Why did you join your fraternity or sorority?

oldu · #1 02-10-2008, 12:17 PM

I am interested in learning why you joined your fraternity or sorority. Obviously you are pleased with your choice or you would not be visiting this site.

I was an out-of-state student at a major university and knew no one. The idea of living with 40 guys (instead of hundreds) and a home cooked meal seemed appealing. When I discovered a group of 80 guys I felt comfortable with and realized I had a ready-made group to socialize and do things with, for me it was a "no-brainer." A bonus, I learned after pledging, was the personal and leadersahip development opportunities that came with membership. I admit that there was a rigorous pledge period and a six day "hell week" (and, at the risk of offending people, confess there were some positive aspects to it) involved in order to be initiated.

After graduation when I realized that the personal and leadership development, combined with the networking opportunities of a fraternity, were the most valuable assets for advancing my career, I became a life-long advocate of the fraternity cause...at least one that offered the opportunities I enjoyed.

Tom Earp · #2 02-10-2008, 12:47 PM

Both schools I went to, I also knew no one and wanted to meet new people.

I was always a joiner of sorts, football and base ball in high school years and base ball in college.

I knew many members of different fraternities and pledged a local at my second school. They affiliated the following year with a large national and I then felt I did not fit with the new attitudes.

I t hen started a local as did not feel like I wanted to join any other current one on campus. Many joined for the same reason as I did when starting it. We were pitted against another local that was set up by a national fraternity and the school would only one to come on campus. Because of the friends I had made from other groups we had their backing and were chosen to come on campus.
The experience was of the greatest periods of my life. Through this, I made life long friends as we banded together to build something that is still functioning to this day, 43 years later.

Many times, we turn to our brothers when there is a need and do everything we can do to help each other. This is how strong a bond that has developed over the years among us.

Would I ever do it over again, that is a hard question to answer as everything just fell into place for us. Un housed for 1 semester, and a local for not even one school year before colonization and chartered 3 years later.

Could it ever happen again, who knows?

Was it worth it, absolutely yes!

AOII Angel · #3 02-10-2008, 02:11 PM

I joined because I thought it would be cool to be in a sorority. My sister joined AOII the year before me, and she had a great time meeting new people and going to parties. I had no idea about leadership, philanthropy etc when I went through and joined. I was just looking for a group of girls to be friends with since I was so far from home. I knew I wanted to go to Med School, and little did I know that AOII would help me attain the leadership experience to help me get noticed during the med school app process. One of my interviewers actually circled my very full extra-curricular activities section and said," Really...you did this much in college and kept your grades up?!"

AGDee · #4 02-10-2008, 02:36 PM

I joined because I had been in 8 zillion organizations in high school and after my first semester of my freshman year, I was BORED. I realized I was hanging out too much with people I had known before college and wanted to meet a lot more people. I selected Alpha Gamma Delta because the women in the chapter were friendly, fun, had great grades and were campus leaders.

I stay involved because the organization has become a part of who I am. Initially I volunteered because they needed me and I had a great role model whose footsteps I wanted to follow. Every year, Alpha Gamma Delta becomes more important to me and I want to be part of shaping the future of the organization to help ensure that it grows and prospers. The sisterhood I feel with some of the alumnae members I've met seals the deal. I love our Purpose. I love our Vision. I love where we have been and where we are headed.

Ilaria Ame · #5 02-10-2008, 03:35 PM

i joined LPsiD because i really liked the multicultural aspect of it. i wasn't particularly interested in joining a sorority but after a year at my school i saw how badly racial diversity needed to be addressed on my campus. i joined a couple of different groups thinking i could use the manpower to make a difference and had some small successes, but didn't feel like i was changing how anyone thought. then a friend told me about lambda psi delta, a multicultural sorority devoted to cultural awareness and i loved it. i did some more reasearch and found that not only was the vision very similar to my own goals, but every sister i talked to shared my love of diversity in every sense. after a long hard road that i can truly say helped me discover strength and passion in me i never knew existed, i became a sister. although some days are really frustrating (chartering a multicultural sorority on a campus whose mascot was a confederate general up until 2 years ago is no easy task) i love my org and my sisters!

skylark · #6 02-11-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by When Doves Cry

I didn't know they were COB events.

