A group of sorority girls pose for graduation pictures during the solar eclipse. Jake Piper
Nikki Triana
Starting college at a campus as large as the University of Wisconsin–Madison can feel overwhelming. For sophomore Diana Creedon, joining a sorority and an academic club helped her find her place.
Creedon, who studies Communication Sciences and Disorders, decided to get involved with the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, freshman year. Though both helped her feel more connected, the experiences they offered were distinctly different
“I joined [the club] because I thought it would be a good way to meet people in my major,” she said.
NSSLHA, which hosts guest speakers and events, gave her the opportunity to connect with professors while building her professional skills. She first learned about it through in-class announcements and appreciated how easy it was to get involved.
Compared to the club’s four meetings per semester and two required events, Diana described her sorority as far more structured and time-intensive. But for her, that was part of the appeal.
“The sorority definitely has more requirements,” she said. “But I feel like that’s also what makes it feel more like a family. You’re spending more time together.”
That structure gave her a sense of belonging. Having attended an all-girls summer camp, she missed the friendships that came from that atmosphere. Alpha Xi Delta filled that gap and also offered a sense of purpose. “I also like the philanthropy aspect,” she said. “It’s such an easy way to get involved.”
While the academic club supported her professionally, the sorority became a personal outlet. From sisterhood events to living in the house, it gave her some of her favorite college memories. “Any sorority event where we’re all together…are all favorite memories,” she said. “They make me happy and really grateful to have found a group of girls.”
Diana’s advice for new students? Try something.
“It’s such a low commitment to just try something out,” Diana said. “If you don’t like it, you don’t like it… there’s never any harm in trying out a club or trying out sorority life.”
She also reflected on how tech could make getting involved even easier. An app like ClubCrush, which connects students with campus organizations, would have made a difference in her early college experience.
“I didn’t wanna go to the club fair,” she said. “It kind of removes an excuse that a lot of kids have for not joining stuff. Doing it on your phone and maybe even talking to people online first…you’re not as afraid to go by yourself.”
Looking back, joining both a club and a sorority gave Diana invaluable experiences in both professional and personal development.
“Being involved, especially outside the classroom, has been an important outlet for friendship and connections and has made me appreciate the university and my college experience,” she said. “Definitely more than I think I ever would have if I hadn’t gotten involved.”