Last week I started my second year of college. I don
’t know where the time went, but summer will soon be over and
fallen leaves and football games are just around the corner.
Last week I started my second year of college. I don’t know where the time went, but summer will soon be over and fallen leaves and football games are just around the corner.
I’d like to think I’ve learned a lot in this past year, but I guess only time will tell. I started out last fall by doing something completely out of character. I joined a sorority. On the last day to sign up for rush, there I was, sitting in my English class with a blank application in front of me, telling myself how ridiculous it would be if I actually joined a house with 55 other girls, all acting like Stepford Wives. But something in me decided to go for it and to this day I don’t regret it.
It turns out sororities aren’t like the Stepford Wives and they are nothing like MTV’s “Sorority Life” either. A lot of people have negative views of the Greek system: that it’s just a bunch of rebellious kids who get together and drink. And it’s true that fraternities often have loud and crazy parties going on all night. But there’s a lot more to Greek life than parties.
I recently made a phone call to an old high school friend who also is going to San Jose State. He wasn’t very supportive of my decision to join Alpha Phi. As a hard-core Christian, he felt there would be no time to worship God, what with the constant partying he was sure I’d be encouraged to take part in. He even tried talking me out of it once, stating he was just doing it because he cared about me. We took a class together during our first semester, but pretty much lost touch. I wanted to see how life was treating him and what classes he was taking.
I got a bit more than I had asked for when he answered the phone. Questions like “So Chrissy, did you drop out of school yet?” and “Well, are you ever going to get started with all those English classes, I’m pretty sure you need them to be a journalist.” He also asked me if I’d started to worship Satan and wear black eye shadow under my eyes yet. When I informed him that I maintained over a 3.0 all year he responded with “Yeah, with only four classes a semester, that’s like nothing.”
The whole conversation, which was only about seven minutes of repulsive negative ranting, actually made me laugh. It’s really amusing how small-minded people can actually be. To not like something they know absolutely nothing about. It may be surprising, but while being in a sorority I was still able to attend church whenever I found the time. They never forced me to give up God during my initiation. In fact, I found a church to attend that’s two blocks from my house, right on Tenth Street.
I’m not here to make everyone in the world respect sororities. And a lot of sorority girls do things they don’t deserve any respect for. But to be so blindly stereotypical is amazing to me. As a person of deep faith, why would you choose to be so negative and judgmental?
If he had taken the time to care, my friend would have learned about some of the positive impacts Alpha Phi has had on my life. I took a position in the house as manager of Community Service and started up “Sorority Storytime” with the children of battered wives right across the street.
This semester we’ll be volunteering at Sacred Heart, sponsoring food drives, adopting a beach in Rio del Mar, and having neighborhood clean-ups. It’s amazing that I found time to set all that up in between all my Satan worshiping and partying. I also received an email from a junior high teacher who wants our girls to be mentors to her students once a week, so we can guide them “in leadership and community service.” She must have forgotten the bit about partying and satanic rituals.
I will admit, I did spend a great deal of time on Alpha Phi, and socializing was too high a priority on my list. But the friends I’ve made this past year are people I plan to have with me always. They don’t judge; they’re supportive. Sometimes I feel sorry for the people who just go to college and then rush right back home to the same thing everyday, because they really miss out on the college experience, which only happens once. There are so many worthwhile activities, and they aren’t all in the Greek system.
That being said, I do have some goals for this next year, taking the lessons I have learned from my first year into strong consideration.
Instead of above a 3.0, I’m going for straight A’s this year. I already made a bet with my friend J.P. that I would only miss one day of class this entire semester. It’ll be tough at times, but Ill just keep in mind the $20 bet, and the amazing grades I’ll get when I succeed. I also plan to submit 10 articles to the Spartan Daily this semester, even if they turn them all down. (I’m still too young to be on the paper. You have to be in your third year.) And all those English classes I need to be a journalist? Don’t you worry; I’m taking an English class and a news writing class! And last year I received an English 1A Excellence in Writing award.
I also plan to run for office in student government this spring. I was on a committee this last year, but I want to be more involved. One of the sisters in my house is now the president of Associated Students at San Jose State (she must have been one of the head Satan worshipers), and I think it would be fun to work with her on A.S. She is amazing, and I can only imagine how much I will learn.
I also want to stay in touch with my close high school friends, because after seeing them over the summer I realized how important they are to me. It’s hard when you go to different schools, but it’s worth the effort.
This year I plan on being much more selective about who I let into my world. Having a little romance in college is fun, but getting lost in it and losing sight of yourself and your priorities isn’t. Sometimes it’s hard to make a decision to let go of something, even when the answer is right in front of your face. But It’s all part of learning: About life, and about yourself. I think the lesson of self-preservation is definitely one I’ve learned and am still learning.
Everything said, I’m really excited about this next year. And whatever it has in store for me, I plan to make the most of it. Oh and I plan to finally bowl over 100, to be the best server ever to work at Buca di Beppo’s, to become a hustler at pool, go streaking with all my sisters – and – don’t forget all the partying and Satan worshipping.
Chrissy Bryant is a sophomore at San Jose State University. The Live Oak grad writes A College View about local college life and things that catch her fancy. Contact Chrissy at ed******@*************es.com
