Dear Non-Greek member,
I know what you are thinking. Joining a Greek chapter ensures partying, binge-drinking and low GPAs. From the movies to the media, Greek organizations are portrayed as careless human beings. They are portrayed as entitled. They are portrayed for paying for their friends. We only hear about the negative. These stereotypes are hurting more than you think. We fight these negative stereotypes every day to show we have more to offer than just partying.
So I ask the big questions. Where are the stories about the fraternity male raising money for the homeless instead of the one about the chapter that was shut down? Where are the stories about a sorority woman becoming CEO of a company instead of a tragic story about a night out?
Greek life should not be something we are ashamed of. It should be something we celebrate as a kick-start into skills that will help us in the real world. As a member of a Greek community, my answer is that you would be surprised on how different it is. These organizations were built on friendship and being held to a higher standard. So, here is what you would actually find in a Greek system.
High scholarship.
Most Greek chapters have a required GPA to even join. Between study groups, study hours and mentorships, high GPAs are what we strive for. We like having a higher GPA then the average student. We pride ourselves on wanting to be accountants, women engineers, and educators. We want to our members to reach their highest academic potential and will help in anyway they can to achieve that.
A passion for community service.
If you ask a Greek member about their favorite thing they have done in their chapter, chances are 90 percent will say it was their philanthropy. Millions have been raised by Greek members for hundreds of national organizations and we do it with fun. Basketball tournaments, grilled cheese sales and T-shirts for sale attract everyone to help out, not just Greek members. We love being a part of something bigger than ourselves. We strive to make a difference in other peoples lives without realizing the impact it makes on our own.
Opportunities for leadership and personal skills.
Being able to answer a question at the drop of a hat and leading a group of 100 plus people aren’t skills you learn in the classroom. Handling difficult situation that affect a huge number a people is transferable to any future career. All of these leadership skills I have learned from being in my chapter. These skills set us a part then the average candidate and make us be able to work with others no matter the personality. We want to succeed and that drive only grows while being in a chapter. We support campaigns about how to stop sexual assault and drunk driving. We educate our members on current issues that could have an impact on their life. We have adapted anti-hazing polices and are not afraid to share our voice about them. These opportunities grow our outside knowledge and communication skills and for that, I am grateful.
Built-in support system.
This is the point that hits home for me. Coming to college, I wanted to find a group of people I could relate to. I wanted to find my second home in college. The amount of support I have gotten from my sorority sisters and fraternity friends is unlike anything I have had before. Who knew that 30 of my sorority sisters would come to my show choir show on a Friday night? Who knew that my fraternity friends would be the first to congratulate me on a potential internship offer? These actions have surprised me throughout the years. My biggest moments have been celebrated with a group of people who love and support me for who I am as a person. Finding that has been the biggest blessing in my life. And I wouldn’t have found that without joining my chapter.
So, what would happen if you stepped into a real life Greek system for a week? Would you feel the same about them? After hearing these wonderful things, I hope you look at us differently. Be more open minded about what we do. Focus on the good. We have a lot more to offer if we are just given a chance.
Best,
A proud Greek member.
