During the process of Panhellenic Recruitment, one of the most exciting times is getting to see all of the houses. You get a taste of their personalities; see how they express themselves and you get to connect to something intimate in their life. One of the questions I both got asked the most and got asked when going through recruitment on the other side was, “When can you live in the house? I really want to live in a sorority house!” The answer varies for all sororities, but it is a possibility for all.
Houses all over the country are different. Some of them are practically mansions and others are essentially dorm buildings, only occupied by members of the sisterhood. Whether the house is located on a “frat row” or somewhere randomly on campus, there are both positive and negative aspects of living in the house. While this sounds scary, this is true for all situations in life.
Yes, the perks are great – different closets to choose from, friends to talk to all the time – but don’t be fooled,it has the ability to get messy. Women are known to be dramatic by nature. So, what steps can we take to avoid drama in the houses we are living in?
Save the drama for your mama: Literally. Keep your concerns to yourself until you can call your mom or someone that you can trust. Remember, people never forget the words you say, so use them wisely.
Don’t sling the mud: For most women, words are the male equivalent of throwing punches. But unlike men, women don’t get over things so easily. Men can throw a right hook one minute, and then be shaking hands the next. Keep in mind, words hurt. They easily cut to the core of young women whose self-esteem is still developing. Keep it to yourself and like I said, call your confidant.
Keep it classy: like Coco Chanel said, “A woman should be two things: classy and fabulous.” If you consider yourself a classy woman, you should not let your anger get the best of you. Take a deep breath, count to 10 and handle whatever drama comes your way with class.
Whenever you’re feeling like you just need to let go, go for a run, read a book or go turn on music. Getting caught up with drama in the house will not end well for either party. If you choose to stay out of it, no one can say anything mad about you. Stay neutral, stay positive and focus on the perks and be happy with your sisters!
For more articles on how to keep it classy within your sorority and in general, check out these incredible College Lifestyles articles: How To: Live Your Ritual Everyday and How To: Call Your Landlord with Problems. If the pressure is getting to be too much, make sure you check out this CL article on keeping your mental health positive. Drama can get to the best of us. Make sure you’re keeping yourself healthy!
