I attend a school where sorority life is such a big part of the campus. In one of my classes of about 150 students, I would say about half are in a sorority. They’re so easy to find – clustered in groups of each different sorority, proudly displaying their letters. I’ve always been interested in this particular college lifestyle. With all the sacred traditions and the secrets within each sorority, what’s there not to wonder about right?

I never actually rushed for a sorority, let alone pledge for one. I always knew it wasn’t the right thing for me. I mean I love having a lot of friends, being social, and doing great things for the community but the whole process just seemed so pained and nerve-wrecking! Waiting to hear back from all the different sororities to see if you’ve received an invitation to come back…wow, it’s like a freaking popularity contest. I don’t know, I just felt more comfortable with my group of friends that I had established a connection with already and doing my own thing.

However, I was still curious nonetheless. So when Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities by Alexandra Robbins came out about a year or so ago, I immediately picked it up for a fun summer reading. It’s an easy to read book that was on the New York Times Best Seller’s list for a while so I knew it was going to be great. Let me tell you, I didn’t know half of it.

Robbins goes undercover for about a year to various sorority houses in order to see if the stereotypes of going Greek are actually true. She got more than she bargained for. She discovered sexual promiscuity, drug use, eating disorders, and psychological abuse to be a big part of it. I was positively enthralled with this book – but than I had to think about the sorority girls whom I did know and kind of think deeper into it. It may seem like there are certain stereotypes within the Greek lifestyle, but each girl is so different in many ways. Talking to them, being part of a sorority doesn’t make them who they are, but rather they make what the sorority is.

So if rushing for a sorority seems to be the one for you, than go right ahead. I bet you’ll have the best time of your life. But when you’re rushing and meeting all the different potential sisters, remember to be yourself and only than will your happiness in a sorority will be guaranteed.