Sorority Life is Lifelong Bonds

Name: Sophie Lee
Class of: 1990
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
Major: Psychology
Sorority: Pi Beta Phi
Occupation: Business Owner, Government Contracting Firm

Why did you join a sorority?

I think my experience with Greek life was not typical.  I didn't pledge until I was a junior.  When I got to WM I really had no idea what sororities were.  My parents immigrated to the States after college and I went to a girls school where sororities were not really a part of the culture or so it seemed to me.  Seeing my hallmates go through rush Freshman year was eye opening.  I just really wasn't to into the idea.  By Junior year my friends who had already rushed and joined sororities asked me to consider joining a sorority for the social aspect.  I went into rush with a pretty open mind and looked at it as an opportunity to meet new people.  I wasn't disappointed.

How have your connections with friends from the Greek community changed since you graduated from William and Mary?

I still keep in touch with many friends from Pi Phi but also from other organizations.  None of us are really active in greek alumni groups but maintain fond memories of school.  Our affiliation in our respective greek organizations serves more as a connection that keeps us connected.  It is good to come back to college and see friends but also to make new friends with other alumni who have had the William and Mary greek experience.  I recently joined the William and Mary Foundation Board and have met several Pi Phis.  It has been great having that common ground.  It really is a connection that goes beyond your William and Mary undergraduate experience.

How did being a member of a Greek organization during college provide you with an opportunity to establish friendships that have lasted past graduation?

I have friends from different sororities.  My freshman and sophomore year roommates were Thetas.  Two of my best friends are Chi Omegas and I have several close friends from Pi Phi.  I am in constant touch with my best friends despite their living in California and Colorado (I live in Maryland).  Just this past Fall, one of my Pi Phi sisters came for a visit from Australia.  I hadn't seen her since her wedding in London in 1995.  Our other friend who lives in Indiana came to MD and we had a reunion weekend of our own.  It was great!  We caught up on each other's lives and picked up where we left off.  Despite the gap in time we had no hesitation in friendship.  I think part of that is the connection we have through our greek experience.  We lived together in the house, we socialized with each other in school and those memories don't really go away.

What role did sorority membership play in your undergraduate experience?

As I said before, I didn't rush until I was a Junior so my experience is shorter than most peoples.  However, it doesn't diminish the great time I had in Pi Phi.  I met a wide pool of people that came from different places and with different life experience.  The experience of living in the house Senior year, the social aspect and the day to day interaction on campus really made my memories of William and Mary happy ones.