These are the best COB events. I keep trying to get that across to the girls I advise but I think they think that every event has to have tons of decorations and an elaborate theme. Then when they all realize that they've spent so much time planning, and so little time trying to get girls there, they complain that they are too busy and are having to spend too much time recruiting.

Ughh... sorry for the hijack, I've just been so frustrated with this lately and When Doves Cry's post totally validates my frustration.

skylark · #7 02-11-2008, 03:08 PM

To get the thread back on track...

I joined for many reasons, none of which I think I was conscious of at the time:

(1) When I was in Junior High we moved cross-country and I left a really close best friend behind. I never really felt that close to the friends I met in high school and really longed for that kind of friendship with a girlfriend, again.

(2) I had a disasterous break-up in the spring of my senior year with a "first love." Honestly, I'm talking about one of the worst break ups ever. This made me much more interested in friendships than in the college dating scene for my freshman year.

(3) My parents got divorced the summer right before college started and I think I unconsciously was looking for a stable support group that I could count on (because my parents were hit and miss on providing support at the time).

I think that there were also some minor superficial reasons too, if I'm being totally honest about it. I remember thinking at the time that I wanted to be a leader on campus and didn't want to be out-of-the-loop on social events and thought being in a sorority would be a good way to do that.

MissBoggzz · #8 02-12-2008, 11:58 AM

I joined my sorority to be a part of something greater then myself. I'm glad that my friend kept talking me through it. I think If she wasn't there by my side I would not have completed the process. She was an inspiration to not only me but our Pledge class as a whole. I'm glad she and I did this together because now we're closer then ever. There are many more reasons why I chose my sorority and I'm glad I stuck with Kappa Phi Chi =).

LiDdLMiSsGrEeK · #9 02-12-2008, 12:02 PM

Aww boggzz I love you <3. I didn't Know I had that much of an influence on you pushing through. Now I'm glad I made us all stick through it =) To the Phi*s who came as 6.

preciousjeni · #10 02-12-2008, 12:31 PM

I think I've been on GreekChat too long because the last two posts look suspicious to me.

skylark · #11 02-12-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I think I've been on GreekChat too long because the last two posts look suspicious to me.

I'm trying to decide what is more suspicious... the fact that they have the same graphic and similar alternating color scheme in their sigs... or the fact that within 7 or less posts you would find someone (also with very few posts) that you know.

CasperDU173 · #12 02-12-2008, 12:45 PM

The Men that were already in the chapter and the non-secrecy aspect. I liked that my parents could come to my initiation.

skylark · #13 02-12-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasperDU173

The Men that were already in the chapter and the non-secrecy aspect. I liked that my parents could come to my initiation.

It took me a second to realize this was an answer to oldu's original topic.

LiDdLMiSsGrEeK · #14 02-12-2008, 12:58 PM

Red and white are our sorority colors, boggz is my pledge sister, and I told her about GC. When u click new posts it shows you all posts of the day and who the last person to post was. I saw boggzz so I read it to see if it was my boggzz and also the fact that her and I are in constant contact via im and phone I know when she's online. So if u want to say me and my best friend are suspicious sure go ahead.

MysticCat · #15 02-12-2008, 01:01 PM

Why Did You Decide to Join ...That?

Honestly:why did you join a GLO,why is it special and are you still glad you did?

Why did you join?

Why did you join?

Why did you become greek/choose the org you did?

Why did you choose your TYPE of GLO?

Why did you choose your sorority/fraternity?

But to answer the question, I pledged the fraternity that we exactly the right fit for me, where I could see the guys as my brothers and where what the fraternity stood for attracted me.