Honestly:why did you join a GLO,why is it special and are you still glad you did?

[OrangeJuice]

I wanted to meet new people.

[blkwebman1919]

Originally Posted by hazelle

the only reason I truly thought a new spin on this question is mainly for the fact that spring 07 brings new opportunities for membership for those interested...

For me, between just having completed reading PLEDGED and the hoopla about the possible Tyra Banks' episode on supposedly fulfilling her "dream of rushing a sorority house"--it occured to me to ask is this still special, relevant and why??

No political relevance, no deep hidden meanings, no between the lines...
just why the hell do it, did you like it, why did you select whichever house gave you a bid, and truely, why would you tell a newbie to participate in this 21st century spin of an old fashioned form of perpetual friendship and brotherhood/sisterhood???

With your question(s) stated that way, they become much more timely and interesting...

I'm betting that if this had been part of your original post, things might have unfolded differently for you.

[Eirbear]

Originally Posted by hazelle

No political relevance, no deep hidden meanings, no between the lines...
just why the hell do it, did you like it, why did you select whichever house gave you a bid, and truely, why would you tell a newbie to participate in this 21st century spin of an old fashioned form of perpetual friendship and brotherhood/sisterhood???

Just thought I'd let you know, that you sound crazy like some of the AXD sisters in my chapter. It just made me laugh a little.

Anyway, I chose to go through recruitment mostly because I'd been hearing about Greek Life almost non-stop since my older cousin started college and pledged a fraternity there (and, at the time of my recruitment, that had been a little over four years ago). Then my other cousin pledged a fraternity, then my first cousin got a girlfriend who was in a sorority. So, basically, for four years I'd heard nothing at holidays other than stories about Greek life. Which I loved, don't get me wrong. My mom's side of the family...every person there has gone Greek (with the exception of my younger sister, but she's a freshman in high school, so she's got a few years)--both my grandparents, my aunt, my uncle, both my cousins, my cousin's fiance, my mom, and my dad. So I figured I'd check it out.

I was leaning toward AXD way in the beginning (but kept an open mind during recruitment, of course), mostly because I'm a double legacy. My grandmother is an Alpha Xi and so is my mom. During recruitment, I felt that was really the place I belonged--I got along with the sisters great, I knew a bunch of them through marching band, stuff like that. So, I pledged. I've loved it ever since. I love all my sisters, and it's so nice to have that eternal bond and support system. Each time we pledge a new class, I get excited all over again. There's just something about going through the ceremonies and stuff again from the other side that's just exciting. There are many, many times that my sisters have come to my aid, and I to theirs. I don't know what I'd do without my Big, or my Little, or even my Twin. I just love it.

Okay, so I talk too much. But that's okay too.

[blueangel]

Hazelle:

I don't mind questions being asked several times. It just means you've asked a good question since so many people have asked it before and are curious about the answer.

Why did I join? Well, quite honestly, I wasn't meaning to!

I'm a yankee who knew absolutely NOBODY in a sorority or a fraternity. It just was non-existant in my area. Sororities and fraternities were never talked about in high school... ever.

I had a rather negative opinion of the Greek system because all I knew were the stereotypes that you saw on TV and in the movies. I had no interest in joining one.

When I moved down south and starting attending an SEC school, I was amazed at how big and how popular sororities and fraternities were! But, I had a gang of friends in the dorm, and could care less about joining one.

I knew NOTHING about them. I had never heard the terms "pledge" or "rush".. and I had no idea what the Greek letters meant.

Then.. my very good friend Kelly asked me if I would go through rush with her. I remember staring at her with a blank look and saying, "What is rush?"

She explained it to me, and I wasn't at all interested. I was too busy with my sport anyway. But, she pestered me and finally convinced me to go-- just to keep her company. (Kelly ended up pledging Kappa Alpha Theta).

As I went from house to house, I was amazed at what I was learning about these groups. I had expected a bunch of plastic, snotty girls. But I learned that every preconceived notion I had about sororities was wrong!

These were genuine girls who really cared about each other.. who had a special bond. That's what attracted me the most about the sororities I visited... these girls were so "into" their groups, so "into" their philanthropies, and proud of everything about their organization. They told me of mixers, date nights, woodsers, retreats, formal dances, and just "hanging out in the house." They described their fund raising activities, and helping the community. I began to get interested!

Sometimes, you just "know" something is right. That's the feeling I had the first time I stepped through the doors of the ZTA house. I knew I had found something really special. I knew I had found my home.

I wasn't at all disappointed when I pledged. The girls were amazing.... they made my pledge period a time I will always treasure. I was able to find my way back to Zeta years later, and am so happy I have. I've met wonderful new sisters through the alumnae chapter.