As I entered my first year at Carnegie Mellon, I knew I wanted to be involved on campus and be a part of multiple communities. Even though I joined many amazing organizations in my first semester, I felt as if something was missing. That’s when I took an interest in Greek Life(opens in new window) during my second semester due to how many of my friends spoke positively about their experiences.
I joined my sorority through Continuous Open Bidding (COB) in the spring. It’s an informal recruitment process where you can attend events and go to coffee chats with sorority members. After I attended my first COB event for Alpha Chi Omega, I honestly felt at home and loved everyone who I spoke to. I decided to attend more events; one that stood out in particular was a professional development panel featuring alumnae. It was inspiring to hear from Alpha Chi Omega women on how they navigated their college lives and their transition into their professional ones. After attending some events and a coffee chat, I decided to join, and I’m happy that I did!
One of my favorite Greek Life traditions is Greek Sing(opens in new window), an annual event where Greek organizations put on a musical show to raise money for local charities. I was able to get involved as an ensemble member when I was still considered a new member! As someone who has always loved theatre, I love being able to still get involved in something similar in college. Rehearsals brought me a lot closer to my sorority sisters and brought upon a lot of good memories.
Beyond events and traditions, what I love most about being in Greek Life is the sense of sisterhood. Whenever I need advice or guidance, I frequently turn to my sorority sisters. As the oldest sibling in my family, I never had an older mentor to navigate college and life in general. Through my sorority, I haven’t just gotten mentors; instead, I have made lifelong friends who help me grow personally and academically. It’s always a joy to see familiar faces around campus and know that I will always have a support system.
Overall, joining Greek Life has been one of the best decisions I’ve made during my time at Carnegie Mellon. It’s given me a strong sense of community, valuable professional connections and a group of friends who truly feel like family.
