Byron, Birkin, & Burch

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having fabulous weekends. As the school year wraps up and many people graduate to start their new lives in the real world I can't help but look back at what I have learned over the years.

I am not graduating yet, but will no longer be living in my sorority come fall. I thought it would be a good idea to get my own apartment, so I can get the hang of doing things on my own before reality hits.

Honestly, at the start of freshman year I had no idea if Greek life was for me. I was afraid of the stereotypes and what it would mean to live in a house with eighty other girls. Looking back, it was one of the greatest decisions I have made during my college career. I learned so much about myself and what friendship means to me during this time. Not only that, but I found kindred spirits in girls I may never have met if not for recruitment.

For those of you who are apprehensive about going Greek, I would say just give it a shot. If you find it is not for you, then hey at least you tried. I thought I would never fit in with sorority girls, but there is no such thing as a "sorority girl." Every woman in the Greek community is unique and brings something special to the table. That is something that truly makes me love being in Zeta Tau Alpha. It isn't for everyone, but I want you to know that it changed my course and made me the woman I am today.

I wanted to talk about some of the important things I learned while living in a sorority. Some of them are a little silly and some of them are serious, but I am hoping to give those of you who are on the fence a glimpse into what it's like. So here we go :)

1. You don't always have to be put together

One of the main things I was afraid of about being in a sorority was always looking perfect. I love makeup and fun clothes, but sometimes it's nice to simply put on a sweatshirt and call it a day. I was worried that I would always have to have my hair and makeup done to fit in, but this is so far from the truth. Being in a sorority means accepting and loving your sisters for who they are, not what they look like. I felt completely fine with walking around my house without a stitch of makeup on and that was a great feeling.

2. There will be drama 

This was another thing I was afraid of! I hate drama and everything that comes with it. Living with a bunch of girls with different personalities can cause issues, but you just have to go with the flow. Always be kind and supportive to your sisters and you will find it easy to stay out of the cat fights. Everyone has disagreements, but at the end of the day you are like family and nothing can come in between that.

3. Involvement is key 

Sorority life is what you make it. If you want to be a real part of something great, then I would say get heavily involved. Put 100% into this experience. Volunteer for service work and delve deep into the philanthropy. Not only does this get you involved on campus, but it always helps you get to know your sisters a little bit better.

4. Reaching out builds friendships 

There will be times when you feel like you only know certain members of your house. Something I learned was how important reaching out was. To make new friendships try lunch dates with members you wish to get to know. Even an encouraging text can go a long way in making new friendships.

5. Learn to listen 

Another great thing I learned while living in my sorority was how to listen and communicate with others. Girls will come to you for advice or for a venting session and learning to deal with that was difficult for me at first. To be a great friend and sorority sister I think it is important to actively listen and to give them truthful advice. Being dishonest with them about a certain situation will not help them in the long run. I have become a better communicator because of my experience in the house.

6. Try not to gossip 

We are human, which means we aren't perfect. I think every woman has a natural instinct to gossip, so don't feel bad. One of the hardest things to do while living in a sorority is dealing with the daily gossip. I know it is extremely difficult, but try and stay away from that. Every girl is going through a storm of her own and she may be misunderstood. Gossiping does nothing to build your sisters up. If other sisters bring someone up try and steer the conversation to a more positive topic.

7. Be willing to share 

I never had to share a room growing up, so living with a roommate was something I had to get used to. Be open to sharing your things! There will be girls who want to borrow clothes and makeup all the time. If it's something of great importance to you, just don't bring it to school. Make sure to lay down the rules of borrowing before letting them have it and if they don't use the proper care then confront them about it.

8. Stand by your morals/values 

I think this one is really important. Like I said above, everyone in a sorority is individually unique. There will be girls from all walks of life and it is important to respect and learn about their point of views, but also to be rooted in your own. I am a Christian and it was really important to me to keep those values, even when some people may not have agreed with me. It was honestly amazing to learn about different cultures and religions through my sorority experience.

9. You have to be a friend, to get a friend

Something really important that I learned while living in a sorority was that friendship is a two way street. Both people need to be heavily involved to make the friendship a healthy and successful one. I learned a lot about building great relationships while living in the house.

10. Be prepared to be changed

I know it is cliche, but I can honestly say that being in this organization changed me. This list isn't even half of what I learned. There are definitely ups and downs, but I will never forget the lessons that I took away from this experience. It won't always be sunshine and butterflies, but at the end of the day you know you have the support of over one hundred girls. How many people can say that?

I don't want you as readers to think that this is a persuasive post because that is certainly not my intention. Ultimately, your college career will be an amazing experience, whether you go Greek or not. I just wanted to give you a peek into what I gained from my sorority experience. Everyone's story is different, so I cannot speak for everyone when I say the things I did above, but overall I loved going Greek.

I know this post wasn't beauty or fashion focused, but I wanted to share. If you have any questions about anything sorority/college related please feel free to email me at byronburkinburch@gmail.com.