Saturday, June 16, 2012

Owning up.


This post is dedicated to coming out of the Greek closet. I usually downplay this facet of my life, which isn't all that difficult to do because I'm not really hyper involved in it. But if I'm being honest with myself I have to admit that yes, Chi Omega has been a substantial part of my college experience.




As a transfer, I thought it was important to force myself out of the comfort zone that was my dorm room and make myself be social. I also held personal prejudices against sorority and fraternity kids, but knew that it would do me no good to cut myself off from such a thriving aspect of UCLA's student population. A part of me was also scared that if I didn't at least try to see what Greek Life was all about, I would regret it. So- I rushed.


I'm really quite picky about the people I choose to bring into my life and I wouldn't have joined a sorority unless I was sure that I wouldn't get hurt or regret doing it. Throughout the rush process (which is hell, by the way, and should really come with therapists to help so many poor girls deal with the social intensity of it all), I couldn't help but feel like Chi Omega was always a place of enduring positivity. The house was full of a hodge podge of beautiful, nerdy, sporty, active, confident and genuinely happy girls.


So I joined. And I endured the awkward moments of being in a room full of 'sisters' but only knowing about three names. I endured the weirdness of being a junior in a sea of excited and endearingly eager freshman. I endured the strange sensation of walking into a mansion that was supposedly my home without knowing anyone who came to answer the door. Cubs really worked to accept the fact that his girlfriend was a sorority girl and all the strange stereotypes such an identity produces- it was also hard form him to come to terms with how limited his involvement in my 'greek life' could be.


But slowly, I realized how easy going Chi Omega was. How simple it was to just exist as a member and be accepted for what I brought to the sisterhood. I met more friends, learned more names, and eventually acclimated to immense amount of estrogen that buzzed throughout the mansions big rooms during meal times and meetings. The sorority pushed me to take on so many incredible opportunities, (and in another long story)- Chi Omega was there for me in ways I could have never imagined. Cubby eventually got the swing of things too.


The biggest change that Chi Omega made in me was a loss of harsh prejudice and unwarranted judgements. My fear for frat parties has remained as intact as my distaste for bad beer- some things will never change. And though I still shudder when talking to professors, bosses or even doctors when my Greek identity is brought up, what matters is that I know my role in the community and am happy with it. 

No comments:

Post a Comment