Blog September 29

Recently I conducted a simple study to kick off my project. I asked ten completely random sorority girls on UK's campus what their specific sorority pushed them to do most. Every girl was in a different sorority on campus. Many answers involved being the best version of themselves and helping others, but eight out of the ten girls picked grades as their number one. Eight of the girls said that although sororities impact one’s life in multiple ways, the main thing they do is hold you accountable for is your grades/GPA. Every sorority has a grade point average requirement, most being at least a 3.0. This means if at any point you drop below that you are in serious trouble, but it does not stop there. They do not push you to settle at a 3.0. Every sorority pushes their fellow sisters to do the absolute best they can do, rather that's a 3.2 or 4.0. Although 3.0 is the lowest, many strive for more. Unlike non-sorority members that may have their parents and a few friends helping, you have 250 women helping you strive towards your goal. “I have an entire network of people helping me keep in mind what the real overall goal is. I am here to get the best grades possible and I am constantly reminded of that. When I am lacking motivation they are there to pick me up” Sophomore Pi Beta Phi said. Every sister wants to see their fellow members be successful. This is why many studies have shown that sorority women are more likely to graduate and have higher grade point averages compared to non-sorority members, specifically on the University of Kentucky’s campus. I will use this information to help back up my claim that sororities are more than the harsh judgments people cast down upon us.

Blog 2

To chose a community in Lexington is hard considering I am not from around here and I do not know a lot about the city/campus as a whole. I struggled trying to figure it out but I finally came to the conclusion that the best fit would be Delta Gamma, the sorority I am a part of. Although I am a new member and do not know everything about it, I do know how proud I am to be a part of it and how willing the girls will be to help me throughout the process of getting the information I need. Although the girls I call my sisters are amazing I would like to find out what challenges they face, financially are there any struggles, and what their biggest problem or concern is. Many people judge sororities and fraternities very harshly, but statistics show, as a whole, sorority women are in the upper percentile when it comes to grade point average. I would like to know how being involved has changed their views and helped them to become better versions of themselves. As a whole, there is a lot of biased views towards Greek Life and I want to get to the bottom of it.

My name is Shelby Glenna and I am from a small town called Kokomo in Indiana. It is about an hour away from Indianapolis and for the most part it is a town no one has ever heard of. Growing up in a small town had its perks, but having a close nit family that was right down the road whenever you needed them was the best. My mom is my role model and my 22-year-old brother is my best friend. I have always been very involved when it comes to cheerleading, which is one of the many communities I identify with. The University of Kentucky always stuck out to me. I wanted the “ultimate college experience” all while getting a good education and living in a safe environment. UK offers all three. Which leads me to another community I identify with, other than being a Wildcat, I am also a part of Delta Gamma. English is by far my favorite subject. Throughout high school I excelled in my AP Comp/Lit classes simply because writing came easy to me. I rarely ever have writers block; I can write for hours on almost any subject. This semester I hope my love for English grows and I hope I can push myself to be a more sophisticated writer all while maintain good grades.