Unfortunately, there are a lot of undesirable stereotypes about Greek life across the nation. Things I've heard are, "Frat boys? Yeah, they drink and party ALL THE TIME!" or "Oh, sorority girls are so self centered! All they do is talk sh*t and cause drama." Well, coming from someone who is a fraternity man in college, this may be true about certain people, but as a Greek community it's completely false. I came to college with the idea that Greek life was ostentatious and shallow. But, much to my surprise, I quickly realized that it was far from that. My freshman-year roommate convinced me to go ahead with recruitment, and I was shocked to have a lot in common with many of my fraternity members that I met. I discovered that most of the men had similar interests, and I really saw myself becoming friends with them as my time with them progressed. When it came time to make a decision, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. I knew it was such a great and easy way to meet new people, make friends, and be involved on campus events. So, I became a member of Beta Theta Pi in 2014 at Southern Illinois University and never looked back nor regretted my choice.

Lets dive deep: it's true that Greeks are known for having functions with sororities or fraternities where drinking might occur, but for sororities there are many rules and regulations to make sure safety is a top priority. At houses off campus with no relation to Greek life, drinking and partying happens just as much, if not more. If you, or your parents, are worried about stereotypical Greeks and alcohol use, take it from me a Greek who likes to think he has a good, smart head on his shoulders: You can either separate yourself when you need to and be part of it when you want. No one can pressure you to do anything you don't want to, trust me you will be okay. As to the whole clique stigma, there can be some truth to it, but not entirely. Face it, not everyone will have the same personality as you. Part of it may be human nature. We tend to gravitate to those that are similar. What you can do is BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS. That's what I did. Granted, it will only involve a handful out of the numerous members in your chapter. It's really not that bad. I wasn't best friends with every single one of my fraternity brothers, but that doesn't mean didn't get along with them. Everyone joined your fraternity for some reason, so find out what their reasons were and see what you all have in common.

Overall, your experience in Greek life depends on you and what you make of it. If blacking out every night and talking about your brothers and sisters behind their back, no one can stop you. But, if you want to have a rewarding experience that you will remember forever, then take my advice. Greek life can be a great chance that will mold who you are for the better. So make the best of it, college last for four years; make them the best.