Going into my second year of college, I had no idea what to expect due to COVID-19 putting a damper on my first year. My expectations as a freshman were nowhere near what I actually experienced, especially when it came to academics and social life. I know this is something that a lot of my peers can probably relate to.
This year I knew I wanted to branch out and join an organization that would be beneficial for me and in turn see what I can contribute. I was super hesitant at first, but I decided to go through recruitment to potentially join a sorority. I decided that even though the experience was going to be outside of my comfort zone, I could gain something by going through the process.
I knew very little about Greek life and the different sororities here on campus and I believe that was a good thing because I was able to proceed with an open mind and no expectations that needed to be met. I remember meeting with my rho group (recruitment group) the night of orientation and being so overwhelmed because I didn’t know if I would be able to fit in or be able to trust my rho gammas (recruitment guides) with my feelings of uncertainty. I quickly learned that rushing as a sophomore was a lot more common than I thought and a lot of other girls felt the same way I did.
A lot of girls I talked to said that they never pictured themselves as “sorority girls” and that’s why they were so hesitant to go through recruitment. I learned quickly that I didn’t have to fit a certain mold or stereotype to be in a sorority. I just had to be my authentic self to find the women that I could connect with on a deeper level.
Even though I had so much anxiety going through each round of recruitment, I gained so much confidence because I allowed myself to open up to so many women. Each woman I talked to expressed their love for their chapter and their sisters, especially during the sisterhood round.
Sisterhood round was the round that put things into perspective for me and I realized which sorority I truly felt I belonged in and it was because of the way the sisters showered each other with love. I had not been able to experience that type of sisterly love in a long time and it resonated with me in a way that I didn’t expect. In high school I had a group of girls that I was friends with, but they never truly made me feel safe and accepted. When that group started to fall apart I found a couple of girls that actually wanted me to succeed and they made me feel like my feelings were valid. They still do. However, they did not come to college with me so I knew that I wanted to find women at my school that would uplift me in the way that they did and I found that.
I used to have somewhat of a negative mindset when it came to “sorority girls” and now it breaks my heart to know that so many people still feel the same way. Of course my experience may be different from others, but because I was able to get outside of my comfort zone, I have found women that provide me with a sense of comfort that I never knew I could have in college. The women I have met are some of the smartest, kindest, most determined, and most badass people I know. They inspire me everyday to be a better version of myself and to be kind and understanding towards others. They are leaders and they care deeply about their community. Because of them, I have found the confidence to be unapologetically myself and that’s a special thing. That’s what sisterhood means to me. It’s about women being able to lean on each other and lift each other. It is also the opposite of a surface level relationship; it’s much deeper than that. If I had to go through the anxiety again of waiting to see my schedule before rounds, I would do it 1,000 times again just to be able to be a part of the organization that I love so much already. All my love in AOT -A girl that is proud to be a Kappa Delta