With the start of Greek Week, I am happily reminded of one thing: I am proud to be a part of Greek life on this campus.

Yes, I understand that Greek life is extremely stigmatized and has a widely acknowledged bad reputation, and a little over a year ago I would have never pictured myself wearing letters with pride. But being involved in a sorority has impacted my life in so many positive ways over this past year that I could not imagine my life any differently.

As cliché as it sounds, Greek life has given me another family that I now would not be able to survive without. My sisters make me more confident, stronger, happier and more motivated every single day. They constantly push me to exceed expectations, stand up for what I believe in, and remind me of my own strengths.

A year ago, I was the shy girl in the back of the classroom, but now I hold leadership positions in my chapter and am involved in many other clubs and organizations on campus, voicing my opinions whenever I can. Knowing that I have endless love and support from my sisters is enough to conquer any obstacle; I know that, no matter the time of day, my sisters will always be there to listen to me rant about whatever is bothering me, binge watch Netflix, or go on spontaneous adventures.

Because of Greek life, I have become more involved in the community. I actively participate in community service events to support national organizations as well as other sorority/fraternity philanthropy events across campus. In the past year, I have participated in events to support the Arthritis Foundation, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Eating Disorders Association and the American Cancer Society, to name a few.

Saying that Greek life has changed me might be the wrong way to phrase it; I think Greek life has brought out my best qualities and allowed me to embrace who I truly am. Today, I am much more confident and independent than I was a year ago and I am able to handle even the most difficult situations knowing for a fact that will never have to stand alone. I love being able to proudly wear my letters, tell people about my experiences, and encourage people to give recruitment a chance. Greek life has introduced me to people that I know will be part of my life forever, and I am eternally grateful for that.

Being in a sorority isn’t about looking perfect or trying to impress other people; being in a sorority is about being yourself and having that be more than enough. So, if you are looking to be more involved on this campus I encourage you to get more information about Greek life. Talk to people in letters about their experiences, go to interest meetings in the fall, and consider going out for recruitment. Of course, Greek life is not for everyone, but it can positively impact your life in some of the many ways it has impacted mine, and I truly believe that everyone should have an opportunity to find their home.