I never thought that I would go Greek in college. Even more, I was totally against Greek life. But that all changed once I met Greeks at UIUC.

I used to think that Greek life was only for shallow people who wanted to buy their friends, or for people who just wanted to get wasted 24/7. My freshman year, all I heard about Greek life was something along the lines of, if you rushed a sorority or fraternity you were going to be forced to binge drink, get hazed and humiliated mercilessly. Worst of all, you were going to have become completely fake for your sisters or brothers to like you. To any rational person, that sounds terrible, right? Well I carried this unfair stereotype in my head for my first two years of college until I transferred to UIUC my junior year.

With the huge Greek life here on campus, I quickly made friends with a lot of people who just happened to be Greek. They surprised me because they weren’t at all like the ugly stereotype that I had held in my head for so long. They were funny, smart and, most importantly, genuine. So, I wondered, how much did I get wrong about Greeks and Greek life? 

I decided to pledge, and while I realize that it’s not for everyone, I honestly feel it was a great decision for me. For starters, I never felt like I was being brainwashed or forced to act a certain way when I was being recruited, and even while I pledged. I feel like this is the worse facet of the anti-Greek stereotype --the idea that Greeks are fake. 

Joining Greek life and wearing letters doesn’t make you any less real, or any more fake than anyone else; it’s just a decision you decided to make. When I earned my letters and became a member, the anti-Greek stereotype crumbled. 
My brothers and sisters are the closest friends I have, here on campus, and are like my second family here.  I’m always completely myself when I’m around them and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

You get a lot out of being Greek besides fantastic friends. You learn all kinds of useful professional skills, like event planning, time management and business development, along with a huge alumni network to help us find jobs when we graduate.

I know it sounds cliché, but coming from someone who made fun of Greek life as a freshman to someone who’s sitting here wearing letters, I’m so happy that I decided to join Greek life. If you’re questioning it, yourself, go for it. You’ve got everything to gain!