I love my sorority. My big and my family are some of my best friends and my biggest support group on campus. I love our philanthropy and being involved in helping others and raising awareness; I love all the philanthropy events I have been able to be involved with. I love that I was given the opportunity to be active in such a huge, nationwide organization. I love that with just three letters, I have a nationwide network of people that I share so many similarities with. Being Greek has given me stuff to do other than study and lay in my bed and watch Netflix at college.

But Greek life isn’t all glitter and parties and sisterhood/brotherhood. I’ve spoken to so many people, people who I consider some of my best friends, who, regardless of their Greek affiliation, are just unhappy with the outcome of accepting their bids.

Right off the bat, starting during recruitment, Greek organizations are exclusive and very selective. During recruitment, I remember my ego being hurt many times as I looked at my schedule every day and saw which houses had cut me. It was very hurtful, but my Rho Gamma told me to “trust the process” and that I would end up where I belong.

As far as “the process” went, I was fortunate enough to receive a bid from the house that I desired to be in. For others, they were not that fortunate. Once I got my bid, I was overjoyed; I was excited to meet my new sisters, the friends who I would one day ask to be my bridesmaids, because that’s what everyone has ever told me about being in a sorority. But that’s not what I found. I found that even once I accepted my bid and was initiated, Greek life is still very exclusive and selective; I was hurt that I didn’t have a group of friends who were also my sisters, I was hurt when I wasn’t elected for a position on the exec slate.

Again, I love my sorority endlessly. But not for the reasons I thought I would. Yes, I love my big and I love our philanthropy and all the opportunities that I’ve been given to be involved. Truthfully, that’s not what I thought I would love about being a sorority girl.

I’m not bashing Greek life or my sisters or my sorority; that’s not my intention. My intention is to thank my sorority and Greek life. For being the opposite of what I expected. For showing me that life doesn’t go the way I plan it. For helping me meet my forever friends, how get me and who are more similar to me than I could imagine, even though the only tie we share is being Greek.

Thank you Greek life, for showing me the opposite of my expectations, helping me grow and improve myself in more ways than I can count.