking to high school friends. I was afraid people would judge me, but instead I received a ton of support, even from those who didn’t see the appeal of Greek life. Take the time to see what sororities are at your school, and do your research on what their values are and what they support. If you decide to go through recruitment and are starting to doubt your decision, talk to people. Be yourself and everything will fall into place.
Being in a sorority is not for everyone, but if you are like me and are curious about what it is like, go for it. You may end up surprising yourself by making that decision, but it will be worth it in the end. Who wants to live their life regretting the fact that they didn’t give Greek life a chance? I certainly didn’t, and I am now beyond excited to spend the next three years of my life surrounded by a group of incredible women.
Photo Credits: Provided by the author.