The past couple of weeks, I have come to think a lot about what it means to me to be a Panhellenic and a Greek woman. With social media, movies, TV shows, and other media outlets constantly portraying Greek women in a bad light, it breaks my heart because I know the truth about what I stand for as a woman of Greek life. While I am constantly frustrated by this aspect, it also makes me angry to think about those who confine the Greek experience to a box. This box, to many, includes alcohol, exclusion, competition, hazing, cultural appropriation, and being uninvolved. But when did those stereotypes become concrete truth, especially when they could not be further from the truth? What makes the Greek experience something to frown upon when so many powerful, strong, and determined women fight for the opposite every day? Why is it that so many argue the false negative rather than the true positive?

This frustrates me daily and I am going to tell you why.

Many people would argue that Greek Life is simply a social club, and I would actually agree with you. But what club or organization isn't about meeting people with similar interests and ideals in a setting where you can grow? Sure we all hang out together, share a home, go on fun excursions, and have functions, but it is in those moments of being together that we learn from each other and grow as individuals. We make connections and friendships that will impact us for a lifetime.

My sisters in Greek Life absolutely floor me every day with how much they have on their plates. I am constantly amazed by the intelligent women that surround me in this community and how passionate they are about what they do. It is their drive and their motivation that keeps me moving when it is sometimes hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If it wasn't for my peers, I would not be a part of any of the other organizations that I am today. From holding Moral Captain and Executive positions of Dance Marathon, holding positions within Relay, being a part of Panhellenic Executive Board, writing for the Odyssey, being cheerleaders, swimmers, dancers, ROTC, and majorettes for the University, holding jobs on top of their commitments, being a part of organizations within their major, Bat Girls, Honors Association, Recruitment Counselors, and literally every other club you can think of, my sisters and fellow women in my community are probably doing it. I've learned that passion is my top value and I've never seen people more passionate women than the women in my community.

Community is something I've really come to appreciate about Greek life. No matter your letters, at the end of the day, we belong to something special and something crazy cool. I've learned that throughout this community, empowerment of women has become a huge deal. We aren't striving to out-do one another in some invisible competition, but rather we are trying to build one another up as the strong, powerful, and intelligent women that we are. I am blown away every day by the support and love I receive from women all over the community. We are all bound together with a common purpose and a promise of community. Our Panhellenic community binds us and pushes us to strive to be the determined women that we can be.

Greek life, specifically for me, has given me the outlet to be and do more. Would I have survived my college experience without it? Sure. I'll give you that. But what it has given me has also changed my life, and that should be OK.

While many people see those stereotypes when they think of Greek life, I think of smiling faces, warm hearts, contagious laughter, and helping hands. I've seen moments of pride in accomplishments. I've seen suffering and grieving where we came together as a community to love one another and mourn the loss of a friend and a sister. I've seen love through the good and the bad. I've seen the joy and excitement of a new member receiving her bid and knowing that you just handed her a lifetime of love, motivation, and community. I love this community and that should be OK. Not everyone has to understand it, but I ask those who don't to at least respect it. Yeah, dues are a lot sometimes and trust me, we struggle to pay them. But we don't care, because at the end of the day, it was worth every penny. This community is so worth it.