It was my sophomore year of college. I had very much enjoyed my freshman year and all of the memories and great people I met, but I felt like something was missing. The previous year, I wasn’t super involved in campus activities, and I wanted to change that. A couple of friends I knew had joined Greek life and raved about it. Excited to have the chance to experience this, I decided to sign up for Panhellenic recruitment.
As a current senior graduating in a little over a month, I can say that it was the best decision I have made while at UMass. There are endless ways that joining a sorority has impacted my college experience, but I will focus on a few: making lifelong friendships, being involved on campus and in the community, and gaining relevant leadership and work experience.
When I joined Alpha Chi Omega, I felt immediately welcomed and appreciated by everyone. Accepting my bid offer meant that I instantly gained dozens of new friends and sisters who were all connected through something bigger than ourselves. It made this large campus feel a lot smaller. Every week, I would see my sisters multiple times, fostering our new friendships.
Almost 3 years later, the people I see on a daily basis are my sorority sisters. I have lived with them every year since joining, and these are the people I would call my best friends. We are a close-knit community, I know everyone, and I feel comfortable and enjoy spending time with every member of my sorority. These girls are my lifelong friends, and Alpha Chi Omega is one way that we are connected forever.
Being part of a Panhellenic sorority also immediately increases your participation in campus and community involvement. Each Panhellenic sorority has a philanthropy that they support. Alpha Chi Omega’s philanthropy is Domestic Violence Awareness. Throughout the year, we engage in many fundraisers that support this incredibly important cause. We are partnered with a local organization called Safe Passage, which lets us see the impact of our work in the community. Every semester, members of my sorority complete community service hours through a variety of opportunities, both on and off campus, supporting numerous causes.
A huge component of being part of a Panhellenic sorority is the opportunity to gain real work and leadership experience. There are countless opportunities to be involved. Whether it is an executive board position, an assistant position, a representative position, a committee position, or more. No matter how big or small the position, it is real experience that you can put on your resume. I have had the opportunity to be involved in a couple of positions and gained valuable experience that I have spoken about in job interviews. I spoke extensively about one of my positions in an internship interview, and I believe it was one of the reasons I landed the internship, and subsequently a return offer for a post-grad role.
Overall, joining a Panhellenic sorority has been my most defining experience in college. I could go on and on about my experience. I have grown so much over the past 3 years since joining, and having a supportive group of girls by my side has increased my confidence in my everyday life. It has shaped who I am personally and professionally, and it is an experience that I would recommend to anyone considering it.
