One of the first jokes my uncles made when they knew I rushed was the (very old) "oh, you're paying for your friends" joke. Very clever, it's not like anyone who's ever pledged a sorority or fraternity hasn't heard that one before. Now, this is not to drag my uncles. It's pretty much within the job description of an uncle to give you a hard time for pretty much any and every life choice you make, while still making it known they love you a lot. So, to my uncles (and everyone else who's reading this article) here are 8 reasons why the "paying for your friends" joke really is just that; a joke :)

1. Greek life is a really cool way to get involved in outlets you hadn't considered

So much community service. And it's awesome!! There is literally NO DOWNSIDE to giving back to your community. Strong people stand on the shoulders of the strong people around them, so using your abilities to help out those around you is so important to building a strong community. Sometimes all of the different opportunities in college can be a bit overwhelming and difficult to figure out, so having some direction about where to apply yourself and friends to serve alongside you is always welcomed.

2. Networking!!!

Greek life is great for networking because a wide variety of positions are most likely held by the people in your organization. This can really come in handy when looking for jobs or internships in your field. Knowing the right people is just as important as a good resume.

3. You become friends with people you may have never met otherwise

At least at my school, making friends can be a little more of a challenge than at other institutions due to the fact that we aren't really a campus; rather our campus is pretty much just downtown Manhattan. Once I joined a sorority I met girls who I hadn't even seen on campus before and got the opportunity to make a lot of friends that I would never have met had I not rushed.

4. People in your organization are good academic resources

Many times, people in your house will have taken the same classes with the same professors in the past that you're taking now. I've found it really helpful to have people who can help me know what to expect from the class and the professor and how best to prepare for the course in order to succeed.

5. You are provided with positions of leadership.

With the ability to run for a council position for your chapter, you have the opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience for an organization you really care about. Leadership positions are great to exhibit on resumes for jobs and internships and also future leadership positions for other clubs or organizations. Even outside the realm of resumes, leadership positions are great for developing life skills that you will use both in and out of the workplace.

Greek life definitely isn't for everyone and the pace and style of it greatly depends on your specific school. I honestly didn't even think I would rush when I came to college but I'm so glad that I did. Now, here's to forwarding this to my uncles in case they decide to get witty on me again ;)