When I first came to college, joining Greek life was never a thought in my mind. I assumed that sororities and fraternities were how they were portrayed in the movies and I knew I wanted no part in that. I was coming to college from a smaller town and I already had a few friends here. In my mind, I didn't need to "buy my friends," like everyone told me I was doing. Basically I put Greek life out of sight and out of mind.
During my freshman year, my roommate decided that she was going to recruitment and she wanted to join a sorority. I thought she was nuts. I thought that it would be better to make friends on my own rather than search for them in a group of party-goers. (Side note: that's how I portrayed them at the time.)
Every day she returned from recruitment she was happy. She was excited. She had something to look forward to while I sat in my bed watching TV with my at the time boyfriend. Neither of us thought that Greek life was cool, and I was fine with not joining. However, I did get secretly jealous of everything that she was doing from recruitment on out. Once she actually joined the sorority, she kept getting happier and happier. She was making friends and volunteering. She was utilizing her time and she was having a blast. And after watching how happy she was, I thought about it long and hard but decided it still wasn't for me.
When my sophomore year came around, I decided to give Greek life a try. The beginning of the year was hard for me. I didn't make many friends my previous year and my at the time boyfriend and I had called it quits. I felt like I was extremely alone. I remember a text message I received kind of changed everything for me. When I was feeling at my lowest, my old roommate texted me saying she'd be there for me and if she was there for me that meant her sisters were there for me, too. I was sort of shocked. How could a group of people who didn't even know me be there for me?
After a few weeks of teetering with the idea about me actually joining Greek life, I gave it my all. I went to recruitment dressed up as best I could and I gave it my all. I didn't know what to expect but I went in anyways.
At recruitment I felt the most welcome that I've ever felt in my life. Once I was pinned to my sorority, things just kept getting better. I made friends. Amazing friends. The type of friends who wanted you around just because. The type of friends who would do anything to make you happy. The people who always made me feel welcome were from different greek organizations on campus, too. I was finally getting involved and meeting people who had similar interests and classes. If I could compare my first year of college to my second year, it was like I was a brand new person.
The people I've met through Greek life allowed me to come out of my shell. They took someone who had so much hidden potential and made her known. I was given leadership positions and I had help along the way. Since I've been apart of Greek life, I always think how lucky I was to have been surrounded by such great people with such amazing views.
I don't think I'll ever be able to thank the people I've met along the way, for helping me become the person I was destined to be. However, I think that had I not met any of these people, I would still be that shy, insecure girl who only went to and from her classes.
To my Greek family, I know that we have a poor stigma that comes along with being Greek, but I'm proud of each and every one of you who proves that stigma wrong. I'm thankful to have met you because you've all showed me in one way or another how to be a better person. From the beginning, you've all accepted me for my flaws and quirks and that's something big to me. I appreciate everything all of you have done for me and I thank you for allowing me to be myself around you.Thank you for existing and showing me the meaning of true friendship and what it's like to have a family away from home.
I'll never be able to thank you or repay you for everything that you've done for me, regardless of the situation.
Thank you times a million and I'll always love you my Greek family.
