Being the only child

[ChocolateKiss3000]

Hello as I am a new member on this message board. May GOD bless you all!

I was wondering if any of you ladies were the only child growing up and how it affected you during pledging?? Because I am the only child and I am considering pledging. Not to say that it has anything to do with being the only child in a family but growing up you haven't had that bonding with someone, etc. And to the people with brothers and sisters how did it affect you?? Being that you always had someone around and you had to share stuff, etc. I want to know if there are any differences bewtween having siblings or not growing up affected you during your process. Any question/suggestions/concerns are welcome. I appreciate it!

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Note: I am not a member of any black greek letter organization.

[This message has been edited by ChocolateKiss3000 (edited May 25, 2001).]
(just making sure the topic stays on course)

[This message has been edited by 12dn94dst (edited May 27, 2001).]

[12dn94dst]

Originally posted by ChocolateKiss3000:
Hello as I am a new member on this message board. May GOD bless you all!

I was wondering if any of you ladies were the only child growing up and how it affected you during pledging??

Welcome to the board! Thank you for the Blessing & may God Bless you in turn.

I read this earlier today but decided not to respond to it before I had a chance to really think about it. I, too, am an only child. From my view having biological siblings has nothing to do with "success" or "failure" when pledging. It can not make your process easier or harder. Having siblings does not make you "more prepared" to become a member. True, there are only children who are spoiled, selfish & not used to sharing with others or relying on others for assistance, BUT, there are people with siblings who are the same way. Granted, we only children do not have to deal with sibling rivalry but we do deal with getting into (several) disagreements with friends, often times best friends we consider sisters. Sometimes that sisterly relationship remains after years of ups & downs, sometimes not, but such is life. You learn to deal with it & you move forward.

It's not really about how many siblings you have or don't have, rather how you were raised & what kind of person you are that determines what "successes" or "failures" you experience when pledging.

[destiny6]

I am an only child and it made no difference in my pledging experience. What did make a difference was my upbringing...and the willpower not to do some of the things that I was enticed to do. Then again maybe that does have something to do with being the only one...I didn't feel the need to be with someone.

[99melodies]

I was practically an only child (2 brothers, one didn't live with me, and I was 10 when my lil brother was born) So I spent a lot of time with my self and now I sometimes find it hard to work with others and I like to be by myself more times than others, especially in school for group projects, I'd rather work by myself...I haven't pledged a BLGO but when I pledged a service GLO it didn't play that much of a part. I think that in any gorup of people that is togther for a long period of time will work each others nerves at times. My big sis (who pedged DST) has told my stories about it and I don't think that being an only child would effect the situation that much.

Originally posted by destiny6:
I am an only child and it made no difference in my pledging experience. What did make a difference was my upbringing...and the willpower not to do some of the things that I was enticed to do. Then again maybe that does have something to do with being the only one...I didn't feel the need to be with someone.

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As always...the inevitable, the divine, the epitome of womanhood!

[BrandNubian]

Originally posted by 99melodies:
I was practically an only child (2 brothers, one didn't live with me, and I was 10 when my lil brother was born) So I spent a lot of time with my self and now I sometimes find it hard to work with others and I like to be by myself more times than others, especially in school for group projects, I'd rather work by myself...I haven't pledged a BLGO but when I pledged a service GLO it didn't play that much of a part. I think that in any gorup of people that is togther for a long period of time will work each others nerves at times. My big sis (who pedged DST) has told my stories about it and I don't think that being an only child would effect the situation that much.

99melodies:

If you don't mind me asking, which service GLO did you pledge?

[mccoyred]

While I agree w/ Soror Kelli's post, I must say that I did face some challenges while pledging. As an only child, having sisters was something that took getting used to. I have a number of close cousins who are 'like' sisters but they always went home after the weekend!

I guess the biggest challenge I faced while pledging was the issue of personal space. My line used my apartment as Pledge Central for a number of convenience reasons. One of which is that my roomate at the the time was one of my linesisters. Having both my ls and my bs in my personal space did take some getting used to! **Now keep in mind that this was 'back in the day' when things were done a little differently.**

As far as bonding and working together, I agree that it matters who you are and not how many siblings you have. It matters how hard you are willing to work at both the business and the bonding that are essential to sorority life.

Hope this helps. Feel free to hit me on the E if I can provide any assistance.

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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913