Going Greek: You never really know until you try
Elyse Rodriguez / Columnist
Stereotypes. Sororities. The two seem to go hand-in-hand.
How many stereotypes have you heard about sororities? Or
perhaps you've even heard a few for each different one?
Well, I would like to let you know that things aren't
always what they seem.
I was never into the whole "sisterhood" scene. To
be honest, I kind of laughed whenever I heard the word.
However, I contemplated rushing because I wanted to meet
more people and just see what it was like going through the
whole ordeal. I mean, really, we've all watched an
episode of MTV's "Sorority Life" and laughed at
the petty fights and bickering. I suppose I just wanted to
see first-hand if that was a true representation of what goes
on.
I thought about partaking in rush week for a little bit and
finally decided against it. I came to the conclusion that
girls in big groups chanting songs was simply not for me. I
booked my flight back to New York for our "fake
break" and was all set to go.
Then, due to my amazing talent of not having any luck
whatsoever, a snowstorm hit right where I live on the day I
was supposed to leave. Needless to say, my flight was
canceled and it didn't look like it would be easy to get
another one. Knowing that I needed something to do for the
week instead of sitting around in my room and watching
“Saved by the Bell” reruns, I decided at the last
possible moment to rush. Let me tell you, I am glad I did.
At the first meeting, I was pleasantly surprised with the
PowerPoint presentation and thought, "Hey, I might as
well give it a chance." I went home that night actually
excited for the next day to come.
The day came and went and, oh boy, I loved it. Seriously,
I'm not kidding. The entire week was such a great
experience and I came to see that all the things I had heard
about sororities being all the same were completely wiped
away. Each sorority has a different personality and it was
quite interesting to see how I personally felt in each of the
houses.
From the first day, I felt completely comfortable in one and
would always be the girl biting my nails in the corner the
following morning hoping that they would keep bidding on me.
Now, if you read the sentence I just wrote, I had completely
contradicted my original thoughts. "Sisterhood," a
term I once found so amusing, was now a special thing I
wanted to be a part of. Funny how the world works, right?
By the end of rush week, I had been accepted into the house
I was so greatly wishing for and I actually started chanting
the sorority letters. Yes, you read that right, I chanted
with the best of them. I am pledging now as you read.
I would like everyone to try something new: something you
never thought you would try and something you could never see
yourself seriously doing. Perhaps it will change you, perhaps
it won't. The sheer fact of the matter is that you tried
it. No harm in that, right?
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