Highschool Sororities....

[barnard1897]

Long post, but for those who are interested--

During HS, I belonged to Delta Beta Sigma in my city (deep south). The chapter had primarily members from my public high school but also a few girls from neighboring, wealthy private schools. It was very similar to an NPC group in many ways and I wouldn't be at all shocked if it was a feeder into some of the NPC groups at schools like Ole Miss, LSU, and such, because we really did a lot of the same kinds of activities and most of the women who pledged DBS went on to pledge sororities in college. It was not associated with the HS officially--just a lot of us happened to be members. I think we were asked to wear our pledge pins at school.

Our colors were black and gold. There was a crest, pledge pin, and badge. There was a rush period, held over the course of a few days at different members' homes, with themes, nametags, and refreshments. Bids were extended--it was so exciting because they came to your house, rang the doorbell, and when the door opened, 25-50 screaming girls--the cutest and most popular ones-- chanted, sang, and then asked you to join, followed by lots more screams and hugs when you (of course) accepted. It was very thrilling to be extended a bid, much like the feeling you have on bid day in college.

We had a manual to study, pledge meetings, and we had tests, just like the mem ed tests we took for my NPC sorority. There was ritual for pledging if I recall, and definitely an initiation ceremony, which was a mixture of some silly stuff like blindfolds, but also some typical sorority ritual aspects. I can't recall if there was an official philanthropy. The sorority had a long history dating back to the 1800s and there were founders and all the usual stuff you have to memorize. We had to write from memory the creed of the sorority for one exam. We were on watch by actives all the time during our pledge term, and they could issue demerits for behavior unbecoming a DBS member, if we were caught without the pledge pin, or if we could not recite facts about the sorority when asked.

We had a big sister program. There was a very exciting reveal for that, I clearly recall. I had a really popular, pretty senior as my big sis, and I just thought she was fabulous. She's off in Hollywood now!

DBS had a national HQ, even, somewhere in the deep south. I know for certain there were other chapters. One girl had actually affiliated with our chapter from one in another city when she moved into our town. They had national conventions, just like NPC groups do, though not on the same scale!

The women in my chapter were no different from the ones in college sororities. Some nice, some mature, some not. There were cliques within, and of course, some of the usual cattiness and power plays that pervade houses at the college level. Yet, I also met some very nice girls with whom I became close friends, and one of them is still my friend some 20+ years later.

I do not think such a system could have lasted into the 90s in non southern locales--it is amazing to hear it's still around. It was quite firmly rooted in the kind of Southern tradition that just would not have survived in northern cities. We had fun times, for the most part. My mom and dad, total non Greeks, thought the whole thing was frivolous and a waste of money (oh yeah-we paid national dues too). But I bet now, seeing what a loyal alum I am for my college sorority, they would think differently.

If nothing else, this experience was great training for recruitment and pledging once I got to college. I was prepared for rushing. I knew what to expect during the pledge program and didn't complain when we had to memorize all those historical facts about founders, etc. I understood what it meant to have chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure, elections, etc. I didn't know many of the girls when I joined, and so it was while before I learned to be confident around the older ones. I'm really glad I belonged because it gave me some perspective going into the collegiate greek system.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by barnard1897

Long post, but for those who are interested--

During HS, I belonged to Delta Beta Sigma in my city (deep south). The chapter had primarily members from my public high school but also a few girls from neighboring, wealthy private schools. It was very similar to an NPC group in many ways and I wouldn't be at all shocked if it was a feeder into some of the NPC groups at schools like Ole Miss, LSU, and such, because we really did a lot of the same kinds of activities and most of the women who pledged DBS went on to pledge sororities in college. It was not associated with the HS officially--just a lot of us happened to be members. I think we were asked to wear our pledge pins at school.

Our colors were black and gold. There was a crest, pledge pin, and badge. There was a rush period, held over the course of a few days at different members' homes, with themes, nametags, and refreshments. Bids were extended--it was so exciting because they came to your house, rang the doorbell, and when the door opened, 25-50 screaming girls--the cutest and most popular ones-- chanted, sang, and then asked you to join, followed by lots more screams and hugs when you (of course) accepted. It was very thrilling to be extended a bid, much like the feeling you have on bid day in college.

We had a manual to study, pledge meetings, and we had tests, just like the mem ed tests we took for my NPC sorority. There was ritual for pledging if I recall, and definitely an initiation ceremony, which was a mixture of some silly stuff like blindfolds, but also some typical sorority ritual aspects. I can't recall if there was an official philanthropy. The sorority had a long history dating back to the 1800s and there were founders and all the usual stuff you have to memorize. We had to write from memory the creed of the sorority for one exam. We were on watch by actives all the time during our pledge term, and they could issue demerits for behavior unbecoming a DBS member, if we were caught without the pledge pin, or if we could not recite facts about the sorority when asked.

We had a big sister program. There was a very exciting reveal for that, I clearly recall. I had a really popular, pretty senior as my big sis, and I just thought she was fabulous. She's off in Hollywood now!

DBS had a national HQ, even, somewhere in the deep south. I know for certain there were other chapters. One girl had actually affiliated with our chapter from one in another city when she moved into our town. They had national conventions, just like NPC groups do, though not on the same scale!

The women in my chapter were no different from the ones in college sororities. Some nice, some mature, some not. There were cliques within, and of course, some of the usual cattiness and power plays that pervade houses at the college level. Yet, I also met some very nice girls with whom I became close friends, and one of them is still my friend some 20+ years later.

I do not think such a system could have lasted into the 90s in non southern locales--it is amazing to hear it's still around. It was quite firmly rooted in the kind of Southern tradition that just would not have survived in northern cities. We had fun times, for the most part. My mom and dad, total non Greeks, thought the whole thing was frivolous and a waste of money (oh yeah-we paid national dues too). But I bet now, seeing what a loyal alum I am for my college sorority, they would think differently.

If nothing else, this experience was great training for recruitment and pledging once I got to college. I was prepared for rushing. I knew what to expect during the pledge program and didn't complain when we had to memorize all those historical facts about founders, etc. I understood what it meant to have chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure, elections, etc. I didn't know many of the girls when I joined, and so it was while before I learned to be confident around the older ones. I'm really glad I belonged because it gave me some perspective going into the collegiate greek system.

Hi Sister...I think this is really interesting! There was no hazing involved? You here so much about these HS groups being cruel to their pledges, but then again, I know not to believe everything I hear on TV!