Self Improvement

What Being in a Sorority Taught Me About Life

posted on September 25, 2018 | by Laurie Kelso

Though I never considered myself the typical “sorority girl,” I’m so glad I became one. Choosing to join a sorority ended up being one of the best decisions I made throughout my time in college. I mostly joined to make friends and have fun stuff to do on the weekends, but little did I know there was so much more to gain from it. I highly recommend to at least try it, or to recommend it to younger friends. Here are some of the most valuable lessons I have learned – some of which you might not have considered!

Feeling connected

I go to a relatively small school. On top of that, it’s in the middle of a bunch of farm towns with literally nothing to do. I remember my first few weeks as a Freshman being very lonely and boring. I didn’t get along with my roommates because we were all so different, and I felt like I was missing something. The second I joined my sorority, I felt like I had a bunch of instant friends to study, get coffee, or just hang out with. There are always fun things happening, from philanthropy events, to mixers, to meetings, I love being busy. It definitely makes me feel more connected.

The importance of giving back

One of the coolest things about being in a sorority was realizing the impact I could have on my philanthropy and community. As a college student, you are constantly thinking of yourself. Your plans for the day, your future goals, etc. It’s nice to take a step back from that and focus on ways to make someone else’s life better or easier. Even just donating money to my philanthropy helped me to feel more connected to the community. It’s great to be a part of something bigger.

How to work connections

Thankfully, my sorority has a Facebook page with every member and alumni of Alpha Xi Delta from every state. With chapters across the country and hundreds of girls who are alumni of my sorority, I know when I graduate I will already have those built-in connections. I’ve heard so many stories of sisters getting jobs or interviews from other graduated sisters. The first step is just reaching out, and it’s comforting to already have that instant connection.

Being open minded to friendships

With 150 girls in my chapter, it can feel overwhelming trying to get to know everyone. I’ve been so pleasantly surprised with the new relationships I’ve formed, with girls I would have never thought to have something in common with. I’ve learned it’s important to always try to get to know everyone – something I didn’t necessarily learn in high school. Because it’s never a bad thing ot have too many friends in your 20s right?

Time management

It’s no lie that being in a sorority is definitely time consuming. At times it gets a little hard to balance class, work, meetings, and events, but I’ve learned to work extra hard to meet homework deadlines. Usually because I have an event with the sorority a couple times a week and know to prioritize. It’s really helped to balance the social and school parts of college, which I know are important even after graduation.