Finding the Truest Me Through Sorority Life

Growing up, I had seen the lasting friendships my mom had made through her sorority. Still, going into college, I wasn’t entirely sure if sorority life was for me. Going to a large in-state school, I wanted to branch out and find a community, but I worried about the stereotypes and not fitting in. What I quickly realized, though, is that there truly is a place for everyone where they feel like they belong. I initially had hesitations but ultimately felt like sorority recruitment would be a good way to hopefully find my home and at the very least meet new people.

The recruitment process showed me how welcoming and laid-back the community was, so I felt comfortable and found my home. Bid Day was overwhelming in the best way. I definitely had moments of “What am I getting myself into?”, but my sorority sisters became my first and closest friends in college. Living together allowed us to spend lots of time together. We started with surface-level conversations and began to find things in common and connect on deeper subjects.

Despite our different backgrounds, we had much more in common than I ever would have expected and built friendships that I know will last a lifetime. I even got to watch my younger sister go through recruitment and watch her grow while connecting with her in a new way.

Beyond friendship, my sorority experience helped me grow in ways I never anticipated. Before joining, I didn’t see myself as a leader. But, my sisters encouraged me to take on leadership roles within the chapter. I was elected VP of Recruitment as a sophomore- which was both exciting and intimidating. I’m so grateful for the older members who saw potential in me before I saw it in myself. Now, I have the opportunity to do the same for younger members, inspiring confidence in them the way others did for me.

Philanthropy has also been a huge part of my sorority experience. I have a personal connection to our chapter’s cause, Breast Cancer Education and Awareness, and being able to contribute to something bigger than myself has been incredibly rewarding. It’s also been great to connect with my sisters, Potential New Members and survivors about our shared experiences and working to raise awareness and money to find a cure.

My sorority experience has led to a lot of reflection. One of my favorite realizations came from a conversation with my freshman-year roommate and one of my best friends, Elliotte. We decided that the best part of being in a sorority is that everyone’s problem is your problem, but that means you never have to face your problems alone. The support, encouragement and friendships I’ve gained from this experience have shaped my college years in ways I never expected and I have taken every opportunity I can to spread that message in hopes that others will gain similar experiences.