I’m in a sorority… Now what?

Right now, it’s been about three weeks since sorority recruitment here at Elon University. That was a stressful week for us all, whether you trying to figure out which sorority is the best fit or you were evaluating which girls are the best fit for your sorority. Bid day lifted a huge weight off of everyone’s shoulders as it marked the end of this year’s recruitment. But now, new sisters are experiencing this awkward “new member period,” where you’re a member of the sorority, but everything is so new and unfamiliar that you can’t help but feel like you’re not really part of it just yet. You still don’t know the majority of your sisters’ names or faces, you don’t have a Greek family yet, and you still have to go through weeks of learning before initiation. Trying to find a place in your new sorority can be stressful, but some of us at The Edge took our experiences as new members and we want to share some advice with you.

First, take advantage of all the opportunities your sorority brings to the table. You now have hundreds of new sisters who are so excited to get to know you. Ask them to coffee and try and get to know as many girls as you can. While you do this, remember that you don’t have to be best friends with EVERY girl you meet; focus on finding your group within the sorority. Work on sticking with the people you vibe with best.

Another thing your new sorority offers is tons of social events, so take advantage of these as well. Some of these events will not be the highlight of your time in Greek life (like chapter, for example) but if you make the most of these events and use them to meet new girls, they will be worth your while. This time can be exhausting and it might not be possible for you to attend every event, but show up for the ones you are able to make.

That being said, the overwhelming number of events you attend and people you meet can be stressful, so always remember your sorority is not everything. You still have school, other campus activities, and friends who are in different organizations or not in one at all. It can be difficult, but try and balance everything you have going on. Take some time for yourself; have a movie night with your best friend or take a night to put on a face mask and relax. It’s important to go to events, but make sure it’s not putting your mental health at risk.

 Our final piece of advice for you is to lean on the older girls in your sorority, especially your big. These girls are so excited that you are their new sister, and they want to help make this experience as fun and stress-free as it can be. Ask them for advice, reach out when you’re struggling, or even ask to have a movie night if you’ve had a hard day. These girls can make your experience so much better if you let them.

 This is such an exciting time in your life, so take advantage of every opportunity your new sorority throws at you! We at The Edge wish you the best of luck on this new adventure and hope it goes as smoothly as possible.