Coming into college I had no idea about what Greek Life consisted of. I honestly just rushed because all my friends did. It seemed like it could be fun. Ironically, they all did not complete the recruitment process and I did. I had no idea what I was about to get myself into.

I found my home. I found my best friends. I found my sisters. My life was going to be forever changed in ways I could have never imagined. I am forever grateful for the Greek Life community here at my school.

1. We do more philanthropy than the rest of the college students combined.

There is a reason that there is a day focused on philanthropy during recruitment. Serving others is a focal point of our organizations. We not only physically go out and serve but Greek organizations across the country raise thousands and thousands of dollars for many different impactful organizations. Every Greek organization has their own national philanthropy but there are also many opportunities to support local organizations and groups as well. There are some organizations in town that would seize to exist without the support of the Greek community every year.

2. You learn to be a great leader.

Within Greek Life, you are given many opportunities to have leadership roles, whether it is for all of Greek Life or within your respected chapter. I can assure you that some of the biggest leaders and most involved people on this campus are members of the Greek community. Greek organizations practically breed leaders. You are given the opportunity to try out roles you may have never dared to try before because you have the support of a whole organization backing you up and assisting you. You get the opportunity to become a part of something that is bigger than yourself.

3. You find what becomes known to you as your second home.

I cannot imagine having to come in my freshman year and not be surrounded by amazing role models and friends. Being a Greek forced me to put myself out there and meet new people. Yeah, maybe I was a little awkward at first but soon I found out, that everyone else was too. They were just as strange as I was. Our chapter is a combination of many different types of people. We truly can say that we offer a little bit of every personality type. We are each like a weird puzzle piece of our own that ultimately fit together perfectly to make something beautiful.

4. Our Greek community is strong.

We stand up for our own. At the end of the day, certain chapters may not always see eye to eye but when it comes down to it, we will support one another just for being part of this community we hold so close to our hearts. When disaster strikes or tragedy hits this Greek community, we rise up almost instantly to support and be there for one another. It is something you almost have to see to believe. Well over 500+ people coming together for common core values. We are all our own, different organizations but we are much more alike than different.

5. There is not an expiration date, it is a life time guarantee.

Greek life is not just for college years. Being a Greek is for life. Even in years to come, you will have a rock that you can still count on and a mountain of support to always fall back on. There alumni all over. There will be alumni everywhere you go. It may be an alumni group that you join or someone that you meet that helps you get a job, just because they know the great qualities you possess from being in Greek Life. It reflects very well on you and Greek Life provides you with more connections and networking opportunities then you could ever imagine. All the things you experience being a Greek will help and prepare you for a successful and fulfilling life.

My life has been forever changed by the encounters I have made with the Greek women and men of this community. I am so blessed to be a part of something so big and so special. As a senior getting ready to go alum, I can assure you the Greek community and support is something I am just not ready to leave. My heart is breaking that it is coming to an end. Embrace all the wonderful moments our Greek community has to offer. Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.