what was their reaction? - Page 2

tridgirl · #16 11-28-2001, 12:00 AM

I got the worst reaction from my friends, and I know for at least some of them it was because it was they were scared. Some of our mutual friends went greek, and hardly ever talk to anyone who isn't in their glo. They were furious that I was rushing because they thought I was ditching them to hang out with greek people. I still talk to them and I hope I have proved them wrong you can have friends outside your glo and still be an involved sister. As for my fam I know that I single handedly changed my sisters perception of greek since she went to same school that I did and she hated them, now she sees the other side. I think people aren't mad at you for rushing they are just scared you are going to change into a sterotypical greek drunk all the time and only hanging out with other greek people. Prove them wrong be the great person you are now and join a frat, you can be an awesome guy and in a fraternity, contrary to popular opinion. Good luck any fraternity would be happy to have you!

bruinaphi · #17 11-29-2001, 03:32 AM

My mom was greek, my dad was a GDI and my stepmom was a hippie. My mom made me go through rush, my dad supported the idea b/c he wanted to make sure I made friends in the large university setting and my stepmom was like, "drop out of rush if you want, you'll be fine."

In the end, my mom was supportive of my affiliation, my dad loved to have all my friends over to our house for retreats or dinner and holidays and my stepmom was the biggest gungho mom on the parent's committee. She became a diehard sorority supporter and was the mastermind behind many a rush idea and all of our rush flowers. She really showed how people's attitudes can change when they get to know what greek life is really about.

ilovemyglo · #18 11-29-2001, 05:47 AM

Neither of my parents went to college and so they really had no clue what greeks were like except animal house. I am the baby of three with two older brothers who neither one went greek, so being the first female to go to college and the first greek in my family was weird. My mom was like 'why are you doing this? It is so expensive and you already have plenty of friends" my dad thought it was aphase or a joke. Neither of them even asked about what it really was. They just assumed. I would come home and tell them about all the fun I was having and they warmed up. Now they really wouldnt know who I am with out my sisters. I had to pay for it all myself though. They still dont understand and my brothers both tease me about my paid friends. My friends from home thought it was hilarious because they said Iwasnt girlie enough to be in a sorority. Last week we went out and they teased me because they say I am now just a sorority girl... I take that as a compliment though cause they think sorority girls are really classy and always on the ball.. I guess the hardest was my parents though. they didnt and still dont understand why I love it so much, maybe with time I can show them!

Optimist Prime · #19 11-29-2001, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justamom
Billy, I can't imagine you offending anyone to that degree. But then, we all have a skeleton or two...at least I know I do.

I didn't offend anyone but when my dad was in college he went to a two year place, then went to the same school I do. My uncle was a juinor when my dad was there i think. My uncle joined, and a couple fraternties tried to get my dad to rush but he didnt like a couple of them and thought they would black ball him and he was about to graduate and was already engaged so he didn't join. That was the long story. The point?? Doesn't have one, he just worries about that stuff.

IowaHawkeye · #20 11-29-2001, 06:18 PM

my mom was in a sorority (Purdue/AGD) so she was really excited when I decided to rush - very supportive of whatever my decision would be and just plain happy i was making the most of the college experience!
my dad was funny about it, he just said, what i'm going to be footing the bill for this too, right ? of course dad

but i could tell he would be happy as long as I was happy - he wasn't greek, but his sister was, so he never thought greek life would be bad for me.
my older sister was indifferent - she doesn't exactly like or agree with the greek system - its just not her thing. she went to the university of illinois for her first year of college, but she said it was too greek for her, the system kind of runs the social life down there.
my younger sister though it was great - she steals my event shirts (especially the fraternity ones!!!) whenever i go home and she loves my sisters and they love itwhen she comes to visit - needless to say, I'm hoping she'll come to Iowa (but she's really interested in Maryland and Georgetown too!) and pledge DZ - but if she doesn't, i know she'll be an asset to whatever lucky sorority that gets her!
My friends, thats where the support kind of stops. I think out of my huge group of high school friends, a grand total of 6 of us went greek - 2 guys here went Kappa Sig and 2 gous went Sigma Chi at U of Illinois and a DG at u of IL too - that's it. Everyone always thought greek life was a waste of time/money and nothing but a bunch of cookiecutter look alikes. theyre all completely happy not to be greek - and they realize that i'm hapy where i am too. its hard b/c at school i have two groups of friends who compete for my attention - and i hate to turn either of them down for weekend plans. I usually go out with my sisters and other greek friends one night and my high school friends the next - we've tried all doing something together, but they really don't have that much in common, or at least that's what they say....

kristiAZD · #21 12-04-2001, 09:44 PM

My friends were all surprised. I actually still get made fun of and get comments about buying my friends. It still upsets me, but I let it roll off my back rather than letting them have their fun with getting me riled up. My parents were supportive, I think the only thing they were worried about was how I was going to pay for it. My mom loves making letters for my boyfriend and I and listening to my stories of being a part of it since she chose to marry my dad instead of finishing school. She always said that if she had been able to go to a school with sororities, she might have joined one.

