So you’ve passed the long, stressful rush process and you’ve gained 200 new sisters. As if it wasn’t terrifying enough to walk into a great big house not knowing anyone’s name, you were also embraced by a gaggle of random strangers claiming to be “in love with you” as their tears soaked your bid day dress.
We’ve hit that time when the buzz of joining your perfect sorority has worn off and now you’re beginning to make your lifelong friends. It can be quite an overwhelming process — figuring out where to sit at meals, not wearing pajamas at chapter, learning everyone’s name, knowing when to step out of a senior’s way, etc.
Remember that, within a month, you’ll wonder how you ever lived your life without the girls sitting next to you. To help make it through the process of initiation, here are some tips that I wish someone had told me.
Via: hollywoodjesus.com
1. Listen and follow the rules.
You’ve finally gained a free spirit mindset after leaving your parents’ house, so it’s hard to transition back to receiving demands, but a lot of it’s important. Don’t miss meetings, respect the older girls and listen to their advice because whether you like it or not, this process is tradition and all of the sisters before you had to do the same thing.
2. Invest in a glue gun.
Whether you’re crafty or not, there will be a time in the next few months when you will have to craft things for a sister. Glue guns are the easiest way to make little-to-no effort art present itself like you’re Martha Stewart. Get some plastic flowers, a glue gun, markers, glitter and pick out a Beatles quote. Boom.
Options include, but are not limited to:
“Here Comes The Sun,” “I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Imagine” and “You Were Only Waiting for This Moment To Be Free”
Via: collegerantsblog.com
3. Befriend your elders.
As important as getting to know your pledge class is, you’ll have plenty of time between meetings and other events to get to know your new PC14. However, you only have so many months to really bond with the class above you and find your perfect biggie. Big/little comes way faster than you think, so get your bid day buddy to introduce you to her friends and network from there.
4. Be yourself.
Sometimes people enter houses and see Lily Pulitzer patterns or a bunch of hippy, chill girls and think they picked the wrong house. But it’s important to remember that while some girls may fit your house’s stereotype, every house has every type of girl. You’ll find everything from sporty to laid back to preppy to nerdy girls in your house. Just because people have interests different from your own doesn’t mean you won’t develop long lasting friendships with them.
5. Relax on the T-shirts.
As soon as you become a sister, you’ll want to buy everything you can on your sorority’s marketplace, but remember that you’ll gain hundreds of cool t-shirts over the next four years. The older girls typically try to reel you in by putting up crappy shirts that no one wants simply because you’ll buy them. Don’t be sucked in! Wait until something cool comes along. Same goes with frat tanks– don’t buy the first ones you see. Trust me, you’ll acquire plenty of tanks over the years.
Via: pinterest.com
6. Be nice to frat guys.
Just because they give you free rides and free drinks doesn’t mean you should expect anything. Always say thank you and be friendly to both pledges and brothers because being rude reflects poorly on both your house and yourself. Also, the boys won’t want to have PC parties with you if you’re not friendly and fun.
7. Forget your stereotypes.
Lose the preconceived notions of all fraternities and sororities because it can be extremely hard to get pumped about going to a house if a sister has told you they’re “not good.” What does that even mean? Abandon the hierarchical mindset and have fun. Remember you’re not your sorority and boys are not their fraternity; everyone is just a member of a club. Judging someone by the letters they wear is both mean and unfair. Get to know the person first and go to every event you can. There are nice, amazing people in every single house.
Joining the Greek system can really help you find a family and home in the crazy world of college. While it’s overwhelming for the first few months, you’ll begin to adapt and love the place you’re in. It’s all about being both open minded and ready for the best four years of your life.
Featured photo courtesy of: South Sail
