Potential Magazine May 2014 | Page 29

MELISSA JOHNSON, REPORTER/ANCHOR FOR WSFA NEWS IN MONTGOMERY, GRADUATED FROM AUBURN UNIVERSITY IN 2009 AND WAS A PHI MU. HERE ARE HER THOUGHTS ON HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SORORITY EXPERIENCE. A VALUE BEYOND TRADITION A 2011-2012 STUDY SHOWED THAT STUDENTS WERE STILL PLEDGING GREEK ORGANIZATIONS EVEN THOUGH THE ECONOMY WAS BAD (AND MEMBERSHIP COSTS MONEY). “TO ME, THAT PROVES THAT PEOPLE SEE IT AS A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.” - PAT GRANT, FOUNDER OF RUSH BIDDIES what they offer : ACCORDING TO AMANDA MOULIN, BIRMINGHAM PANHELLENIC PRESIDENT AND ZTA COLLEGIATE ADVISOR FOR AUM, BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE AND SAMFORD UNIVERSITY, THERE ARE MANY GREAT REASONS FOR STUDENTS TO JOIN GREEK LIFE WHILE IN COLLEGE. SUPPORT A support group to help ease the adjustment to college life. RESOURCES Scholastic resources to help students achieve their academic goals. LEADERSHIP Leadership skills acquired through hands-on experience. ENCOURAGEMENT Encouragement to get involved, stay involved and maximize their potential on campus. OPPORTUNITIES Opportunities for active participation in community service projects. HIGHER STUDENT SUCCESS Greek students are more likely to stay in college than nonGreek students. WHY GO GREEK? “I tell girls all the time to get involved on campus. You want to go beyond your high school friend group, and joining a Greek organization gives you an easy way to break that mold and make new friends. For me, it was a huge help because I am a little shy. The older girls in my sorority were a great resource for advice about college in general.” WHAT TO DO DURING RECRUITMENT “No one in my family had ever been in a Greek organization, so I had no idea what I was getting into and didn’t have any preconceived notions about any one sorority. That was important in helping me choose one that really fit me. Each sorority has its own personality and each recruitment class does too; plus, different sororities are different at different colleges, so it’s key that you choose what works for you. That may not be the sorority your mom was in or the one all of your high school friends are picking. Don’t go into recruitment with only a few sororities on your list. Keep an open mind or you might miss out on a great opportunity and great friendships.” TSTILL SISTERS “I keep meeting other Phi Mus all the time, and it’s so neat to have this huge family all over the place. And I believe being a Phi Mu has helped me in other ways. Jennifer Oravet, another reporter at WSFA, was a Phi Mu too, and when I interned there, we figured out that we shared that. I think that connection might have played a part in me getting my job.” all in the family I love that Greek organizations use the words brother and sister to refer to fellow members; it emphasizes the family mentality.” – PAT GRANT, FOUNDER OF RUSH BIDDIES www.potentialmagazine.com 29