Finding Friendship, Balance, and Purpose in Fraternity and Sorority Life

When you think of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL), most people tend to think of movies that depict it as cutthroat, cliquey, and all-consuming. While I can’t speak to other universities, I can say that as a member of a sorority at the University of Denver, it could not be more different than how it is depicted in the media, and it’s definitely for the better.

I first joined my sorority my sophomore year of college, mostly as a way to expand my social circle and meet people that I might not have otherwise met. I was definitely nervous, coming in a year older than most of the new girls, and really did not know what to expect. It took me a bit to adjust, especially with balancing my responsibilities as a stage manager for our theatre department, but by the start of my winter quarter, I felt like I found my place.

To me, I love that I can be a part of a sorority without it being my whole world. I always got the impression that at most schools, people are defined by the organization they choose, but at DU, FSL is a small fraction of you as a student. It’s an organized way to meet a bunch of cool people, but I found it super feasible to balance sorority commitments, school, and other extracurriculars.

One of the other amazing parts of FSL that is not talked about enough is the service component of it. Every organization is connected to a philanthropy that they put a lot of time and effort raising money for. They will create campus-wide competitions, all-night pancake dinners, or pickleball tournaments as a way to balance having fun and giving back.

FSL is not for everyone, and that’s totally fine! However, I urge people to open their minds to what it is actually like being involved, and consider it as a means to meet a bunch of cool people who are going to do amazing things with their life.