Name: Heather Werle Age: 22 What: Joined a sorority as a sophomore instead of as a freshman Heather’s story: We’ve all been told that what we put into something reflects what we take out of it. It was the beginning of the summer after graduating high school, and the Greek Life Rush application from the university I was going to attend in the fall sat on the table. On the table it stayed.
Rush at my school began the week before classes started, and that made me nervous. I was hesitant to pledge myself to an organization before I would even have the chance to adjust to college life. Summer days came and went, and before I knew it, leaves were changing and homecoming floats filled the streets of campus.
I started to notice all the events that the Greek system held. Girls on my floor went to fun-themed social functions and raved about the sisterhood they found in their sorority. Had I missed out? Was I already too busy with other campus organizations and my major to be Greek? It was two months into school, and I was regretting my decision not to rush. But it wasn’t too late.
As a sophomore, I didn’t receive Rush information automatically. I had to request an application. I joined about 900 other women, 700 of them freshmen, and survived Rush.
Going Greek as a sophomore brought with it both perks and disadvantages. I already knew my way around Greek Town, which made getting to the various Rush events easy. I didn’t have to worry about getting lost on campus, and I knew how to balance Rush stuff with school. I had other friends in town. I knew what houses I wanted to avoid like the plague and the houses at which I wanted to be extra friendly. But some houses had reputations for not considering sophomores. Others raised the bar for GPA requirements and campus activities for second-year students.
Yet I was given an invitation on bid day for a house I may not have landed in freshman year, if I had gone through Rush then. It was a house that was perfect for me.
No one ever pegs me as being a poster-board sorority girl. I wasn’t always the most involved in my house, but that was OK. I made some close friends, but my sorority is not the only memory I carry from college. I missed out on some fun stuff and graduated not being best friends with all the women in my chapter. But that’s OK, too. It holds a precious place in my heart, and I’m connected to the alumni association where I live now.
I’m grateful for the invitation I got to join my house, cherish the memories and friendships made there and am confident that I got out of the sorority what I put into it.