BrownEyedGirl · #22 12-04-2001, 10:43 PM

It's funny to hear about you guys going home and having friends or family be unsupportive about your decision to go Greek. When I go home, it's more of a comparison of who joined which GLO, who got their first choice, who has the biggest pledge class, etc.

Question: What do y'all say when your family and friends give you a hard time or question your decision? How do you defend yourself, or do you at all?

tridgirl · #23 12-04-2001, 11:40 PM

The best reply is my friends and family seeing what great sisters I have and what awesome friends they are to me. I don't need to say a word I think they understand what an amazing sisterhood I have.

Peaches-n-Cream · #24 12-05-2001, 01:15 AM

My mother was very supportive. She wanted me to have a great college experience. Some people were surprised that I became a "sorority girl" but they adjusted. I'm glad that I did it and would do it again!

CA theta · #25 12-14-2001, 08:34 PM

My parents wanted me to rush, actually. It was expected from the start, ever since my parents discovered that they would be having a baby girl. My mom was a Kappa Kappa Gamma in college (well, she still is...she's an Alumna now), and my father is/was a Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

They've been nothing but supportive of my sorority and the activities that I do in my sorority. They've "adopted" my sisters and treat them like their own daughters.

My mother had been a little sad that I chose Theta, however. I had preffed Kappa Kappa Gamma and also Delta Delta Delta along with Theta, and she fully expected that I would go Kappa, since I was a legacy. I surprised her though and went Theta. But, that has been the best decision I have made so far in my 20 years and my mother has also agreed that going Theta was the best for me!

Wishing you the best, cowboyduff!

CA theta · #26 12-14-2001, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tridgirl
I got the worst reaction from my friends, and I know for at least some of them it was because it was they were scared. Some of our mutual friends went greek, and hardly ever talk to anyone who isn't in their glo. They were furious that I was rushing because they thought I was ditching them to hang out with greek people. I still talk to them and I hope I have proved them wrong you can have friends outside your glo and still be an involved sister. As for my fam I know that I single handedly changed my sisters perception of greek since she went to same school that I did and she hated them, now she sees the other side. I think people aren't mad at you for rushing they are just scared you are going to change into a sterotypical greek drunk all the time and only hanging out with other greek people. Prove them wrong be the great person you are now and join a frat, you can be an awesome guy and in a fraternity, contrary to popular opinion. Good luck any fraternity would be happy to have you!

Great post, tridgirl!

Greek love,

Miami1839 · #27 12-16-2001, 01:28 AM

Well Said. My parents were very scared about my intentions to going greek. My mom was pretty quiet about it and my dad too. However my dad was more comical about it and would poke fun at me. Still does but its really just in good fun. I just think they've never grasped the concept. I'd say its even more difficult for my younger brother but we agree to disagree. My sister in law is an AGD(shes really cool) and one of my moms brothers is a Phi Delt Alum(his wife is a DZ alum too). So we do have some greek affiliation in the family but its rarely talked about. However, all of that never stopped me from being a very proud Beta

Quote:

Originally posted by tridgirl
I got the worst reaction from my friends, and I know for at least some of them it was because it was they were scared. Some of our mutual friends went greek, and hardly ever talk to anyone who isn't in their glo. They were furious that I was rushing because they thought I was ditching them to hang out with greek people. I still talk to them and I hope I have proved them wrong you can have friends outside your glo and still be an involved sister. As for my fam I know that I single handedly changed my sisters perception of greek since she went to same school that I did and she hated them, now she sees the other side. I think people aren't mad at you for rushing they are just scared you are going to change into a sterotypical greek drunk all the time and only hanging out with other greek people. Prove them wrong be the great person you are now and join a frat, you can be an awesome guy and in a fraternity, contrary to popular opinion. Good luck any fraternity would be happy to have you!