Of course there are stereotypes about what “types” of girls decide to join Greek Life and let me tell you, I don’t fit any of them. Throughout my whole life, I’ve always been known as the girl with the big mouth. Not the untrustworthy kind, but I’m never one to bite my tongue when I feel my voice needs to be heard. Not only that, but I have also been someone who is strongly independent. I never need anyone’s permission to do things and I don’t agree with many rules that are set in place before me.

When thinking of your "average" sorority girl you probably think: Caucasian, blonde, skinny minnie, not very academically driven, little extracurricular involvement, and an all-around air head. Not to mention that many also believe that sorority girls are not cultured and come from privileged families. It has also been said that sorority girls do not have a great moral compass and they easily follow the crowd. They also listen to all the popular music, are peppy, wear basic clothes, and are supposed to be very "debutante-like" (Think of the movie Sydney White). And to be honest, there is probably some sorority girls who fit this, but I would say that majority do not, and an example is myself.

I am the opposite of all of those characteristics I listed above, except being Caucasian. I proudly rock half blue hair, I have some meat on my bones, and I'm heavily involved in my academics and extracurricular activities. Not to mention I've lived many places across the country and my favorite artist is Kendrick Lamar. I always speak my mind to the greatest extent and censoring myself is not something I'm interested in. Sometimes I swear like sailor and sometimes I'm very polite. It's about balance and knowing what behavior is appropriate for when. I also go to one of the most diverse schools in the country and with that I know how to conduct myself in many different situations.

So you might be asking, “Why did you join a sorority then?” And to answer your question very honestly, I wanted a big. I also wanted a little. I also just wanted to make connections since I was commuting when I started University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). It was hard to meet people while commuting and joining Greek Life certainly introduced me to a lot of interesting people. And throughout my 2 years at my chapter, my reasons for staying have evolved.

Going back to what I said about having a big mouth, it’s definitely gotten me into some peculiar situations. A lot of people take me as “rude” or “controlling” when that’s not the case at all. Being someone who has been this way my whole life, I think I understand it pretty well and I definitely understand it more than those who think I’m rude. Majority of the time, the individual who gets butt-hurt from my words, just simply has an issue with dealing with the truth. If “truth” were a language, I would be fluent.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people like to tiptoe around what is really going on but I say no to that. What’s the point? Why play around? If everyone could just cut the crap and say how they feel and stand up for what they think is wrong, we would all be in a better place (maybe people would stop calling me rude!).

For those of you who are in a sorority, you can probably imagine why my big mouth is sometimes an issue. It’s no secret that sororities have their fair share of drama and many members do not address it. When there are new proposals or amendments, many people are afraid to raise their hand and either ask questions or raise a dispute. This is where I step in. I will always call it like it is and everyone will know what I’m thinking.

Let’s not forget about the statement, “Yeah, when I saw you joined a sorority, I couldn’t believe it” that I have gotten very often from anyone I know outside of UIC. “What made you want to join?” “That’s so weird that you joined a sorority." But to be honest, I agree. Thinking about who I am as a person, I would never have expected myself to join either. If it were not for the very small Greek Life at UIC, I would not have joined.

There’s something different about UIC’s Greek life when comparing to other schools, and I’ll tell you what it is. At schools like University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, or Mizzou, your whole entire life is that school. You sleep, eat, and breathe that school. You live there, you stay fairly close to the campus when you do wander, and there’s a ton of school spirit that draws you in. At UIC, that just isn’t the case. UIC is mostly a commuter school, which makes it hard for anyone to really get involved. Not only that, we have the city at our disposal. Want a study break? Go to Michigan Ave and walk around. Go to the beach and chill if you would like. Many people who attend UIC only go to class and go home with minimal connections to other students. This creates a culture of always being on the go. Barely anyone’s whole life is centralized at UIC and that is what sets it apart from other schools. Without these aspects of UIC, I would not have joined Greek Life. But now that I did, I wouldn’t take any of it back. It really creates a community in an individualistic campus and I’m grateful for that. Because without this small community, I would be part of the organization I am.

To be real, it is difficult to be the one with the big mouth, sometimes. I always end up looking like the bad guy and it’s frustrating when I’m literally the only one to speak up most of the time. I basically praise anyone who speaks up before me or along with me.

So to those of you who see problems and feel they can’t speak up to fix them, stop it. Odds are, many others want to speak about the same issues but are too afraid or feel their voice won’t make a difference. Do not be afraid to say how you feel. You are human and you have a right to make your voice heard. If you feel something is unjust, do not stand on the sidelines and watch it go by. It doesn’t matter whose feelings you hurt along the way if it means standing up for yourself and those you care about.

And for those of you, who are just like me, keep being real. The world needs us to speak up and share the truth.