Before starting college, I had this preconceived belief about fraternities and sororities. I never really understood the whole concept of Greek life and I never took the time to learn more about it either. Based on how the media portrayed it, I felt that it was not for me. When I arrived on my campus, I began to learn more about fraternities and sororities and I started to develop relationships with people in these organizations. I soon realized that fraternity and sorority life is much more than what the media makes it out to be. The following semester, I decided to go through the recruitment process and I received a bid. Accepting the invitation to join my fraternity has been one of the best decisions of my college career thus far.
People are too quick to pass judgment on fraternities and sororities. Nothing is more insulting to Greek organizations than when someone accuses them of being a group of partiers who pay for their friends, do not care about school and do nothing for their community. In response to the "group of partiers" comment, I would just like to remind people that this is college we are talking about. Everyone parties, not just fraternities and sororities. The money that we pay to be a part of our organization goes towards philanthropic causes, opportunities for leadership development and scholarships. Also, every fraternity and sorority is required by both their school and their national headquarters to maintain a certain GPA and complete numerous hours of community service each year.
If everyone did their research, they would realize that these organizations are doing amazing things for others and are striving to make a difference in their community. Joining a fraternity has changed my life for the better and has truly made me a better person. It has taught me responsibility and made me a more confident, well-rounded individual. Going Greek broke me out of my shell and allowed me to become a part of something that was bigger than myself. I have become a leader in both my chapter and my community. I have developed friendships in my organization, as well as others.
The disappointing thing about fraternities and sororities is that no matter how much good they do, there will always be somebody who disagrees. People will always be more interested in the stories about hazing scandals or parties gone wrong because as humans we are more naturally drawn to controversy rather than accomplishments. The stories that we see in the media do not speak for the actions of every Greek organization. There may be a few bad organizations out there, but there are even more great organizations who define what it truly means to be Greek.
Joining a fraternity has provided me with multiple opportunities to succeed as an individual that I may not have received otherwise. I could not be more proud to be a part of such a diverse group of leaders. I understand that fraternity and sorority life is not for everyone and that is okay. Everyone has different ways that they wish to spend their time, but for the people who constantly badmouth fraternities and sororities, I encourage you to stop bashing things that you do not understand.
