…looking at scrapbook from freshman and sophomore year of college and thinking DAMN I used to be really hot (and didn’t even know it)…

…realizing that was (gasp!) 7 years ago…

FUCK.

…
…
…
…where does the time go?

UPDATE: Also depressing….comparing debt amounts (to see who had more) with BSG at 12 am on a Friday night. Yep. I rock.

I’ll be posting about last night’s happy hour debacles later, but for now, check out this article…

“Going to school today and living as a young adult in this world is completely different than when they grew up. What could be looked at as spoiled for them, is not necessarily spoiled for us,” says Josh Hoffman, a 19-year-old sophomore in New York University’s jazz performance program. He took a Madpackers limousine to school this semester.

“I just feel like we have so much, with technology and computers. We have everything at our hands,” he says. “It’s just a matter of choosing.”

There was an article in the Washington Post a few weeks ago covering a similar topic - some new high-end housing unit for area schools.

I think all of this in college definitely gives people a warped sense of adulthood and what it’s going to be like to be a “grown up” after graduation.

But hey, if you want to pay 40K in tuition plus 12-15K in housing for your kid (or yourself with loans)…then go for it.

And I thought my dorm room with its own bathroom and air conditioning was sweet.

I was a sorority girl. I still am in many ways. I have been told both that I am a pretty stereotypical sorority girl, and also that I am not typical at all - by people who both love and hate Greek girls. I guess that will make perfect sense to those who know me.

For all the loving and hating of Greek life…I have to say I learned a lot being a part of it. I was never really one of the “cool” girls in my sorority - since I didn’t drink and party that much. Actually, I never really learned to drink beer until after college, and I am probably the only sorority alumna to have never done a beer bong.

Most people think that sorority girls are just a bunch of dimwitted party girls who like to drink and hook up a lot. That may be true in some cases, but I know plenty of women who were Greek that were far above that stereotype. My sorority for example, held the highest GPA for over five years of any on campus organization. We were leaders on campus, but also thought of as the “cute, fun” girls by the other fraternities and sororities. It was a good mix.

The stereotype

At my campus, the Greek women in general ruled the school. We were involved in every organization possible on campus, from student government to student media. Greek life had a finger on the pulse of the life of the university. I sincerely think that without it, student participation in university events would have been slim to none.

Personally, towards the end of my college career, I was heavily involved with Greek life and serving on the Panhellenic Executive Board, and I loved it more than I thought I would. It was a great experience, and gave me a lot of confidence and knowledge to be able to do some of the things I am doing now.

I believe that sorority life can be for everyone, it can be what you make of it, and what you want it to be. There was actually an article on CNN recently relating sorority life to Muslim life - and the creation of a Muslim sorority. It’s pretty interesting.

Many people I know who shunned sororities at first, either ended up joining and loving it, or ended up not joining and regretting it. I’m not going to lie and say I forged lifeling friendships or had THE TIME OF MY LIFE, but I will say that I think it gave me more than I ever imagined.

I think that for most people, sorority offers more positive than negative experiences, and even though there will be the hard times and the drama, I believe that in the end it can help shape your college experience, and also make you a better person.

But, what do I know, I’m just a dumb sorostitute, soror-i-whore, and sorority skank.

Some of my favorite stereotypical tips:

1. Purchase or make several Greek lettered shirts. They are all the rage, everyone wishes they had one.
2. Never let anyone call you a “slut,” but at the same time, make sure you sleep with lots of boys. Obvi.
3. The first thing you should do every morning is walk home. It’s not the “Walk of Shame” ladies, it’s the “Stride of Pride!”
4. Don’t forget, you’re very similar to a camel… eating isn’t a necessary daily activity. I’m just going to eat this celery.
5. You have to pay outrageous dues for sorority membership. Don’t worry, you’ll get cool t-shirts.
6. Never drink beer in large quantities. However, you are encouraged to drink “jungle juice” until you can’t feel feelings.
7. Glitter must be applied in half pound increments. God, glitter is so hot right now.
8. Take a pop music song and change the words to reflect your sorority’s coolness and dominance.
9. Get yourself a “24 hour key” to the local tanning place in town. Nothing says “I’m a sorority girl” like skin cancer.
10. If you must eat, your diet can only consist of: salad, fresh fruit, chocolate, cigarettes and bottled water.
11. Place your Greek letters somewhere on your AOL Instant Messenger buddy profile. Color coordination is preferred, but exceptions can totally be made with respect to holiday color schemes.
12. In preparation for rush: 1) Buy some cute new outfits. 2) Get your hair styled & highlighted. 3) Whiten your teeth.
13. No matter the number of fraternities on campus, your sorority is only cool enough to mix with a select few.
14. Class is not a place to learn. Rather, it’s a place to make your Greek presence felt.
15. Don’t worry about getting any STDs silly… you’re on birth control. Public Enemy #1: Venereal Diseases
16. Your new mating call will go like this, “I’m soooooo drunk… God, I’m sooooo drunk.”
17. Master the art of Instant Messenger; it will become your livelihood.
18. If your cell phone goes off in class just tell your Professor that you’re in a sorority.
19. Go to the gym more than any varsity athlete. Side note: Totally wear your Greek letters and makeup whenever you work out
20. During rush, Don’t bother to actually get to know the Rushees, a 5 minute conversation will do. Added points for cute shoes.

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation
because your character is who you really are while your reputation is merely what others think of you.”

More goodness can also be found here.

And some of the more *sparkling* facts:

• 85 percent of the Fortune 500 executives are members of Greek organizations.
• 25 United States Presidents have belonged to Greek-letter organizations.
• Fraternities and sororities have maintained a higher grade point average than the undergraduate average at most universities.
• Greek organization members have a higher graduation rate than non-members.
• A study by the Center for the Study of College Fraternities found that fraternity and sorority members we significantly more satisfied with their college experience than non-members.
• 63 percent of the U.S. President’s cabinet since 1900 have been fraternity men.
• 77 percent of Who’s Who in America are Greek.