Here's my Greek story that might hopefully give an alternative perspective to some, particularly the OP. I share this regularly with my members, especially those who are considering canceling their membership. They're always shocked because after being they're advisor for 13 years they just assume I must have been born wearing our letters.
I was a random, average member while in college . I never held an office and I did the tasks I was supposed to do, but not much more than that. Sure I went to all the parties and had a great time. I had a lot of friends both within my sorority, the rest of the Greek system and non-Greeks as well. In all honesty back then I didn't have this overwhelming commitment to my sorority. I had fun and I was glad I had joined. After graduation I didn't even think that much about it. Maybe someday if I had a daughter I'd be happy she was a legacy, that's about it.
Fast forward about a decade. My husband and I moved down South from the Midwest for him to take a new job. He was traveling extensively that first year. I was commuting an hour + each way to my job. Aside from the people I worked with, I didn't have any friends in about a 300 mile radius. I barely even knew my next door neighbors. Needless to say I was lonely and not happy.
One day out of the blue I received an invitation to an alumnae tea at my local Chapter's house. They had gotten my address from Inat'l when I sent in the change of address form for our magazine. I figured why not go? It might be a way for me to meet people. Little did I know it was actually a recruitment function for their House Corporation. I decided to join, but again it was not because of an overwhelming commitment to my sorority. My reasons were selfish. I wanted to meet people and hopefully make friends in my new hometown.
I admit though I was hesitant to even join. Here I was a Yankee (which I never knew I was until I moved here
) joining a group of Southern women. I wasn't sure if they'd welcome me with open arms. My fears seem so silly now because to them I was a sister. It didn't matter where I'd come from. They embraced me. They supported me when my husband was traveling. They encouraged me when I became pregnant for the first time shortly afterwards. They prayed for us and aided us when my daughter was born with severe complications. They showed me what true sisterhood was all about.
That's when I finally "got it". This organization I had joined so many years ago was so much more I thought it was when I was a collegian. Those words in our Ritual, the ideals laid out by our Founders, the generations of women who have come before and after us, the vows we all made in our Initiation, we are all tied together. We are sisters. These wonderful women proved it to me. It finally all made sense to me. The surprising thing for me was that this all occurred within a year. Now I look back and wish I would have realized this while I was in school. But better late than never IMHO.
Hybrid Mode
