When I came to Hope, I had no intentions of joining Greek Life. Out of any college extracurricular, it probably has the most negative stigmas associated with it. I'd seen Animal House and Legally Blonde — I didn't want anything to do with caddy girls or partying your way to bad grades or a bad image on campus.
However, in my first year I met a lot of really great girls involved in Greek Life. I learned that Hope College Greek Life is unique: we are all local organizations (besides one fraternity) and therefore do not answer to any national affiliations. For me, this meant less snaps, and less pink.
Hope also is different in that we don't rush until the spring. This gives students time to get acclimated to college life before delving into an entirely new and time-consuming experience. So, when rush came my freshman year, I decided to go for it.
Two years later, I call my sorority my varsity sport and the best decision I've made at Hope (along with Pull and Nykerk). Not only have I gained lifelong friendships with the girls in my organization, but also a sense of belonging in my sorority and in Greek Life as a whole. I have also had the opportunity for leadership in my sorority; I have been elected as Creative Design Chair, Web Manager, Secretary, Public/Alumni Relations, and, most importantly, Rush Chair. I, along with 7 other SIBs (the abbreviation for Sigma Iota Beta) plan, organize, handcraft the rush program for potential new members!
Half the fun is theme. This year it was: Set Sail with Sigma Iota Beta.
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While rush is a great time, my favorite part of the sorority is the friendships I make with girls I probably otherwise wouldn't know. SIB has given me the opportunity to be friends with girls older than me, younger than me, a different major from me, quieter than me, louder than me (that one is questionable), girlier than me, from different hometowns, states, and countries from me...the list goes on.
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At our rush, new member education, and business meetings we sing cheesy songs, like you would imagine any sorority would sing. One of them says, "Love is for those who find it and I've found mine right here." While this is undeniably cheesy, it is undeniably true. Everyone's Hope experience is different, but I can't imagine mine without Sigma Iota Beta.
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Love is for those who find it, and I found mine right here!