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I LOVE this topic!
My mother is a Delta, and I have two aunts that are AKAs. That was my exposure to Greek Life. However, I remember looking at my mother's pictures and whatnot at a very early age and asking "Mommy what is that? What does it mean?" And she said "It means a lot to me, and hopefully one day you will know."
By the time I got to high school, I had heard the small (and purely in jest) arguments my mom and my aunts would have; they would end in laughing and reminiscing, and, as an old soul, I ate up the stories about my family's experiences in college and with Greek Life. I had made up my mind that I wanted to be a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and nothing else. But other than sharing general experiences, my mother didn't try to influence me in any way. She wanted me to do the research that she had done (she became Greek before anyone else in my immediate family) and to make my own decision. I looked up to her so much that I couldn't picture being anything other than what she was. But I set off to do my research anyway.
Through my research and general observation, I became aware of all of the other orgs (although I didn't know about Sigma Gamma Rho or Iota Phi Theta until I was a freshman in college, lol, I was still oblivious). And I was so happy because through my research, I gained a deep respect for all of the orgs, but I also realized that my mother had made the best decision, for herself, and that I would be honored to be invited into the same sisterhood.
Ironically, most of my research was done on messageboards much like this one. I was subscribed to all of them, and I learned about all of the stereotypes as well as some of the issues that caused conflict within the Greek community. I learned how interests should act as well. All my mother ever told me was to be myself and not to tell them she is a Delta unless they asked, lol.
Sooo, that was a very long way of saying that my interest in Greek Life and specifically Delta Sigma Theta was accumulated over my lifetime, and finally achieved in the Spring of 2005. :-D
Looking back, I know my mother would have been temporarily (and maybe a little more than that, lol) devastated if I had chosen another organization, but if she knew I joined what was in my heart, she would have respected me nonetheless.
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