Why I Went Greek: Shyla Bassey From Delta Sigma Theta

School: Arizona State University
Sorority: Delta
Year You Pledged: Junior
Year Initiated: Spring 2009

What did you hear about sororities before you went through recruitment?

I believe every person has a desire to fulfill a greater purpose in their lives. When I was in high school, I was exposed to many of the NPHC organizations. At that time I did not know much, however I was certainly intrigued to learn more.

What encouraged you to go through recruitment? 

My freshman year on campus was a whirlwind, as for many! I immediately involved myself in numerous organizations on campus to be better acquainted with my new environment. What stood out was the involvement of the women of Delta Sigma Theta. They were small in number but mighty in representation. These women exemplified the way I wanted to be and held themselves to a high academic regard. So, as some wise women shared with me, "Do your research!" meaning, read about all organizations to ensure I know why I am pursuing and what stands out amongst the rest. My research made it even more clear and solidified my decision to pursue such a distinguished Sorority.

Joining Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. was the best decision I've made in my life. Being apart of a bond with such an illustrious history of trailblazing women who have paved the way, so that I can press forward and succeed is priceless.

How did your sorority develop you as a person?

I went Greek because I knew it was in my heart to be apart of a sisterhood of women who carried similar ideals. I wanted to serve a greater purpose in my community, on my Campus and through my daily life. Joining Delta Sigma Theta taught me perseverance, humility, dedication, how to efficiently multitask, run a meeting, organize events, effectively delegate, public speaking, and never to quit even when things go wrong! The lessons learned truly could go on.

If you could go back in time, what would you want to relive in your sorority?

Membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. does not end after college with alumnae chapters all over the world. If I could go back in time and relive my collegiate days, it would simply be spending time with my Chapter Sorors running the yard and hosting events on campus that served the greater need.

Thanks for sharing your sorority experience, Shyla!  If you have questions for Shyla leave them in the comment's section below!

The New Way To Take Notes!

Taking notes is something that you'll do at all ages whether you're in high school, college, or in the real world after college!  Some people prefer taking notes by hand in a notebook, but some prefer having everything on their computer so it's easy to keep everything in one place.  If you're like us and want to keep everything digital AND organized, we have the best kept secret for you that we're sharing today!

Even if you keep everything on your computer, files easily can get lost if you have a lot of different files and notes saved all over the place.  Google docs are also great, but collaborating on notes or sharing them has to be easier, right? Well it is if you take your notes using Evernote!  We've been using Evernote for our note taking/organization tool for quite some time now and as school starts up again, we thought our users can use this little magical tool!  Try it out!

A Sorority Girl's Puppy Sitting Solution

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Red rover, red rover send a puppy sitter right over! Do you have a sorority house dog or simply share a little doggie with your sisters? If so, we all know how hard it can be sometimes to find a pet sitter. This is why we are major fans of Rover.com. Much like a human babysitter site, Rover.com allows you to find pet sitters. You can view their profile and rankings to ensure that they're the right fit. It's literally the answer to your pet sitter prayers.

Sorority Budget Calculator

Are you thinking about joining a sorority but you can't decide whether or not you can afford it? We totally get it and want to help you out! We created a Budget Calculator for you that can allow you to see how much you're spending month in and month out. You can factor in how much your sorority dues will be and how that adds up against your other expenses. You can use this calculator to help you stay on track with your expenses. One thing that we do know is that sororities are always willing to work with you so sit with your advisors to come up with a payment plan that works for you. Paying for your sorority dues is super important because it funds all of the activities that help sustain your sorority which include sisterhood events, philanthropies, date parties, and much more! Our Sorority Girl's Budget Calculator is free to use so be sure to download it once you open it up and share it with your sisters, friends, and any one interested in joining a sorority.

Roommate Etiquette

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Earlier this year we talked about how to survive living with a roommate. But, there's more to elaborate when it comes to living with your sorority sister or college dorm mate. Here are a few pieces of advice to jot down when it comes to living with other women, especially your sisters:

1. Respect each other's schedule (class or work)
2. Don't talk on the phone in the room when your roommate is sleeping
3. Clean up after yourself, especially in the common areas
4. Respect your roommate's space and things
5. If you're going to borrow something, make sure to ask their permission!
6. Deal with problems quickly instead of letting it build up
7. Be respectful when inviting guests over
8. Respect each other's quiet time

All-in-all, it's really important to establish some basic rules before starting your roommate journey.  It will only help you moving ahead and know the dos & dont's!

A Sorority Girl's Back-To-School Shopping List

For many of you, it's time for some back-to-school shopping. If you're anything like us, we enjoy having a starting point to reference what exactly to buy so that's why having a list is essential. Above, you will find a real life checklist that you can print out and take to the store. Online shopping is huge and super convenient so we have provided you clickable links of every day things we needed as sorority women below.

Here are some great products to help you in your back-to-school shopping! Many of them you can order and pay online but pick up in their store:

Cute notebooks (Lilly Pullitzer and Erin Condren are our faves!)
Tease comb
Hamper
Cute and comfy bras
Scent plug ins for dorm
Picture frames
Mason jars (for pencils and pens)
Portable, plastic drawers for little accessories
Jewelry box
Bike
Shelving (wire shelving can create a lot of space in your dorm!)
Comforter (this shabby chic one is too cute!)
Pillows (add some accent decorative pillows too)
Luggage
Perfume
Paint
TV
Window curtains
Cute pictures 
Custom apparel
Wall decals
Pens & pencils
Hairspray
Makeup
Shower head caddy
Yoga mat
Cute undies (Hanky Panky's are the best!)
Every day essentials (i.e: toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, etc.)

Why I Went Greek: Alyssa Conti from Alpha Chi Omega

School: Arizona State University

Sorority: Alpha Chi Omega

Year You Pledged: Freshman

Year Initiated: 2006

What did you hear about sororities before you went through recruitment?

I heard sororities at ASU were all about partying, however, it should be noted that that's the general stereotype about ASU as a whole. People told me I would be "buying my friends."

How much of it was true?

Well, we definitely had our fair share of fun! It was definitely not all about the party though, we participated in a lot of charitable work as well. As far as "buying my friends" .... That's just a silly thing people like to say. I met two of my best friends through AXO.

What encouraged you to go through recruitment?

I can't say that anything in particular encouraged me. I had my mind set from the beginning.

Who was the first person you fell in love with in your house?

A girl named Drew. She was super sweet and funny. I felt instantly comfortable.

Favorite sorority moment?

I can't say there is one particular moment that I would call my favorite. But, I did love the date parties!

If you could go back in time, what would you want to relive in your sorority?

The first moment I met my best friends. It's crazy to think it's been almost 10 years since that time.

Any advice for anyone going through recruitment?

Be yourself and trust your instinct.

Thanks for sharing your sorority experience, Alyssa!  If you have questions for Alyssa leave them in the comment's section below!