What comes to your mind when you hear the word frat? I automatically think preppy, cocky, and they think they are all that. I could be wrong, but for the most part, I don't think I am. A lot of universities are known for their fraternities and a lot of students choose to go to college just to be in one. Most fraternities are known for their elaborate partying, despite universities banning underage drinking and to me that is all hypocritical.

I have friends in both fraternities and sororities, but I believe that fraternities and sororities may not be the best thing for these students. I personally feel that Greek life doesn't really help a student grow aside from making new friendships. I find it pointless having meetings every week, when they could be studying for school and going to school events, but instead going to parties constantly.

I can only speak from what I have seen because I am not in a sorority and I do not plan on joining one. When people ask me why I'm not interested, I say: “I do not care for them and I'm involved in school in a different way. I do not have anything against sororities, but it's just not my scene."

My mom and I have had this conversation as well and she doesn't get the point of them either. I think maybe if people had a better understanding of fraternities and sororities, they may look at them differently. It didn't realize that all guys in frats were not jerks until I became friends with some of them. I have a few very close friends who are in fraternities and sororities and to be honest, learning they're involved in that scene surprised me. If they would have never have told me that they were in a fraternity or sorority, I would have never guessed.

I think we as humans are so quick to judge a book by its cover that we do not focus on what the true meaning of it really is. For me, I have always kind of judged everyone in a fraternity or sorority, because of the movies I have seen. I feel that not all the guys are jerks and not all the girls are stuck up. Every fraternity or sorority will have some guys that are jerks and some girls that are stuck up, because that is just how life works. If a student wants to join a fraternity or sorority, I think they should if they think it is the best choice for them.

From my experience, all my friends here at Dalton have loved it, maybe it is because we are such a small community and we connect on a different level than other universities, but we are like family, and I think that is something that is truly important. So at the end of the day, I may not agree with the ways of a fraternity or sorority, but there are some really amazing members. So for all those incoming students, do you. Make choices that will benefit yourself and get involved in whatever campuses activities you please.