The Sorority Girl

Hello, Gladiators!!

"Party animals"
"Dumb"
"Shopaholic"
"Rich kids"
"Kikay"
"Mean"
"Fame whore"
"Girls for the Fratmen"

Mentioned above are just some of the words which are greatly associated with the word sorority or sorority girl. We all have that stigma that all sororities and fraternities will just ruin your academic life during your college years especially because they believe that all the initiation part of the process all have "hazing."


These negative notions are all wrong!


Stereotyping has never been right. What I'm going to tell you will surely turn your wrong beliefs about sororities around.

The academic year 2014-2015 is when I started to enter my prestigious university, University of the Philippines-Los Baños. Entering this university, I was exposed to a lot of things. There were a lot of things which I've tried to do that I haven't done before. I've met numerous friends along. Before the classes started, I always wanted to join a sorority as I was inspired by the movies I've watched like: 

This one's my fave!!

OMG, I really had a crush on the leading partner.

From dumb blond to law student.

And yes, I was so happy when another movie in this series was released.

That being said, I started to look for sororities listed on the site of our university's Office of Student Affairs (OSA). I found several sororities there. I got chills just by reading the Greek names of the sororities, it's slowly becoming real to me. I opened each of the sororities listed and found out that not all have a complete and updated description, history, and list of activity. That was kinda heartbreaking tho, it only showed that not all exert much effort to grab the student's attention. Anyway, after "stalking" each of them, I've narrowed my choices to three. As I was narrowing my choices, I remembered that I have a batchmate in my course that was already a part of a sorority and I asked her which sorority she was a part of. I don't know if it was destiny but the sorority she replied was part of my choices.

I was in luck, I guess? After asking her that question, she endlessly texted me about what the sorority has to offer and if I was interested to be oriented. I was ecstatic! I got invited. Although my joy was overflowing, questions arose to my mind like:

"May hazing ba?"
"Anong included sa process?"
"Ilan members niyo?"
"Gaano katagal process?"

She replied that all my questions will be answered at the orientation proper. All that she assured me was there was really no physical harm involved. I trusted her so I agreed to be oriented.

The day of the orientation, I was wearing my comfiest clothes meaning it is not appealing but I still ended going to the place where it will be held. I waited for them and coursemate assured me that the sisters of the sorority were all nice and all my questions will be answered. I was in shock when the rest finally came, they were all pretty dressed accordingly. I felt underdressed tho. To add to my shock, another girl was invited to be oriented too. They were all confident. They know what they were talking. They know how to sell the sorority. I got to know the sorority through the orientation.

All my prenotion about sororities were totally trashed.

They gave me a chance to be a part of a sorority who only not offered sisterhood but a cause to develop myself through improving my leadership skills, academic excellence, nationalistic side, and care for women's situation. They introduced the sorority as a tool to help me serve the people together with the sisters.  I felt like I would be such an empowered woman if I joined this sorority who only not enjoyed girly things but also found joy in fighting for equality and rights inside and outside the university. Also, it added that influential persons were alumnae of this sorority like Kara David.

By the end of the orientation, both I and the other girl that was oriented got so thrilled to join the sorority so we decided to present ourselves to the sorority and proceed to process properly. They were true to what they've said. The process included interviews to get to know each resident sisters more in a deeper sense. To know if there's a connection. They did not harm us. They did not shame us either publicly or privately, unlike the organizations who treat their applicants as toys who are powerless. Instead, they challenged our critical thinking skills. To add, we had educational discussion throughout the process which was really helpful for me as a person and as a student. Of course, I've had a quitting point. My grandmother knew that I was processing for a sorority and forced me to quit because I will be an activist daw *with negative implications on activist.* I dismissed that idea because I really wanted to join the sorority. I proceeded and finished the process. I did not regret it. I felt valued because after a week or so, a position was given to me although it was a low position I appreciated it because I know they trust me as their sister to do a good job of it.

Weeks, months, years passed and I've been more engaged in activities that helped me develop as a person, student, sister of the sorority. I got to know the sisters to a point where you have the urge to always be with them. For instances that I had free time, I always look for them to spend the time with. Of course, it is not always good times we've also shared a fair amount of bad meetings, discussions, and misunderstandings but as we have our own principle, Truth-Reason-Justice, we know that each sister did something for a valid reason.

I just want to share some of the pictures I have during the 2 years I've spent as a resident of the sorority.

Me and AM, the other orientee, preparing for our integration.

My first activity, AlmOSAlan 2015, where the organizations, sororities, and fraternities get to be involved with the freshmen and find potential recruits.

Boses ng KababaΣAN, an educational discussion about women's situation held at BonAppetea we served free waffle and Lychee tea as complimentary.

My first solidarity message as part of the sorority in celebration of International Women's day 2016. (Kinakabahan ako niyan kasi di ko talaga alam sasabihin ko lalo na't impromptu)

We also know how to "walwal"

Eto yung pinakasamasayang bonding moment namin sa isa't isa at sa brods namin.

I miss these moments badly huhu

FebFair 2016, the brothers serenaded us. They also gave us roses and cake. We jammed, played games, talked. Basically, we bonded as brothers and sisters of the sorority and fraternity. 

ΣANxAE

ReNU, bonding with the alumnae to refresh us about the history of the sorority.

Masaya to kasi libre ng alum ang food hehe

Annual photo shoot for Women's month (IWM)

*sariling quote namin yan ah, proud moment*

Birthday post in celebration of my birthday.

Sweet talaga ng sisters ko, kilig ako. 

May forever dito!!

GRADUATION!! SOBRANG GANDA LANG NAMIN NO

#AcademicExcellence

AlmOSAlan turned to OrgFair 2016.

Kaunti lang freshies dahil sa K-12 hmp

Every semester, we try to give to those in need.

I just love how my sisters share what each other have in order to help others

Photo shoot again for IWM!

International Women's Day! Emcee ako! hehehehe

There's so much to share but this post will get too long. To summarize, I never regret that I joined this sorority because I get to keep sisters for life governed by principled sisterhood to serve the nation. If you're a UP student, approach any member of our sorority, UP Sigma Alpha Nu, and don't let that chance to be a part of an AWESOME sorority pass.

In all endeavors, the mark of excellence is the mark of a NUAN.

Au revoir!