Every day I hear the constant negative stereotypes that come along with being a part of a sorority. Even when there is drama within my organization, there is not one moment I've ever once doubted my decision to go Greek. There are so many reasons I made the popular choice to join Greek life at my university, but let me tell you a few significant reasons why I did not.
To buy some friends.
Ah, the most common stereotype of us among the Greek community. "So why do you want to buy your friends? Can't you make them on your own?" I actually had a lot of friends before Greek life. I'm a pretty outgoing and easy-going individual on my own, but it's so comforting to find an entire group of completely different folks that share a certain bond with you. Some call it creepy to treat others like your family that you just met, I called it my home away from home. So to answer your question, yes. I could make them on my own, but if you did some research you would know the money we each pay goes towards our organization, philanthropies, and house fees. You spend money when you go out with your friends, right? It's the same difference. If people only knew 90% of the money we pay goes towards something much bigger than ourselves, like helping fund a child's cancer research.
To get drunk all the time.
Every group has their bad apples, I won't lie. I cannot speak on behalf of those who join Greek life to party all the time. I am speaking on the behalf of those like myself that like to be involved. I spend more hours in the library than I've ever spent getting wasted. Just like any other college student, yes I go out and drink. I like to have fun just as much as any other non-Greek college student. I am human, but last time I checked even the anti-Greek introverts like to have a good time, just sayin'.
To flaunt all the money I have.
Let me just be the odd one out on this one and speak for those in Greek life like myself that pay their own dues, work multiple jobs, and still go to school as a full-time student, which I also will be paying for by myself. Even when my parents help me out, I never flaunt my money to anyone whether it comes off like I have it or not. There are so many of us in Greek life that are your average middle class or even lower class families. So please don't believe everyone in Greek life has money to throw around because we surely don't.
To act like I'm better than everyone.
For some reason, it gets misconstrued that when I'm wearing these Greek letters on my clothes, it screams, "I think I'm better than you." When we wear our letters, that means we know the meaning behind them and we're damn proud of it. It's not like we are some exclusive club that you'll never be a part of. We welcome anyone to join us, but that's why there are different organizations. Everyone is different and seeks different things. And on that note, just because I wear certain letters doesn't mean they're any better than the next Greek organization. We are all in this together, after all.
So this is why one by one, we can break the stereotyping of Greek life. The bad apples are out there, but the shiny, ripe ones are as well.
