When I arrived at school to begin my freshman year of college, I made the decision to go through recruitment and become a part of the Greek Community. More often than not, I get confronted as to why I decided to Go Greek. This confrontation comes with hostility and misunderstanding, as most people have misconstructions of what it means to be Greek and join a sorority/fraternity. When I joined my sorority, I gained so much. I gained friends and experiences that I could not even comprehend until I was finished with the year, and looked back on what it all really taught me. College is an amazing experience, and the Greek System only added so much more to my first year. It added friendships, love, occurrences, and ultimately a family aspect to my college experience. I know first hand that the perceived “fakeness” behind the greek system is not true, because of all the authenticity it brought to my life.
The Bonds
This one is the first and foremost. The bond you create with 50 other girls going through the same experience as you is incredible. I have created friendships with amazing girls, who share similar goals and aspirations as me. We all feel inspired by our surroundings, and have a common goal of making the most of these short four years. These people I call my sisters are people who want to fully embrace themselves and life, and it is inspiring within itself. That kind of inspiration makes for the closest bonds that I cherish so dearly.
The Protection And Guidance
When I joined my house, I was met with people who immediately wanted to take me in and help me as I navigated through my first year of college. People who were always looking out for my best interest and were always there to pick me up when I was down. Whether it was girls in my own PC going through the same changes with me, or older members always there to offer a helping hand, I always felt like I had someone to turn to. Before my first day of school, I have 150+ girls who were willing to rally around me and that carried me through the year. I will never stop being grateful for that sense of love and comfort.
Always Encouraging Your Success
It is no secret that college is a big jump from high school. There is so much more independence from your teachers, class, homework and living on your own. It is easy to get overwhelmed amidst it all, or even slack off, but my chapter always encourages me to do my best when it comes to academics. They provide study tables, a quiet study room at the house, and support from our education chair. Not to mention, a number of girls going through the same classes, making it easy to ask for help from others or form study groups. Being in a house and having so much support very much improved my academic success in college.
