How did you learn about Greek life?

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

. . . I don't know - this one might stump her!

Ha ha, I was working on it already.

[honeychile]

I've said this before, but literally everyone I knew who went to college was in a fraternity or a sorority. I honestly thought that anyone who wasn't in one had tried to get a bid and failed. I also had the influence of my mother, who wasn't in a sorority herself but her mother was. She did her level best to groom me for my late grandmother's sorority, showing me her pin with the reference of the Holy Grail, painting my room two shades of blue, starting me on a collection of keys. My daddy's aunts were greek, too, but I'm still not sure which one(s). He equated "campus success" with being a greek, also. My high school graduation present was a trip to Portugal - and an upgraded sorority pin, when I pledged.

I sometimes wonder how freaked out my parents would have been had I not gone greek!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I've said this before, but literally everyone I knew who went to college was in a fraternity or a sorority. I honestly thought that anyone who wasn't in one had tried to get a bid and failed. I also had the influence of my mother, who wasn't in a sorority herself but her mother was. She did her level best to groom me for my late grandmother's sorority, showing me her pin with the reference of the Holy Grail, painting my room two shades of blue, starting me on a collection of keys. My daddy's aunts were greek, too, but I'm still not sure which one(s). He equated "campus success" with being a greek, also. My high school graduation present was a trip to Portugal - and an upgraded sorority pin, when I pledged.

I sometimes wonder how freaked out my parents would have been had I not gone greek!

I forgot to add something, until I read TStevens' post! My sixth grade teacher, born & raised in Louisiana, made us memorize the Greek alphabet backwards and forwards, since, "When y'all go to college, it's best you know it for when you pledge a fraternity or a sorority!" She was a HUGE influence on a lot of people in my school equating college with going greek.

[TSteven]

Most of my immediate and extended family are in fraternities and sororities. I also grew up in a college town and the fraternities and sororities were looked on favorably both by the college and in the local community. While growing up, my Mother was active in various alumnae and chapter events - some of which were held in our home. I have brothers who pledged Sigma Chi by the time I was in high school. I use to quiz one for his pledge tests so I was already reading The Norman Shield (Sigma Chi pledge book) at an early age. As a result, I learned a lot. But not just about Sigma Chi but about the history of fraternities in general. And most of my high school peers ended up pledging various fraternities and sororities at different campuses. And I heard about their experiences as well. So by the time I got to college I had a good understanding as what to expect.

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by TSteven

I use to quiz one for his pledge tests so I was already reading The Norman Shield (Sigma Chi pledge book) at an early age.

That's our new member manual's title, too

[Benzgirl]

My cousin, who is 10 years older, was in a sorority at a very small college during the 70s. Not the best time to be Greek. I didn't really pay much attention to it since I was still pretty removed from college.

When I was a senior in high school, my friend pledged DG at a very competitive Greek school -- Large chapters and a very high percent of the student population. I spent one weekend there and thought it was really cool sleeping in the dormer and having tons of friends around. I also liked the set up of the meals (that you could go down in your jammies for breakfast), the social calendar and the emphasis on studying and grades.

It wasn't until that time that I realized my dad was Greek. He deactivated when he switched colleges, but he had still experienced it.

As it turned out, I pledged the same sorority as my cousin, but at a much larger university. Even though I wasn't a legacy, it made me feel like it when she attended my initiation and sat with me during the Feast of Roses.