Sofia S. & Jake B.
Photography by Mason Schlopy
Today’s letter contains advice to potential new members of Greek Life organizations from Sofia S., a current Rho Gamma and Jake B., the Theta Chi Fraternity President. We know the possibility of joining a fraternity or sorority can seem daunting and overwhelming, so we want to remind you to trust your gut, and take care of yourself and your mental health through the whole process.
If you’re reading this, and you’re going through Greek Life recruitment, keep reading.
As an only child, navigating my way through college has been one of the most rewarding, yet difficult experiences of my entire life, and sorority recruitment had to be the most foreign of them all. No one in my family had undergone something like Greek life, so most of my preconceived knowledge had come from stereotypical movies or hearsay from people on my floor.
Looking back on the entirety of my process, as well as college or life in general, I've found that there is never really a time in life where you can lose, even though sometimes it may seem like it. Look at your experiences as a win or a lesson you learn from that will lead you to another win in the future. As I mentioned earlier, the reward from all of these new opportunities has been having the chance to live things through my own eyes and create my own perspective on recruitment and college. If there is one thing I could advise to everyone during this time, it is to lose all expectations and take every moment, situation, and conversation for what it is and not for what it could have been. Focusing on the present and not dwelling on the past or the future will ensure for the most authentic experience with recruitment and also with life. It’s a challenging way to think, and I am still working on it myself, but the strength you gain from living this way will truly change the outlook you have and allow for the best memories possible.
Sofia S., Syracuse University
Rho Gamma
Joining a fraternity or sorority can be challenging for anyone no matter how outgoing one may be. The most common piece of advice that is given regarding recruitment is to “just be yourself.” Despite that saying being extremely cliche, I genuinely believe that is the best advice a Potential New Member can receive. If you’re acting a different way trying to fit into a house during recruitment, you’re going to be stuck acting like that for the next 3.5 years of your life. Embracing your true self allows you to find the best possible fit which will set you up for a much better Greek life experience. It may sound shocking, but recruitment is supposed to be an exciting stress-free experience. The best way to achieve that is to embrace your personal values and just be yourself.
Jake B., Syracuse University
Theta Chi Fraternity President
Connect With Us
To follow IfYoureReadingThis at Syracuse on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to Syracuse students, visit our chapter’s homepage.
