Here's exactly why Greek life means everything to me.We all love Greek life and what it has given us.In most articles about Greek life, you read about a member of a Greek organization contributing to their fraternity or sorority. As a senior and fourth year member of Zeta Tau Alpha, I can’t help but think of everything my sorority and Greek life have contributed to me. In just a month and a half I will be a Zeta alumnus. Looking back, I realize so much of the life-changing experiences I’ve had as a student were given to me because I’m a member of the Greek community. Here is a reflection on all the wonderful, irreplaceable things Greek life contributes to us and why we should all be thankful.  

Friendship. Yes, it’s the stereotypical reason people say they rush – “I want to meet my bridesmaids!”– but it’s entirely true. The single most important thing I’ve received from my four years as a Greek is the friendships I’ve cultivated inside and outside of my organization. It’s hard to believe the two sisters I spent my 21st birthday with in Las Vegas would have been strangers to me had it not been for Zeta, or the fact that two years ago I rushed a girl I didn’t know, only to find myself now living with her and sharing the same sisterhood. Whether it was the nights spent gossiping until 4 a.m. in my sorority house or the nights we spent more time making our social costumes than actually being at the social, nothing makes me happier or prouder to be Greek than to see the amazing friends I’ve made along the way. 

Confidence. One word: recruitment. Thanks to sorority rush, I can now hold a 15 minute conversation with a wall. I am not kidding. This has proven to be very useful for job interviews and those awkward encounters with people from your hometown whom you haven’t seen in years.  

Encouragement. Until my freshman year of college, the only place I ever sang was in the shower or my car, so it felt incredible to sing in front of my chapter for the first time during spirit week. It also felt great to dance on stage again at events like ZTA Lip Sync and KD Shakedown.  Dance was a passion of mine I, regretfully, let go of after middle school. With the support from my sisters, I was able to relive one passion and be brave enough to practice another outside of my comfort zone.  In terms of academic encouragement, being Greek pushed me to work my hardest in school and strive for a higher GPA than I would have been encouraged to aim for had I not been Greek. To anyone who wants to go Greek but whose parents don’t know if it’s a smart idea, make sure they know that Greeks, on average, have higher GPAs than non-Greeks. 

Networking. It was much easier getting my first part-time job in college when one of my sisters was already working for the company. My advice to all of you is to network everywhere you go, especially within your own organization. Many of the opportunities I’ve had, I received because I knew someone who knew someone.

Leadership and experience. I may not have realized it when I was nearly in tears over planning a perfect retreat while simultaneously putting together a team for Race For The Cure, but the hard work paid off. There is nothing like the feeling you get after one of your projects or events comes to a perfect finish. Not only did the leadership experience help build my resume, it also taught me time management and budgeting skills, brought me closer to my chapter and gave me irreplaceable memories.   

Philanthropic opportunities and community service. The community service I’ve had the opportunity to participate in has been indescribable, and if there’s one thing that brings a group of people together, it’s helping others in need. From working a cerebral palsy auction and dancing with senior citizens at an assisted living center to running the Race For The Cure and dancing at Knight-Thon, Greek Life gave me a deeper appreciation for real life. The service even helped me score an internship with a nonprofit. If there’s one thing you actively participate in during your years as a Greek, it should be community service.  
I could go on and on about the impact Greek life has had on me as a student and as a person, but we’d be here forever.

I hope the rest of you who, like myself, are reaching that moment in time when your daily Facebook notifications will soon be replaced with emails regarding alumni donations, look back and appreciate everything the past two, three or four years have given you, big or small.  And remember – once a Greek, always a Greek.