With Panhellenic recruitment coming up, I have heard a ton of misconceptions and ideas about what going Greek and joining a sorority actually means. There are so many stereotypes and stigmas surrounding Greek life that it often makes it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
Often times, these fictions are what turn people off of the idea of going Greek. Having recently heard some of the ideals and stigmas that surround Greek life from the upcoming freshmen and non-Greek campus members, I decided to challenge these and share what going Greek means to me.
First, many people consider Greek life to be all about partying, hooking up, and throwing intense parties. I hate to break it to you, but the movie Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising definitely isn't your best source of information about the kind of social aspects that surround Greek life.
While we are all in college and like to enjoy the long weekends and days off as much as the next student, Greeks aren't all parties and hook ups.
Our social lives as part of our sorority include different activities that include other members of our campus community, fundraising, philanthropic events, and Greek (and community) unity socials. We would never ever disrespect ourselves or our letters in the way that many people assume.
Secondly, I hear pretty frequently that joining a sorority is basically just paying to have more friends. I cannot stress how incredibly wrong this stigma is. Yes, we have dues to pay, but these dues aren't used to ensure that everyone will put on a happy face and be your friend. This money helps our chapter, our headquarters, and all the philanthropic activities that the group participates in.
Just because you pay money to be in a specific Greek organization doesn't mean that those people are forced to be your friends. You join that organization, ideally, because they reflect the same character, morals, and values that you do.
Therefore, these should be people you can get along with and enjoy being around. If you feel that you have to pay people who value the same things that you do to be your friend then you may not be with the right group of people.
Going Greek is about joining something so much bigger than yourself. It's banding together with other people like you who want to make a difference for themselves, their community, and their world.
It is about forming lifelong bonds with friends that will stand the tests of times. It's about making memories and making the most of your college experience. Greek may not be for everyone, but you never know if you don't see what it's all about. Going Greek changed my life, and it may just change yours too.
