Throughout high school, I never thought I would go Greek when I got to college. Like many, I held the belief that the vast majority of those involved in Greek Life were superficial and that all they cared about was their social lives. It is easy to assume these things, considering how the media and entertainment industry constantly portray Greek Life. Passive audiences embrace the stereotypes presented and contribute to the stigma surrounding Greek Life. It wasn’t until I went through the sorority recruitment process last Fall that I began to understand the meaning and value of being part of these incredible organizations.
Like I said before, I wasn’t planning on joining a sorority. My roommate convinced me to give it a chance and I ended up signing up to go through the recruitment process one hour before the deadline. Frankly, I didn’t get the point of Greek Life. I had been raised on the idea that girls in sororities “paid for their friends” and that they joined said organizations solely to party. Little did I know, this was far from the truth! These organizations are built on the the values of philanthropy, scholarship, sisterhood, and so much more.
For many, a sorority is a way to be involved within the school and also in the community. On a weekly basis, my sisters and I participate in a range of activities, on and off campus. From volunteering at elementary schools to hosting and attending philanthropic events, we thrive off of serving others, and we love seeing the positive impact our chapter can have on our community. My sisters constantly encourage me to be actively involved, and these service opportunities made available to me through my sorority have been the most rewarding, enriching experiences I could’ve ever asked for.
On top of charity, my sorority drives me to challenge myself academically. Each chapter sets a GPA requirement to motivate members to put their studies first, and they offer guidance and support for those who may fall below the requirement. In addition, they hold study hours after each weekly meeting (and many other times throughout the week), offer incentives for those who maintain exceptional GPAs, and reward members each week for even the smallest academic success. The house is open 24/7 for members to study in a quiet environment, and there is always someone there to help or study with. Being surrounded by 150 intelligent, hard-working women is the greatest motivation for me to keep up on my studies and make school a priority.
The most important part of my membership, for me, is the sisterhood. Though the girls in my house have many similar qualities, we are diverse as a whole and bring out the best in each other. Throughout the recruitment process, I was drawn to my sorority for each girl’s warm, down-to-earth traits. Upon joining and getting to actually know each and every person, my initial thoughts toward these girls still hold true. I could not have surrounded myself with more loving, driven, genuine, mature, wholesome, and independent women. The love and compassion I have felt since joining is overwhelming. These women keep me grounded and I cannot imagine going through my freshman year without their support.
Going Greek is one of the most rewarding decisions of my college experience thus far. I can’t speak for every person involved in Greek Life, nor can I speak for each different chapter, but I can say that the depiction of Greek Life in the public eye is no where near what it is really like. I encourage all to keep an open mind. Do not stereotype all members of sororities and fraternities! Lastly, to all my sisters out there who may be reading this, thank you for all you’ve done for me. I love you endlessly.
