As a sorority member, we – Greek life as an entirety – get a bad wrap. From the excessive partying and entitlement stereotypes we receive, we are never recognized for all the good we do. I’m an active member of a sorority on my school’s campus. And believe it or not, booze and boys is not all that I’m after.

I am the first family member to go Greek, and as cliché as it sounds, it was the best choice I’ve ever made. Greek life has so much to offer externally, but there are so many things that happen within you that no one would know otherwise (well, maybe before this article).

FRIENDSHIP

“To be true to ourselves, to those within and without our circle.”

The number one thing sorority women are tired of hearing, including me, is that we pay for our friends. I pay for the super awesome t-shirts I can never seem to pry myself out of, but the friendship? No, that part is the bonus. It’s similar to a 'buy one, get one free,' except the free one is SO much better than the one you have to buy – well, maybe…. I really like my t-shirts.

I have made the greatest friends that anyone would be lucky to have by their side day-in and day-out. And when I say the greatest, I truly mean it. From the endless support they offer me when I need a little help getting back up on that saddle, to bringing me cookie dough when I have received a bad test grade. The line above is part of my sorority’s creed that holds true in every aspect of life; you can’t call everyone a friend, but you can, and should always be, faithful to who you are as a person. I’m so thankful that my sorority gives me a daily reminder of that, and has brought me to these women who I call my very best friends and sisters.

SERVICE

“To prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving, thereby earning the right to be served.”

If there’s one thing that Greek life doesn’t get any recognition for, it’s our philanthropies. Therefore, the money we raise and the hours of time we spend in order to help that specific organization gets overlooked. My sorority’s philanthropy is near and dear to my heart, thus it was a huge reason why I chose to be apart of this amazing organization. As part of my sorority’s creed above, I’m reminded that in order to be served, you must also serve, but serve first. Life is all about giving and taking and giving a little more – I think we all forget about this part from time to time. Serving and assisting others with grace and compassion is something I have gained from being in my sorority. It, like many others, will stay with me for the rest of my life.

CONFIDENCE

“To find satisfaction in being, rather than seeming.”

Although I’m always the loudest person in the room and I can’t seem to keep my mouth from moving (and I’m pretty sure I lost the key), I have acquired a large amount of confidence even after only being in my sorority for two short years (pssst, this is one of the internal things I mentioned earlier). Since the word “confidence” is such a broad term, a less vague way of putting it is that I have learned to accept myself, flaws and all. It has given me a greater self-assurance of who I am, along with giving me better communication skills: communication skills that I can take with me into future interviews and, most importantly, the drive-thru line at Starbucks.

This line of my sorority’s creed is a helpful reminder that it is better to be who you are and own that 100 percent than to be anything less. Whoops! Another cliché.

FUTURE

“To seek understanding that we might gain true wisdom.”

Another internal struggle I had was my work ethic. Yes, I’m the most (chaotically) organized person you’ll ever meet, but if I had to choose between studying for my Econ test versus binge watching Netflix all day, I think you know the answer. My sorority has given me the motivation and determination to be so much more than a Netflix addict and has turned me into a hard and passionate worker in all that I do – it only took 12 years of schooling. Above, the line “To seek understanding that we might gain true wisdom” doesn’t mean you need to hit the library to become Bradley Cooper in Limitless It means to search within yourself to find what you need to accomplish in order to succeed, because it’s fairly easy to hide from school or work or your parents – because of school or work – and take the easy way out. I’m grateful for my sorority in helping me find myself and find my drive to succeed.

LEADERSHIP

“To be humble in success, without bitterness in defeat.”

Ever since I had the opportunity, I have taken part in leadership roles in organizations at the schools I’ve attended. I’m a type A person who loves to get her hands dirty in anything I can (except dirt, because EWW). But no, really, I love being part of anything I’m allowed a voice in, and my sorority has given me that voice (I told you I was a loud-mouth, right?).

I have stepped up in giving back to my sorority by serving as Director of Sisterhood, where I plan events for the entire chapter to bond, and Risk Management and Education, where I ensure the safety of the sorority and its members. And whoever said being a mom to over 100 girls is easy was taking a Xanax by age 35.

There is a line I recite every Sunday and try to live by every day: when you win, you win with grace and when you lose, you lose with more grace. This could be tied back to several situations in life. Most importantly, when my sorority has failed, we have failed with the utmost dignity and strived to be something so much greater. And we are.

I love everything about my sorority. It has changed me and helped me grow in so many ways: ways that have saved me from hurt and feelings of failure. My sorority and the members that embody it have been there for me through the hardest times of my life, and I know they will be there for the greatest times. I can honestly say (here comes another cliché) that without my sorority, I wouldn’t be who I am today, and for that, I give my heart and soul to her.