Going Greek. What does that mean to me? A Swede raised in Europe with the closest relation to anything “Greek” is the actual nation of Greece, which has nothing to do with Greek Life here in the United States. The other closest relation to Greek life was my brother who was in a Greek Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. Going through rush, I had no predisposition to which sorority I wanted to, or “had to,” join. I was surrounded by girls who wanted to be in the same sorority as their mom or sister or to be in the “top tier.” I felt like the most lost girl there. I had no idea what to expect or what was going on, from the ranking process to just going through rush. The only thing I remember was everyone telling me to “trust the process,” and it's hard to trust something when you have no idea what is going on. All I knew is that some sororities did not want me to join them after having talked to me for two minutes, so why would I want to be in theirs?
After going through this process, I ended up joining my first choice, Pi Beta Phi. It was the one where I truly felt like I fit in the best and where I would be the happiest. Being an outsider joining Greek life, I did not come in with the approach of which one is the best or which one is the worst. To me, this a new language and I had no idea what anything meant socially or academically. Wanting the “American College Experience”, how could I not at least try it out. What is the worst that could happen?
Looking back at almost three years that I have spent at Miami University, being a member of Pi Beta Phi has been a large part of it and has enhanced my experience to the fullest. It has taken up a lot of my time, but not in a bad way. Occasionally, I catch myself getting frustrated and annoyed with the time commitment, but in the end, being a part of Pi Phi is something that I am going to remember for the rest of my life. But not in the same way as most people since I'm a Swede experiencing this for the very first time and being the first one in my family to experience it.
It seems like Greek life is an important social factor at many Universities, and I know that it's the case at Miami. Which one you are in matters, whether it is good or bad. The problem with this is that I think it creates unnecessary social groups. If I were not a part of Pi Beta Phi, I would still be the same person that I am today. But, I do love my sorority. Being foreign, I have chosen not to take a major role in my sorority, even though I sometimes wish I would have joined exec or something like that. The conclusion I've reached is that I am not right for the job. As passionate as I am, I will always have a different perspective on Greek life. I would not join to raise my “social status” at my school, but I would use it to do good and do something better.
Pi Beta Phi has helped me do things that I did not think I ever would. It has helped me get to know amazing girls and also feel as if I am a part of a bigger community. Even though there may be some flaws and things at Miami that I do not agree with (in regards to the Greek community), I would not change anything about going through recruitment or being in the sorority. Being foreign, I am used to being an outsider, different from everyone else – culturally and socially. But this is the one thing that has made me feel more “American” and like I belong somewhere. It has definitely had a different impact on me than others, but in a positive and good way.
