The following is in response to Lorena Roberts’ article, "Why I Didn't Rush." After reading Lorena’s article, I felt inclined to respond, but with respect to Lorena’s views.
As someone who was once told all these negative stereotypes about Greek Life (and believed them), I will gladly dismiss them. Before I decided to go through sorority recruitment, I was indecisive primarily because of the negative stereotypes I had heard about them. The media has the glorious gift of being able to dramatize Greek Life, and, most portrayals of Greek Life on television, movies, etc., present it in a negative light.
The media is very quick to judge Greek Life for its mistakes. Rarely is Greek Life presented as engaging, or even remotely beneficial. Despite how much money Greek organizations raise towards their philanthropies, no matter how much good they do, the media will always feed into the negative stereotypes that exist around them because they’re simply more controversial.
I was entirely convinced that I would be hazed, demoralized, and ultimately forced to change in order to feel unity. I was convinced that I would not relate to those around me, that I would feel isolated, and every harsh feeling in-between. Spoiler alert: None of these stereotypes were even remotely true.
The following article is less about why I rushed, but more about why I stayed.
1. I was never asked to change to belong.
We must dismiss the idea of what it means to be a “sorority girl.” I have never been to a Zumba class, nor do I intend to. I have heard, from many people, that I am not this cookie-cutter girl; however, rarely does this girl exist. I have never been away because I didn’t look or act a certain way. I don’t drink, and I’ve never felt pressured to do so by my sisters. Instead of making me feel isolated or insecure, my Greek organization accepted my quirks and flaws, made me feel accepted, and pushed me to be the best version of myself. Of course, you can’t force a group of women to be friends with one another all the time, but at the end of the day, respecting one another is not just a part of a sisterhood, it’s being a decent human being.
2. I knew it would give me new opportunities.
Greek Life can introduce you to so many new people, people that you simply would not have known as an independent. Networking is a huge benefit to Greek Life, and many fail to realize its significance when searching for a career. Employers view Greek men and women as potential assets; therefore, to say that Greek Life has no “real” benefits would simply be false; I’ve heard countless stories of Greek men and women earning a job merely because their employers recognized their letters.
3. I knew I was going to college alone.
Going to college hours away from home, or even out of state, can be intimidating. Being able to surround yourself with new people is a critical part of the college experience, and being in a Greek organization meant from day one that I was not alone. As someone who was convinced she would be isolated forever after high school, this was incredibly refreshing. We merely experienced everything together, and that was enough to make me feel included.
4. I wanted to serve.
Without a philanthropy, a Greek organization has no purpose. Dedicating my free time to philanthropy gave me the opportunity to commit to something bigger than myself. Serving my community, in some ways, simply made me more compassionate and empathetic. At the end of the day, I was satisfied because I had known that I’d made an impact, and denying myself of that fulfillment would have been a mistake.
5. I met the most incredible people.
The friendships I have made through my organization can never be replaced. Sometimes, I feel as if my social life is fueled primarily by my sisters, but without them, my college social life would be nonexistent. Through my Greek organization, I have been exposed to people with different ideas and backgrounds, and have learned from them. The amount of compassion I have experienced from other people never ceases to surprise me. I know that even years after my graduation, I can always rely on my sisters to make me better.
Overall, everyone’s experience is different, but no one outside of Greek Life will ever understand how much it can give you unless you allow it to. I’m exhausted, and frankly frustrated, by a number of negative statements I hear about Greek Life. Until the negative stigma disappears, I will always defend it.
If I had listened to what I had been told, I would have never considered rushing.
To the girl questioning whether she wants to rush: Do it. Do not let your preconceived notions about Greek Life to make your decision for you. Instead, view it as a challenge, as a way to better yourself, rally for a cause, and find lifelong friends along the way.
