College is more than an education and Greek life is more than a friend group. Both are outlets to a social network greater and more powerful than anything you can find on Facebook.
In my naive freshman days, I had no idea coming to college, going Greek and meeting hundreds of new people would be one of the best things that would happen to me. It gave me the opportunity to build lifelong friendships, as well as a continuously expanding social network of awesome people who would become a part of my life for years to come.
People are what make the college experience. College is intended to fill your head with knowledge, but at the end of what is supposed to be the best four years of your life, if all you got was a good education, you did it wrong. College is half education, half building of your social network. It's a place to create relationships both current and potential, personal and professional.
Most people you meet in college will cross your path again someday, whether you see them the next day on the way to class, at KAMS drinking a Blue Guy, or in a business meeting at your full-time job. Maybe they will be your boss one day. Maybe you will be theirs. Who knows how your paths will cross; the point is, the more people you meet, the bigger your social network.
Attending a large university, like the University of Illinois, gives you so many opportunities to network; one of those opportunities is found by joining the Greek system. Being part of a large, national organization such as a Greek house, instantly bonds you to thousands of people. The common ground of a fraternity or sorority house opens so many doors for potential friendships or professional relationships.
Let's say you get a job after college and you don't know anyone at the company. If you get to know people, you might find someone who was in your house at another chapter or someone who is fellow Greek, in general. They probably already have a group of friends; maybe they are Greek too. Regardless, having that tie with the first person led you to meet more new people and further expand your social network!
Get acquainted, go Greek and kiss Netflix goodbye for a night or two because each night brings more potential to make new friends and meet new people who can help you build your network. The alternative is nothing more than a whole lot of FOMO and a one too many missed Blue Guys.
