When many people are approached about joining Greek Life they become hesitant and say they don’t know if the experience is for them and I can tell you that I was one of those people. Last Spring, I was a freshman enjoying my first year at Rowan University when I saw flyers for Girls Night Out, the kick off to sorority recruitment where all of the organizations introduce themselves in a common setting, like the Student Center Pit. My friends didn’t want to go but for some reason I felt compelled to check it out, it was my first year of college and everything deserves a try. So, I went out and met some of the girls from different organizations, day by day it became clear to me how the girls of Alpha Epsilon Phi were just like me and I knew I wanted to be a part of them. Preference came around, the last day of recruitment, you’re formally dressed and if there’s 12 rushes in the room, they’re picking 10 so it’s nerve wracking because you know you just want to be here so badly. You go home and wait for the phone call that night, and let me tell you that those 8 hours are horrible, you’re just hoping you got the bid to where you wanted to be. We met back in the Pit and our Rho Gammas (girls from organizations, but you don’t know which) hand us our envelopes and we open them and become overjoyed. The girls from each organization are outside singing waiting for you with balloons, flowers, and smiles!
My bid night was the night that changed my life. Not only did this start my journey through Alpha Epsilon Phi, it introduced me to my pledge sisters, who I can honestly say are my best friends and now I couldn’t imagine where I would be this year, this time if I didn’t make the choice to Go Greek.
Now, you get to the point where everyone is nervous about… pledging. Now obviously I cannot reveal over a public blog the ins and outs of pledging a sorority but I can tell you that it’s not a walk in the park. It’s like playing a sport in college, it’s a time commitment for six weeks, but after that the greatest thing happens because then you’re a sister and its only time to celebrate and have fun. My college experience has definitely been affected in a positive way due to being in a sorority. Mixers, intramural, homecoming, greek week, formal, parties, service projects, fundraisers, let’s just say you’re never bored, which seems to be becoming more prevalent on Rowan’s campus. Not only to mention I’ve made so many friends not only in Aephi but also found the best guy friends in different fraternities.
I’m not gonna b-s you either, sometimes you’re too busy, and you wish you could just be relaxing instead of cleaning up from an event or waking up early to do a service project, but when you’re Greek, you learn discipline and how to put others first that are in more need of things then yourself. It’s like a new community that you come into of friends, and many are afraid they’ll lose their old friends that didn’t choose to pledge. That’s only if you want to. If you choose to not hang out with your old friends, then you won’t, but if you choose to then you will. It’s all up to you how much you want to be involved.
My goal this semester was to prove to you all how going Greek enhances your college experience and if I changed only one mind and someone reading chooses to go out and go Greek, then my job is done. So – enjoy your summer and GO GREEK!
