• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » To Greek or Not to Greek: Why I Left My Sorority
Greek Life

To Greek or Not to Greek: Why I Left My Sorority

Facebook Tweet
545
group of sorority girls holding up their greek letters
www.flickr.com
Sara Sanfilippo   December 3, 2021

Growing up, I saw joining a sorority as a pivotal part of the college experience. My mom, grandma and older cousins all took part in Greek life. They talked about it so highly and always reminisced on the memories and friendships they made. My mom talks about all the trips she planned with her sisters and how she met her bridesmaids in her sorority.

So, when I received my acceptance letter from my future school, I immediately registered for rush.

Reese Witherspoon Comedy GIF by Coolidge Corner Theatre
www.giphy.com

Rush, a commonly used term in Greek Life, means the week to learn about all the different sororities and, in the end, you receive a bid from one. My mom took the preparation time very seriously. She emailed all her friends who joined sororities in college and told them about me. I spoke with alumni from every sorority and requested letters of recommendation from them. I also spent hours stalking each house on Instagram and watching their videos on YouTube.

Rush week consisted of running across campus in heels, lots of hairspray, talking to hundreds of initiated sisters and plenty of rejection. Every night, I called my mom and gave her the load down of the day; my emotions felt all over the place. Each call, she told me a bunch of clichés, such as “trust the process” or “everything happens for a reason.” When the week ended, I received my bid. I didn’t end up at my top house, but I still gave it a chance, repeating the mantras my mom told me throughout the week.

I ended up loving the sorority.

video alabama GIF
www.giphy.com

Immediately belonging to a group on campus made the transition between high school and college a lot easier. I met so many new friends and the sisters helped me with my classes and finding my way around the school. It also gave me ways to get involved in the community.


trending

463

10 Student Organizations Breaking the Mold at Berkeley

184

Top 10 Spots Around Emerson College to Get Inspired

161

Top 10 Ways to Spot a UT Austin Alum


However, as I advanced in school and started thinking about my future, I joined other organizations and looked for other opportunities. My schedule started filling up and I found myself running out of time to do everything. Eventually, I needed to leave something to create a more balanced lifestyle. After a lot of reflection and advice from my friends and family, I decided to disaffiliate, or drop, my sorority. This thought made me feel anxious. I worried that my friendships might end, I might feel left out from events or struggle with meals since I wouldn’t receive a meal plan anymore.

Eventually, I bit the bullet and officially dropped.

Season 3 Abc GIF by Bachelor in Paradise
www.giphy.com

The dropping process meant I needed to reach out to the sorority president to explain why I wanted to leave. I re-typed the text over and over again, never wanting to press send. When I finally sent it, I quickly turned off my phone and placed it across the room. Anxiously, I sat and waited to hear my text notification go off. I dreaded this moment because I felt like she might think I hated her or the sisterhood. When the reply finally popped up on my home screen, I tensed up. However, after reading her response, I felt a calmness wash over me. She reassured me that she understood and that I will always find a home within the organization. She put my nerves to rest and I felt more comfortable in my decision.

At first, I felt awkward. The executive board removed me from the Facebook groups and group chats. This didn’t come as a surprise because I didn’t need to know the announcements in the group. These groups constantly notified my phone over the past years, the silence felt strange.

However, the awkward phase and feeling clueless about the happenings grew normal.

season 6 showtime GIF by Shameless
www.giphy.com

I also felt a strong feeling of regret after I dropped the sorority. Even though I chose to leave on my own, I still grew nervous, thinking that I made a mistake. Once I disaffiliated, I knew I may not rejoin or join another sorority. This terrified me. I felt like I closed a door, and it immediately locked. Eventually, I grew to remember my experience fondly but continued looking towards the future. Change scares me but also teaches me valuable life lessons.

Stepping outside my comfort zone seemed like the biggest challenge and lesson I faced throughout this experience.

Oh No Comedy GIF by CBC
www.giphy.com

I never realized everything my sorority did for me, such as cooking my meals, placing me in a group of friends and giving me activities to do. Once these disappeared, I needed to take matters into my own hands. I taught myself how to cook meals, something I never knew how to do. Cooking turned into one of my favorite hobbies and stress relievers, allowing me to put my nervous energy into something productive. I also started making new friends within other groups. I expanded my circle and still kept my friendships with the women in Greek life.

Finally, I found more time to focus on my future. Since my schedule cleared, I take more difficult classes and work on expanding my resume, focusing more on my professional goals. I know this might sound dramatic, but dropping my sorority seemed like a life-changing decision. I didn’t want to miss out on all the amazing things I hear my family talk about, but I felt like my time came to an end. Facing change seems scary, but now I see it as something to learn from. I definitely don’t regret my time in Greek life, but I feel confident in my choice to leave and start the next chapter of my life. If not a Greek-affiliated group, joining any campus organization helps make college a more enjoyable experience.

About Sara Sanfilippo

Sara is a Senior studying Editing, Writing, and Media and Retail Operations at Florida State University. She enjoys anything related to pop culture, listening to new music, and traveling with friends. She hopes to move to a big city after graduation.

Living in a Sorority House During a Pandemic

Luke Scarano

Fighting for Greek Life Reform: An Interview with Luke Scarano

alpha phi girls posing

How to Turn a Big School into a Small Community with Greek Life

A Dream vs. A Reality: Lessons From An Ex Frat Boy

Trying to Plan for College? Expect the Unexpected

CM’s Guide to Living in a Sorority House

The Inside Story About Rushing at UMD

sorority girls

10 Ways to Dress Cute at Sorority Recruitment on a Budget

pike UF

20 Gator Things to Look Out for on UF Game Day

Previous Post:21 Birthday Gifts Your Girlfriend Actually Wants for Her 21st Birthday
Next Post:Light it Up With This 8 Day Hanukkah Gift Guide

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding