When looking at the media these days, all you see is negative headlines featuring fraternities and sororities, and the newest hazing issue. This is the reputation that Greek Life has obtained and contrary to popular belief, it's extremely rare.
So, while colleges and universities all over the country are slowly trying to get rid of sorority and fraternity life on their campuses, here is my argument as to why Greek Life is so important to have, and how it has positively impacted my life over the last four years.
Being a freshman heading off to college across the country, everything was terrifying. I knew no one at the University of South Carolina, so I did what any girl thought to do... I decided to go through sorority recruitment.
Going to an SEC school, I was expecting a lot of big hair, perfect makeup and southern accents... maybe a few "bless your hearts."
I was pleasantly surprised.
Going through recruitment was by far the best decision I made during my freshman year. I ran to a sorority on bid day, and now I know that some of these girls are my future bridesmaids, best friends and go-to late night Cook Out run buddies.
Greek Life nationally gets a bad reputation. Those who are involved in Greek organizations are looked at as the partiers who don't study and just hang out, drink and haze their new members. This is not the case.
Because of my sorority, I have met some of the most influential people of my life. I've met some of the smartest, kindest, most passionate and hilarious women I have ever come across. These women get 4.0's, they're involved in different organizations on campus and they put in the time for their friends and care for others before themselves.
So, here's to the Elle Woodses of the world.
The girls who love each other and are there to go shopping when you need a break, who sit on the floor with you when you need to cry and vent, and who are there when you need to go to CVS because you really just need a Diet Coke and a couple bags of candy.
During recruitment in the fall, I'm a Pi Chi, which is basically a recruitment counselor. For this position, we disassociate from our chapters in order to help the girls going through recruitment find their perfect chapter. Being disassociated from my chapter for recruitment is definitely something that's difficult, but it's also very rewarding to help these girls and then be able to "run home" on bid day to some of my favorite people.
Greek Life is much more important than people think and I really hope that people start to realize that. Greek Life gave me the friends that made South Carolina feel like my home away from home and make leaving school so hard. I have met people who I know will go and do great things for this world, and I hope to be able to watch them do so.
So here's to breaking barriers, stopping rumors and changing the way that the world looks at fraternities, sororities and their members.
Because one day, they will change the world.
