My sorority story isn’t your typical one. There were no choreographed dances, TikTok “rush” videos singing at open doors. Instead, it was quieter, more personal and it ended up being exactly what I needed.
It all started in my freshman year. As a first-generation college student who moved 2.5 hours from home, I was far outside my comfort zone. I came in excited to meet new people, but the confidence I’d felt quickly faded. Everything felt overwhelming. I promised myself I’d spend my first semester adjusting, and the second semester would be for growth and getting more involved. I was finding my rhythm by the end of my first semester. I grew close with my roommate, got more confident in classes and made friends at work—but something was still missing. I didn’t feel truly connected. Over winter break, I gave myself some grace, but I knew when I returned, I needed to follow through on my promise.
Coming back for spring semester, I made it my personal mission to make connections at school, really leave my mark. Every club I tried didn’t feel right; I felt forced to be there, not a genuine want. I felt like I had already gone through every single one, but I was soon proved wrong.
One day, while walking through the Student Engagement Center, I ran into a girl named Chloe, someone I’d considered rooming with before. She invited me to an upcoming Alpha Sigma Alpha (ASA) Continuous Open Bidding (COB) event. I smiled and took the flier, but in my mind, I ruled it out. I didn’t see myself as a “sorority girl”. I was juggling a demanding pre-medicine major, a part-time job and I wasn’t the most outgoing person. That night, I remembered the promise I’d made to try new things. What’s the worst that could happen? I decided to go, and even convinced a friend to join me.
I expected the stereotypical sorority scene: singing, clapping and dancing. But when I walked into the room, it was completely different. Girls were casually chatting and making vision boards. If Chloe hadn’t waved me over, I would’ve thought I was in the wrong place. My friend and I sat down, and soon a girl from ASA joined us. We hit it off right away, we had grown up near each other and had so much in common. That simple conversation gave me a feeling of belonging I hadn’t felt all year. Afterward, I asked Chloe why it was so different from what I’d seen online. She explained that they were doing COB which is a a more relaxed recruitment style. She told me that all I needed to do to be eligible for membership was attend two events, send in a social resume and meet the GPA requirement for ASA. COB felt so much more aligned with who I was. I fell in love with ASA’s Philanthropic partners, Girls on the Run, Special Olympics, and the ASA Foundation. I really connected with ASA’s mission, and most importantly, really connected well with the community. I went to another event, completed the steps and was offered a bid. I was thrilled to begin my sorority experience! And pretty soon, Chloe became my Big and from there, everything started to fall into place. My story didn’t follow the traditional recruitment path, but COB was exactly what I needed. I got to connect with people on a personal level without feeling overwhelmed or out of place. Taking that leap out of my comfort zone changed the trajectory of my college experience. Everyone’s sorority story looks different, and that’s what makes each one special.
