My Greek Life
By Mollie Berg ‘16
I never ever wanted to join a sorority. In fact, growing up, my family often made fun of the concepts of Greek life and sororities. So when choosing a college, I specifically looked into schools that socially were not centered around Greek life because I was so certain it was something I would never have wanted to be part of. When I finally chose USC, what I was most worried about was the vast Greek scene.
My freshman year, I did not join a sorority. I went through recruitment, but the whole process was very overwhelming. After all, it is the first week of school; you’re in a new place with new people. Moreover, it was my birthday week, and I was very homesick, missing my family and dogs. Because of how overwhelming the process was I ended the week in
tears
on my birthday.
Nevertheless, I had a fantastic freshman year. Even though I didn’t join a sorority, I made tons of friends, went to parties, and had an all-around great time. But by sophomore year, when I felt I was more used to being away from home and the college life, I decided to see what all the talk was all about. I went through recruitment and joined a sorority. At first, I was a little iffy about the whole sorority thing, and was even unsure if I wanted to stay in my house.
I became sure that I had found the right home away from home on big/little reveal night.
In my house, a whole week is spent doing scavenger hunts and following clues throughout the house to learn more about our future big sister. We are spoiled with gifts and goodies (often yummy ones). On Friday, we go to the house to find a bag with pajamas that our big sister and whole “family” are wearing somewhere within the house. We put on the PJs and go on one last scavenger hunt through the house to finally be united with our big. It is so much fun, and it is so wonderful when we finally find our big, wearing matching pajamas.
Not only is the whole night fun, but at that moment, you gain a new kind of special friend, role model, mentor, and – as cheesy at it sounds—you gain a new “sister.” You have someone you can go to for all your problems, for advice, or just to have dinner with when you are hungry. It is a very special relationship, and now I am so ridiculously excited to have my very own little! I already bought the most adorable pajamas I could find…Maybe I’m even a little overeager…
So I went from never wanting to join a sorority, to buying pajamas for a future “little sister” two months in advance, before even knowing who she will be. I guess what is so special about the sorority is that it kind of provides that unconditional love that a true family has. At the end of the day, I have an actual home to go to, where I can sit on the couch and watch the newest New Girl, a place where I can have a delicious home cooked meal, a place where I can stay up late talking about life, and a place where I can even study.
I come from a big, rowdy family. When I go home to Sacramento, there are always people chatting, asking me questions, and watching TV. I cannot explain in words how nice it is to have a similar place to go to every day at school. It’s truly a home away from home (and I am even living in the house next semester!).
Yet, I want to stress that I am actually glad I did not join a sorority freshman year, and that not joining a sorority did not mean my life sucked. I’m glad I got to build my college identity, and then add my sorority to that, as opposed to building my college identity around being in a sorority.
Like in every aspect of life, everyone follows a different path in Greek life, and each possible path is right in every way possible. But hey, maybe give it a try; you might go from being an anti-Greek pessimist like me to moving into your sorority house and owning 398 sorority shirts the following year!
