Fraternity/Sorority Hazing

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Nowadays, hazing in fraternities and sororities are attributed to violence, pain and twisted sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. Not so during my college days. In the late 90’s to early 2000’s during my college days, I joined a sorority. And yes, I was hazed. But instead of being paddled or being exposed to the darker side of false sisterhood, hazing back then is a matter of wit, abilities and confidence. For example, my friend and I during our hazing days where tasked to successfully complete the hazing by doing our assigned challenges. For her, it’s coming to school in a wedding gown for a month. But you know what she did? She wore this traditional wedding gown for hippies of the 60’s and 70’s. Her reasoning: the task was silent as to what kind of gown, just that it’s a wedding gown. While she still seemed overdressed for school, she was able to commute and still rock the dresses she wore. For myself, I was tasked to pretend to be a beggar, complete with dirt, ragged and torn clothes and messy hair. I will be begging alms outside a church in Manila for an hour everyday after school for a month. And if someone recognized me, then I have to do it all over again and my progress will be null and void. I am already on my 26th day when my mom’s friend recognized me. I was so devastated. But since I am so close to completing the challenge, they made me choose to fulfill one challenge and they will give me my spot in the sorority. If I fail or should I choose not to take on the new challenge, I will be back to begging on day 1. I accepted the challenge. They made me go the university’s old library building, and told me to stand in the second floor landing. Beneath me is a tall, marble staircase. The president told me to jump. I was shocked and scared! I don’t want to get hurt. But she said, jump. So what did I do? I jumped…in place! She did not say jump down the stairs, she merely said jump, so I did. They clapped and said, well done.