Sorority Is....

"From the outside looking in, you can't understand it, and from the inside looking out, you can't explain it." 

That quote is quite possibly the most cliche quote about sorority and fraternity life in existence. But, at the same time, it's pretty true.

If you were to ask most sorority women what their view of sorority life was before becoming an initiated member of their organization they'd probably give you a list of things that everyone in the universe associates with sorority life: t-shirts, mixers, date parties, rush, dues...basically the TV show Greek or sort of like Legally Blonde?  For most young collegiate women, going through formal sorority recruitment was something that they did because their mom did it, or because their roommate was planning on doing it, or simply because they were curious about this mysterious thing called "recruitment." It's a whirlwind of cocktail dresses and polite conversation that eventually grows into meaningful conversation that eventually becomes the ominous thing referred to as "bid day" (squeals!!!!).

Fast forward. Now, ask a sorority woman what her view of sorority life is since she's been an initiated member of her organization. She'll probably give you a long list of words like: life-long, preparation, sisterhood, philanthropy, academics.... Where did that change come from? How did that confused freshmen become a leader on her campus and in her organization? How has it become more than something that her mom did before her? How, exactly, did being in a sorority help her decide what she wants to do with her life?

Let's finally break down that cliche phrase. Lack of transparency with non-Greek people about Greek Life is one of the reasons that there is so much confusion surrounding it. Lack of continuous education about sorority, as a whole, is the reason retention is never at 100%.

Let's start being really open about what sorority is.

Sorority is so much more than t-shirts and mixers. Sorority is so much more, even, than philanthropic endeavors. So, what is sorority?

Sorority is learning to work with a team. Sorority is having a support system. Sorority is learning to be a functional member of society. Sorority is an emphasis on furthered education. Sorority is figuring out who you are as a woman. Sorority is all of this, and so much more, and it means something different to every woman involved.

In the following weeks, UNA Panhellenic will be asking guest writers from each chapter what sorority means to them. We encourage you to follow us as we step into the meaning of sorority life as told by sorority women. We can't wait to start this journey with you!

If you're interested in writing about what sorority life means to you, email your post to panhellenic@una.edu