Why I Joined A Sorority

My senior year of high school, I was busy applying to college, experiencing the many “lasts” of high school, and probably watching too much Netflix. I had a lot of friends doing the same things, in addition to prepping for sorority recruitment.

Me and some sorority sisters on Bid Day

I’m from Texas and many of my friends decided to stay in Texas or go to other southern states for college. At many of these colleges, Greek life is huge. I watched my friends gather multiple letters of recommendation for each sorority, go to college a week or two early to rush, and some even worked with recruitment coaches who helped them prepare for recruitment. They were really excited about Greek life and the preparations that went into it, so I was happy for them. But I knew it that wasn’t what I wanted. I never really envisioned myself being involved in Greek life and the idea of it didn’t excite me, but I’m really glad I joined a sorority at Columbia.

My first semester at Barnard was great. I really liked my classes, found a solid group of friends, and felt like everything was going well. Still, I felt like something was missing. As a double degree student with JTS, I don’t always have a ton of free time, especially last semester when I was trying to get a grip on this whole college thing. My week became very routine and I found myself hanging out with the same people and doing the same things almost every day. Don’t get me wrong, I love the friends I’ve made and my activities, but I still wanted to meet new people and try new things.

As I was exploring new things to try, the Panhellenic Council (the governing board of sororities at Columbia) opened registration for formal sorority recruitment. After meeting people in sororities throughout the semester and realizing that Greek life here is more chill and nothing like the experience I saw my friends go through, I decided to give it a try.

New Gamma Phi Betas on Bid Day

Recruitment was 3 hectic days of meeting and talking with a ton of sorority women. It was tiring and a little nerve racking, but altogether a ton of fun. I’m really happy I decided to rush. I’ve met people that I never would’ve otherwise, I have new study buddies, and friends who are always down to grab a cup of coffee and just talk. My sorority is full of strong, smart women who are amazing leaders, mentors, and friends. They’re fearless people, and in the short time I’ve known them, really made me feel like I belonged in their community.

So as I sit here in the Altschul Atrium, wearing my cozy Gamma Phi sweatshirt and writing this post before my morning classes and lunch with sorority sisters, I couldn’t be happier to have joined a sorority. It has added another dimension to my Barnard experience, a dimension full of support, strength, and love.

-Paige
pcm2126@barnard.edu

Photos courtesy of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Iota Chapter