Joining a Sorority or Fraternity
By Sam, age 19, Massachusetts
Sweet Designs Staff Intern
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
The following article contains two brief interviews with college students who are currently involved in either a fraternity or sorority. These interviews concern what they enjoy about their sorority or fraternity and why they chose to join.
I. Rachel
What is your name and year?
My name is Rachel and I'm a sophomore.
What sorority or fraternity are you currently a part of?
Pi Beta Phi, or "Pi Phi".
What kind of sorority or fraternity is it?
It's a service/philanthropy sorority. Our big thing is literacy.
What do you like about your sorority?
I love the community with the girls. Even when I first got there I felt really comfortable around everyone, and I felt that they were a group of girls I could spend a lot of time hanging out with and working with.
Why did you decide to join a sorority?
Sort of for the "community" aspect I mentioned before. I love the support group that it provides. And I like literacy as our focus on philanthropy.
What does being a part of a sorority mean to you?
It's a support group of people who will be there for you. And it's nice to know those people will always be there for you for personal reasons, study groups, or to go out with it. It's nice having a group of people I know will be there for me.
Do you have any advice to give anyone thinking about joining a sorority or fraternity?
Make sure you choose the one you fit in with, and not just "the cool one." Really pick the one you feel comfortable with, and that supports a service you're interested in. And wait until you're a sophomore first! Learn about all of them first. Don't just rush into things. There are also scholarships for people interested in joining a sorority or fraternity. It does cost money, by paying "dues," but the scholarships can find a way around it.
II. Rita
What is your name and year?
My name is Rita and I'm a sophomore.
What fraternity or sorority are you currently a part of?
Sigma Alpha Iota, or "SAI".
What kind of fraternity or sorority is it?
It's a music-based fraternity. We are a service-based organization, which is different from a social fraternity.
What do you like about your fraternity?
Everybody is really close, and I know everyone very well. It's just a group where I belong. We all share our love for music. It brings us together.
Why did you decide to join a fraternity?
For me, it was music being a large part of my life. It was a way for me to get more involved. I knew and liked everyone in the group.
What does being a part of a fraternity mean to you?
It means being part of an organization where you belong, and where you can use it to do good on the campus and in the community.
Do you have any advice to give anyone thinking about joining a sorority or fraternity?
Find the one that fits your personality. Don't just join a sorority to join a sorority. Join because it means something to you.