When I first joined the Greek community last semester, I was so excited to buy everything with my sorority's logo on it. My whole wardrobe became consumed with letters and saying/quotes and Lily prints, lots and lots of Lily prints. I was so proud to be a sister and wearing those letters made me feel included and apart of something bigger than me. 

So why did I feel like I was Hester Prynne every time I wore my letters? Why did I feel like I was being looked down upon and ridiculed for being apart of Greek life? Why was I suddenly ashamed to wear those letters I was so proud to wear before? 

Throughout the years the Greek community has declined in image across the globe, all we hear is about how bad it is and how much it resembles a cult-like culture. No one portrays us how we really are. No one writes news articles or interviews us at our philanthropy events or volunteering or being well-rounded members of the Greek community. They portray us as untrustworthy, rapists, sluts, alcoholics, snobs, basic, easy, we buy our friends, superficial, douche-bags, and so on so forth.

I'm not saying everyone in a sorority or fraternity is a perfect little angel sent from above. We are human we make mistakes too and we pay for it in the end, and not with daddy's money. I never imagined joining Greek life when I transfered here, but when I accepted that bid, became a new member, and said my oath and vowed my loyalty at initiation, I felt so much more apart of a family and not just some number vowing their life away. Whenever someone noticed my letters and asked what sorority I am in or do you know so-and-so in XYZ sorority or fraternity, you better believe I am super excited to talk to them about it, but right when I said I'm apart of ABC sorority their facial expression would change and they would become disinterested or fake a smile and nod or even look appalled. 

Was it something I said? Did I offend them in any way? Am I being too pushy with this whole Greek thing? Is it all Greek to them (Shakespeare reference)? Here's one saying that has been so over-used but sums it all up: "From the outside looking in you can't understand it, from the inside looking out you can't explain it." It's 100% accurate; it's hard for someone who isn't apart of Greek life to fully grasp the concept of being around 150+ girls or guys for long periods of time. Do they have to make it seem like the plague every time someone is seen wearing their letters? 

It's saddening to see how we are viewed from the outside. I don't want to feel ashamed whenever I wear my letters; I want to feel proud to show them off to the world. The disapproval needs to stop, but how can it? Where does it stem from? It stems from how we act as a whole. Instead of bashing those who aren't in our sorority or fraternity or in Greek life in general, let's embrace it and show them what an amazing community we are and that we accept differences and that we aren't exclusive. Because the best way to get rid of stereotypes and labels is to prove them wrong and show them what we are capable as a whole, because when you mess with my family you mess with me. That should be the Greek motto. 

We are all brothers and sisters of the same family: our Greek family. If we can take one step at a time to act as a whole and work together to better our image, then maybe people will stop looking at the negatives of our community and see the positives because they will be seeing how much we care about each other and everyone else we encounter. 

Let's put the morals we learned about from our new member process to good use and let's show people why we chose Greek life. Let's show them that these letters aren't tainted but are a sign of commitment, loyalty, trustworthiness, and most of all family. Let's be the change we want to see.