PPD, PNM’s & Presidency
PanHellenic preview day (PPD), which was a week ago, is one of the best Greek events that allows potential new members (PNMs) to test the waters and see if they want to go Greek. Since I’m 3,000 miles away and wasn’t able to give any PNMs a firsthand account of my Greek experience here’s a little insight as to why I went Greek.
Coming from the Northeast, and a family where no one is Greek, I was both excited and intimidated by the Greek system. Most of what I knew about sorority recruitment came from satirical portrayals of superficiality and mindless indoctrination. On campus I was flooded with posters and t-shirts and profile pictures and stickers with “Insert Sorority Here <3’s the ‘Dores.” Before PanHellenic preview day I won’t lie and say I didn’t have my own skewed perceptions of Greek life. But seeing the houses, the genuine connection between the members, their excitement to welcome us and tell us about the opportunities going Greek has awarded them, changed my perspective.
Joining a sorority has shown me so much more than t-shirts and stickers, it has given me life long friends, a support system, and a commitment to something that is larger than me, larger than just my chapter, but a network of sisters. My sorority is something I care deeply about, and now I have the pleasure of serving it as President.
To have the privilege of serving my chapter in 2016 is exciting and intimidating, just as I felt before initially joining Greek life. If you had told me first semester freshman year that I would join a sorority, let alone be its President I wouldn’t believe you. To think I have gone from a wide-eyed freshman to the figurehead of my sorority is a testament to the irrefutably positive impact Greek life has had on my Vanderbilt experience. I love Greek life for the community and leadership opportunities it has given me.
So for all you PNMs who don’t know if Greek life is for them I offer you two pieces of advice: 1. Going Greek was one of the best decisions I’ve made at Vanderbilt—it was a challenge to step out of my comfort zone but I’m so glad that PPD changed my mind and 2. Don’t try and explain sororities to people in Europe, they just don’t get it.
