You don’t need to join Greek Life to fit in at CU
GDI or die
Greek Life – the words invoke scenes of red solo cups, overpacked parties and the brother and sisterhoods who spend every waking moment together. I think of the matching outfits and T-shirts with the Greek words on them that no one really understands, or the crying of each girl who gets rejected by the house she wanted. Doesn’t sound like fun to you either? That’s why I chose to be GDI aka “God Damn Independent.”
As a freshman, the whole idea of “college” is new and exciting. Rushing seems so modern and invigorating because of the talk that goes around about it. You get asked the same question over and over again: “Are you rushing?” and, if you’re a GDI like me, your answer will always be “I don’t know.” The pressure to rush seems overwhelming as a freshman at CU. A straight-up “No” to that question seems almost impossible to say. What better to do than rush since everyone’s talking about it, right?
Wrong. Yes, being a freshman gives you an open-mind about everything on campus because you’re a freshman. But, rushing isn’t necessarily for everyone, and that’s okay. Finding other things to do on campus is the easiest task you’ll have in college, because, well, you’re a college student and not everything is supposed to be easy.
Choosing to be GDI was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t want to be just another face in the 1600 girls at CU rushing this year. Although I’ve heard that a lot of girls rush to make new friends, I thought “why can’t I make friends on my own terms?” Turns out, I can, because making friends comes naturally with the countless things to do at CU other than going Greek.
Groups on campus such as skiing clubs, intramural sports or even just studying in your hall lobby can offer the opportunity to meet new people and get involved. After studying, hiking Chautauqua then grabbing sandwiches on the Hill from Cheba Hut can give you a nice, relaxing break. Or, in the winter, joining the ski club, Boulder Freeride, is another great way to get out of your dorm and explore the mountains on skis or a snowboard. While doing so, the possibility of meeting new people is endless and taking on new adventures like that is just a part of college.
Going Greek at CU may seem like the only viable option when you’re a freshman, but, that doesn’t stand true at all. I chose to find my own path, without the influence of a sorority. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great option for so many people, but it just wasn’t for me. I made new friends by just walking to class or by talking to people in my classes. Being involved on campus doesn’t mean you need to do what everyone else does.
In all honesty, CU is made for exploring and college is all about finding yourself. So instead of being cooped up in your dorm room, go out on a hike or go on a run. You’ll probably end up running into someone new, literally. Fitting in doesn’t mean you need to rush. Fitting in means that you find yourself doing things at CU that YOU want to do, and if that means not rushing, then welcome to the GDI club.