I will start with a little background. Back in 2000, I started school at a large University in the south, being an immigrant to the country I was the first to start college and had absolutely no idea about Greek life. My only understanding was what I saw on television and I did not think it would be for me. I received information about recruitment, however I didn’t participate because I had to arrive at school a week early and my parents wanted to spend as much time as possible with me.
I lived in special dorm that was based on community service and leadership. There were a couple girls in sororities and guys in fraternities in the dorm and we all were very close. My first semester was filled with joining as much organizations that I could manage, finding a job and of course getting used to school. I was lucky enough to meet girl from all the organizations represented on campus and I only had good things to say about them all.
Since I love flowers, I will code the sororities as such:
(in no particular order and no flower representing the organization)
Hydrangea
Sunflower
Peony
Stargazer Lily
Calla lilly
Gerber Daisy
Orchid
I had class with two Hydrangeas, lived in the dorm with a Peony and a sunflower. One of my friends girlfriends was a Calla lily, I worked with an orchid and a hydrangea. I had met several stargazer lilly’s around campus. Of course people talk and I heard the rumors about the “pretty girls”, the “smart girls” and all that other nonsense. As time went by I started to become close to all these girls and I realized that maybe sorority life is for me. When I told some of my friends, they all had their ideas and told me that I would be a Hydrangea or a Cala lily or an orchid. My boyfriend (at the time) would advice me which ones his frat hung out with the most and that I shouldn’t join certain ones.
As I had missed formal recruitment, I knew that in the spring there were five sororities participating in COB. Although I didn’t have the choice of all seven, I knew the five participating were of interest to me and I could also wait till Formal if I didn’t fell at home with any of them.
That winter break I went on a school sponsored trip and several sorority members were on the trip. Some of the girls left a lasting impression on me (good and bad) but I still kept an open mind.
After the break and things started to get settled, I went to my first COB party:
Stargazer- I had known many of them from around campus. They were very involved and very down to earth. They were a smallish chapter but I felt comfortable and I liked their president a lot.
Peony- My boyfriend really wanted me to join this organization because he thought they were the best. I was a little intimidated but the girls were so welcoming and sweet. They had fun games and we watched a nice video. I also felt comfortable there.
Cala lilly- One of my cala lilly friends took me to an event that they were having. They were all really sweet and I learned a lot about them. They seemed a little too competitive for me, but I commended their enthusiasm.
Gerber Daisy- I knew the most about this organization because an alum had been singing their praises. I liked them but I didn’t feel at home. They were sort of standoffish and asked way too personal questions.
Orchid- I attended this event with an Orchid and she was very hyper. I think I met everyone in the chapter. They were really sweet but I got the feeling that they were trying too hard.
Over the next two weeks I attended events at Peony, Stargazer Lily and Orchid. I really liked all the organizations and I had fun meeting all the sisters and learning about their organizations. I had a really hard decision to make because they were all amazing girls, and their sisterhoods were very strong. There was something about one of them that just stood out to me.
It sounds sort of corny but just like they say you know who you are going to marry, I just knew deep down that I was meant to be there. Like I said it was really really hard but I remember reading something from them and I got chills down my back because it described my values. My boyfriend and some of my friends didn’t want me to join it because it wasn’t a “top” choice in their mind.
I was invited to a brunch with the Stargazer Lillies and I was offered a bid. Without hesitation I signed my bid.
Never did I ever imagine that my choice would change my life and make me into the person I am today. I got involved as much as possible in Stargazer and I experienced such sisterhood when my boyfriend broke up with me, or I had a bad day, or when tragically one of our sisters died. I remained close to my friends I made in the other sororities we often give each other gifts of symbols from their respected orgs. A year after my initiation I took on my first executive position and the year after that I was elected president of Stargazer. Today, nearly 10 years later I have watched my stargazer sisters and Pan-Hellenic sisters get married, have children, and succeed in the real world, and I am so lucky to be able to participate in that all.
BTW Stargazer is
Chi Omega
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