We all know the first thing we think of when we hear the word “frat”: boys, booze, parties and letters we still don’t understand. Likewise, we know when we think of sororities: girls who are getting those boys, drinking that booze, and attending those parties. It has become a common misconception to trump Greek life up to nothing more than parties, date parties, socials, formals, date dashes, and again, all things party. However, it is easy to judge from the outside looking in, and it is even easier to believe everything you hear. But I am here to talk about the side of Greek life people forget. The side of fraternity and sorority life that can make a person’s college experience so full and incredible. But not because of the parties or the reputation being in a certain house gives a person, but because of the philanthropy and community service, the sisterhood and the brotherhood and the membership that makes you a part of something so special.
People forget the good that Greek life does for their community. Each fraternity and sorority have an individual philanthropy that they constantly bring awareness to, raise money for and support year in and year out. Not only that, they support the unique community built on their campus by participating in other organizations' philanthropies and helping to support other causes. Through events, such as dodge ball tournaments, soccer tournaments, percentage nights at various restaurants around campus, and so much more, Greek life is able to reach out to their ASU community to help find a cure for cancer, support foster children, teach children how to read, etc. Further, as involvement in Greek life goes, there is a certain number of hours of community service all members must meet. Although this is a requirement, I've seen firsthand the love, passion, and commitment that members have for helping their community and helping the world be just a little bit better.
The other half of Greek life is sisterhood and brotherhood. Being in a sorority myself, I now understand what it feels like to have sisters, as cliché as it sounds. But, to have your own unique group of people who you're bound to (in some sense), and the loyalty, friendship, closeness and family that is a result of it. I love the quote, "From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it." It is so true. It is difficult to put into words the feeling of finding a place where you belong. The feeling of being surrounded by people with like-minded goals who strive every day to improve themselves and their sisters (or brothers). Greek life is a special place; I have no doubt about it.
My goal is neither to get you to join Greek life nor to change your views about it. My goal is to merely show the other side: the side that made me want to be a part of it. I won't lie to you and say that the nightlife part isn't great because it is; but that part can be experienced by anyone and they don't have to be in Greek life to do it. However, the philanthropy and community outreach, the bond between sisters and brothers, and the specialness of it all, well, only Greeks can truly understand that. But I think it's worth writing about, it's worth sharing how it feels to be on the inside and what it looks like to someone who's involved with it. As the reader, you are on one side or the other, either in Greek life or not; either way, just as Greek life itself brings awareness to so many other things, it's important that someone brings awareness to Greek life and its value.
Now you know.
