If you are a member of a sorority I know that you have heard the phrase “You are buying your friends.” Well, to the members of the sorority their membership in their greek group is a big part of their college experience.

So what does being a member of a sorority really mean?

From a nonmember’s viewpoint, it might mean that the school wanted to provide a whole new understanding of the word “clique”. However, from a sorority member’s point of view, membership gives you a certain social standing in the school’s student body, it recognizes you with a new group of people that you now call your sisters, and it may even dictate the way that other people and groups may look at you.

Does it mean, though, that you are necessarily “buying” your friendship with the other members of the sorority?

The answer is no, it doesn’t. Being a member of a greek group is a special and important part of college to many students. If you leave the group, some of its members might stop talking to you. If that’s the situation, then those certain members weren’t true friends to begin with. By being in a sorority you actually learn the meaning of a real friendship and how important it is to have friendships in your life.

Rush for young women is at the beginning of the next Fall semester. If you think that you would like to be a member of a sorority, then you should go through and see for yourself what sororities really mean to their members.

If you decide to join, you will learn several things about situations in life as well as about you and the friendships that you have and are going to make. Joining also will teach you who your real friends are, even though you might have to pay money for most of the things that you do with them.

However, while it’s fine to be greek, it’s also great to be yourself and join other organizations. Whether you “go greek” or stay independent, the important part of college is that you get involved with groups that offer you a chance to truly be yourself and make a difference.

Follow your heart and enjoy every minute of your collegiate experience. You only get to do this once.