I have been involved with Greek Life for a year now. I can honestly say it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made since coming to college. I really never pictured myself to be one involved with Greek Life. Life never goes the way we plan it, no matter how much time we put into creating a schedule.

I have learned a lot over the last year. I know that a year is a short time to be part of something, but at the same time, life moves extremely fast. This past year has gone by in the blink of an eye. I never thought that it would move so fast and have more time to take in all the different experiences.

Being part of Greek Life has taught me many lessons that apply to many parts of my life that are not just about Greek Life. I know that I can carry these lessons with me for the rest of my life. I know what type of leader I should be. I know that it is completely fine to not have all the answers. I know that it is normal to say no to something that may make me overwhelmed.

I have made some of my best friends because of Greek Life. Greek Life is so much more than what people see in the news. It is NOT about hazing. It is NOT about being exclusive. It is NOT a bunch of ditzy rich kids. It is NOT the hashtags #TFM (total frat move) or #TSM (total sorority move). We are about helping people with our philanthropies.

Greek Life helps people. We all have to maintain a certain grade point average to be involved with some of the events that are put on for us. I know a lot of people who pay their own way through college as well as their dues. We are a group of people who have taken a lot of heat because sometimes, people in Greek Life do not make the best decisions. We are all human.

I have learned that I will be judged for being in a sorority because of the stereotypes, but I choose to embrace it because it is not something I am ashamed of. My chapter, as well as the other chapters on my campus, raise a lot of money each year to help our philanthropies. We also go and support the other chapters.

Greek Life has taught me lessons that I know I will never forget. I will always be able to take what I have learned and apply it to situations later on in life. It is so much more than the stereotypes that have been placed upon us.