“You are always wearing your letters," a phrase I heard more than several times when I was a new member, but I had never fully understood until I grew older. This is the most important lesson you will learn from your chapter, not your history, not your traditions, not the names of other members, but this one rule.

I joined Greek life knowing nothing about it, thinking that your letters were something that was simply put on a t-shirt to show off. I didn't understand the concept that you were always wearing your letters even when you were not. Not every member joins a chapter for the same reason, many join for the social scene, some for friendships and others for leadership and community service experience. But no matter what the reason you made to join your chapter, you are now a part of it for the rest of your life. And no matter where you go, what you do, or what you are wearing, you are always wearing your letters.

I'm not saying you are always wearing a t-shirt or sweatshirt with your letters displayed or that you are forced to get a tattoo of Greek letters. What I am saying is that you are always representing your chapter with any action you say or do. Anything and everything you do represents your chapter.

Think about it, anyone can find out what chapter you belong to. We physically display our letters everywhere; on t-shirts, backpacks, Facebook, Instagram, resumes and more. Everything you put out is a direct reflection of your chapter and the type of people that belong to it. Even if you make sure to not include your letters in any physical form, there are so many other ways to find out what chapter your belong to.

When you get an A on your test. When you help a random stranger in need. When you perform community service hours. When you go home to your parents. When you win Greek member of the year. When you become apart of a different organization on campus. When you interview for a job, you represent your chapter.

When you wear that inappropriate shirt. When you bad talk a different chapter. When you treat a girl wrong. When you Snapchat a picture of drugs. When you don't respect your body. When you are sent to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. When you post that picture of you drinking underage, you represent your chapter.

This is the problem with Greek life; there will always be members in chapters that do not respect this rule. That disobey this one most important rule and get their chapter kicked off for an act they stupidly committed. That then ruin years of history, traditions and members' experiences over acting out of selfishness.

Remember this rule and pretend that your letters are permanently tattooed to your forehead. Assume that every person that meets you forms an opinion on not only your chapter, but on all of Greek life based off of how you represent yourself. And if you can't respect and honor this rule I have a solution, leave. Why be part of an organization if you don't believe in its rules and values? Do yourself and the rest of the chapter a favor and get out now while you can, we will praise you for it.

Joining Greek life doesn't mean you have to change yourself or your values, it means you have to exemplify yourself and your chapter to its full potential. You are taking on a responsibility of not only representing yourself, but the current and former members of your chapter, as well as all of Greek life.

When you become a member of a Greek chapter it's not just four years, it's for life so please respect and remember that you are always wearing your letters.