[qteasied]

When I came to college I was one of those people who thought Greek life was pointless, dumb...insert whatever Greek life stereotype people had. I remember seeing sisters trying to get PNMs to sign up for rush and noticed that they were only talking to the blondes that walked past them. I couldn't rush because I was a first semester freshman. The only things I knew about the sororities on campus was what people told me (ABC hazes, DEF is a bunch of sluts, XYZ doesn't haze they're nice...yadda yadda yadda). I remember talking to one of my best friends from home about why we were never going to rush. We both (at the time) thought it wasn't for us.

My roommate plegded a sorority and she was so happy with her sisters and how they were all so close. One even showed up late at night to take her to the hospital. Seeing how her sister was there for her when she really needed help gave me a whole new respect for Greeks and the bonds they share.

Greeks on my campus have the highest GPAs, and are more involved on campus than some of their "haters." They also have food drives and cancer walks as well. I wanted to be in a sorority because my grades are important to me, as well as contributing to life on campus as a whole.

I went through formal in the spring, but it didn't work out. I think it was for the best because I don't think I fully understood the responsibility that being a Greek has. I'm not bitter about it, and I still say hi to the sisters and other rushees I met. I'm rushing again informally in the fall and I'm hoping that I asked back to a chapter that I fit into. Oh yeah, the friend that I mentioned before--she pledged a local sorority at her school. Her rush went better than mine because Greek life there is so small that everybody who rushed basically got in. But she's happy where she is.

So yeah...I want to be in a sorority because I want to be a part of something that's bigger than myself. I want friends who share the same goals of academic excellence and contribution to our campus and community. That's simple and corny, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

*Danielle*