Joining a Black Greek letter sorority is not just something to do to pass the time in college. It's a lifelong commitment. As such, the decision about whether or not to join one might seem especially weighty. After all, you don’t want to bind yourself to something that you may not want to continue for life.
Being a member of a D9 organization has changed my life for the better and I will share some of the benefits. While everyone is different, hopefully this can provide a perspective about the benefits of sororities that can allow you to make an informed decision on applying for membership.
You join an instant sisterhood which lasts a lifetime. The love between sorors is strong and real. You have an instant bond with a sister you see wearing a Delta Sigma Theta satin jacket, even if you've never met her before.
A sorority is a place where you can serve. Interests come to sororities with service already in their hearts. We don't teach service; we elevate service. We take service beyond what just one woman is capable of doing. Service is at the center of every organization in the Divine Nine. Our communities help us grow, so members feel responsible to give back.
Sororities allow each woman's service to be magnified. Combining the work of many resourceful, intelligent, and hardworking women creates a much bigger impact.
Sororities help you develop talents and skills. Joining a sorority helps strengthen your talents while teaching you how to delegate, budget, communicate, manage time, handle conflict, lead, and follow.
Learning these skills early in your sorority experience prepares you as you embark on serving your community, growing in your careers, and enriching your everyday life.
A sorority is a place where you can lead. For over a century, Black women have been holding leadership positions in sororities. For a long time, sororities were among the few places offering these positions to Black women. Divine Nine sororities continue to develop the strong leaders our communities need.
Sororities give emerging leaders real life opportunities to put their leadership skills to work. They learn to plan, delegate, negotiate, and stretch their social skills. They can often attend leadership training conferences where they learn from other great leaders, network, and get actionable ideas for elevating their own skills.
You are joining a growing network. Networking is critical to jumpstarting your career or your business, if you are an entrepreneur. A sorority is a built-in network that allows you to rub shoulders with women in and out of your field or business who can help you as you navigate the professional and business-ownership worlds.
Deciding whether or not to join a sorority is a personal decision. It is not right for everyone, but the benefits of becoming a member of this sisterhood are second to none. I have never regretted my decision to pledge to Delta Sigma Theta. For me, choosing to join a sorority has been like choosing to join a family where everyone wants to uplift each other—and the world around them.
