When I tell people I work for a national sorority, the opinions are very mixed. Some are intrigued, asking about my day to day life and my responsibilities as a traveling consultant. Some are supportive, they have probably had an experience with a Greek Life consultant in the past. Others are downright confused- "Is it like a sorority in the movies? Why would you work for one of those?" Currently, I am on my 3rd recruitment visit in a leg of 6 in a row. I left on August 6 and I will not return home until September 24. And yes, my entire life and wardrobe is packed in the suitcase that got lost on my way to Champaign, Illinois (since recovered, thank goodness).
Some women from this chapter are in the next room watching "Sydney White", the popular movie starring pre-rehab Amanda Bynes that puts Greek life in a less than-attractive light. A college freshman joins the same house her mother was a part of and classic sorority girl cliches ensue. Full of unflattering renditions of the college Greek system, you are taken through Sydney's time as a pledge (new member these days...) and her quest to bring down the Greek life hierarchy. This plot line is something the average member has come to accept, because the average member doesn't realize the perception non-Greeks have because of movies like Sydney White. Through the paper thin sorority house walls I hear one member say, "This doesn't make Greek Life look good."
About 20 minutes before they started this movie, one of their sisters came in crying because she lost her job at a local restaurant. As soon as they saw the look on her face, they instantly sprang up to console her. Through the tears she explained how everything had happened, barely getting the words out because she was so flustered. One sister hugged her and they all told her everything would be okay, saying how sorry they were this happened, how she was unhappy at that place anyway, and how now she could spend more time with the chapter for work week (pre-recruitment workshops). Something like losing your part time college job can feel like the end of the world, but in a matter of minutes these girls wiped away their sister's tears and her entire attitude turned around. They even offered to drive her to get pizza or whatever guilty pleasure food she wanted after a horrible night.
This is what Greek life is really about and this is why I truly love my job. Brought together by this common bond of sisterhood, you are guaranteed someone will always have your back. People may think they know what Greek life means (shoot, I sure thought I did before I joined), but they cannot even begin to understand it if we continue to show them exactly what they think we are. Sorority is more than just parties and fraternity boys, it is (as I like to quote) a room full of girls who can call each other sister and mean it.
And after you lose your job, someone may even offer to get you pizza at 11pm on a Thursday.
