Unfortunately, there is a harsh social stigma against Greek life and everything associated with it. Media makes it hard for Greeks to say we are affiliated when people are constantly putting us down for the few who do live out the stereotype. I understand that in order for there to be a stereotype, there has to be enough evidence to support it, but that mold does not fit many of the Greek affiliated men and women I know. And while we are at it, there is a clear double standard when it comes to these stereotypes due to our letters.

1. Partying

When a regular college student throws or goes to a party, they are just being young kids trying to enjoy their college years. But, if a Greek goes to or throws a party they are just typical Greeks only concerned with how much alcohol they can get in their systems. All college kids like to go out and have fun, why are Greek affiliated students judged more harshly if they are at a party? And, some of us actually don’t drink.

2. Grades

If a non-affiliated student has a bad semester that tanks their GPA, it’s okay because everyone has a bad semester and college is hard. They’re doing their best. If a Greek affiliated student has a crummy semester, they are inherently dumb, should have stayed in more nights to get better grades, and/or are probably just looking for their marriage diploma. College is hard for everyone, which includes Greeks. We work hard to make our grades and we sometimes mess up (shocker). I have many sisters who are constantly at the library or studying, putting in work to make their grades. We actually have a high standard for grades because we understand that school comes first. College is challenging and every student, Greek or not, will sometimes have a bad semester or fail a class. Being in a Greek lettered organization does not make our classes easier or harder than anyone else’s.

3. Money

Most people think that Greek students’ parents pay for everything. They think Mom and Dad foot the bill every month for their precious darling to be a part of this organization. In reality, most of us pay our own dues and work in order to pay for them, plus the t-shirts. We don’t all rely on our parents to pay for everything. We understand that we became a part of our organizations and that there were fees associated with it, so we take it upon ourselves to pay for everything on our own. We know the value of the dollar and we struggle like every other college student with money for food and books and tuition and everything else.

4. Attitude

People think that Greeks are entitled, stuck-up brats who think they are better than everyone else. Actually, we are not, at all. We are just the same as everyone else, we are just part of an organization that helps improve our leadership skills, raises money for philanthropic causes, and teaches how to better ourselves to better the world around us. We are not entitled because we work hard for everything that we get. Many of the Greek affiliated students on my campus are humble and giving people; they are constantly helping others around them. The only people we are actually better than is our former selves. Greek life does not make you better than anyone else, it makes you better than the person you were before you put the letters on.

Yes, we all have our flaws and we are going to mess up sometimes. At some point, we will probably be stereotypical Greeks, but the fact of the matter is that being in a Greek organization is about learning how to be a better person. Failing comes with growth. We are just like every other college kid, just trying to figure out where the heck we go next and what to do with the limited time we have here on the Earth.