Sorority women
don't all have perfectly manicured nails. Ashleigh Rahming, a sorority
woman at the University of Evansville in Indiana, can attest to that.
Her nails usually have dirt under them from her busy softball schedule.
Women do indeed balance both intercollegiate athletics and sorority
life.
Is
the time commitment demanding? Yes, but it is well worth it, says
Rahming. "The hardest part is not being able to see my sisters very
often during softball season. I love hanging out with my team because we
are a family, but I miss my sisters at the same time."
Sororities
understand that athletics is a major commitment. The biggest
responsibility that athletes who are also sorority women need to learn
is time management. An easy way to keep a busy schedule on track is by
using a planner. Use color coding for your activities so the week's
schedule does not look so overwhelming.
One
benefit that athletes receive from joining a sorority is having a
diverse group of friends whom they probably would not have met
otherwise. "I have met so many great women that I would probably never
have gotten to know if I stayed stuck in my own little world," Rahming
explains. "Softball has been one of the biggest parts of my life since I
was 11 years old. Now at 21 and about to graduate from college, I have
another world I can run to if I need to get away."
Sororities
are organizations that build lifelong friendships, and so do teams.
Sororities provide opportunities for athletes to get involved on campus
in new ways and for women to experience areas of personal development
that will assist them in life after college. So if you're an athlete and
are skeptical about sorority life, consider giving it a try. You might
find yourself a second team - and a cheering squad.