A Greek woman displays courage, seeks the truth, and gives graciously. They have faith and are open to change and growth. Greek women are loyal, passionate, and dedicated to their communities.

I was once part of the Greek community. I let personal circumstances (outside of their community) ruin my courage. I stopped seeking the truth and I refused to defend it. I had lost all faith and was not open to the growth it took to get me back on track to being a true Greek woman. I felt as if I was failing my sisters, and so I did the worst thing I could do… I severed.

Because I know the benefits of going Greek, I am here to share why one should consider going Greek.

1. You will learn who you are.

This one had taken me a little longer to figure out. Before joining I attended 3 different universities and changed my major more times than I care to admit. I felt like I had wasted 3 years of my life and that I would never find my way. Then I met an amazing group of women that changed my entire outlook on life. These women saw me broken, weak, and struggling and yet they took me in and saw my potential when I couldn’t see it for myself. Though I have failed them, it has taught me exactly why I needed them and everything that Greek life offers. I now know exactly who I am, who I am not, and who I am not willing to be.

2. You make friends with diverse people.

Not only the women in your own pledge class, but with the girls before you and the ones that come after you. Your big, grand-big and especially your little. Even more so than that, you meet women in other chapters, women who wear other letters, and women who support women. What is more empowering than a community of women loving and uplifting other women? You never realize how important those bonds are, until you break them. Don’t let these women go. They are not just your friends… they are your sisters.

3. You learn how to follow rules.

For some, this can be harder than others. For some, this may be a downfall. Whether people believe it or not, we aren’t just a group of girls that get together to have raging parties and take cute pictures. You also have to attend weekly meetings, uphold certain moral standards, and be a pillar in your community. These rules require us to maintain certain grades and coordinate community or philanthropy events. This teaches a type of responsibility that you will forever be grateful for.

4. You learn how to lead.

From serving on the executive board to getting your first little, you sometimes feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. This is worth it, stick it out. It can get hard to juggle all the things you want to be successful at, but I promise that in the end it is worth it. You will be a mentor, a shoulder to cry on, and an inspiration to some that may never voice it to you. You will touch people’s lives every day just by wearing your letters and upholding your standards. You will be an example and a leader. Knowing that is victory enough.

5. You will learn what you want.

This, again, took me a while to come to terms with. I entered my sorority as a young confused woman who thought she knew everything she had to learn about the world. I was sadly mistaken. My sisters challenged me in ways they never even knew. They were some of the first people to ask me what I wanted and if I was happy. At first I was angry with them; I felt as if I was being judged. Now I know better. They showed me possibilities I had never considered. They taught me that change is necessary and that made me realize what I truly wanted in life. I learned to never settle for anything that made you less than thrilled to be alive. I learned to stand strong and not let others define my worth.

6. You learn who is important and who never was.

For me, I learned too late. I felt the love and acceptance of my sisters and I knew the bond we shared was growing and I became afraid of being vulnerable. I decided that a petty romantic relationship meant more than my 30+ sisters that were trying so hard to be there for me. I decided that instead of doing what was right and fighting for myself, I would take the easy way out. I learned how wrong I was. I learned who was important to me and who never was. I learned who deemed me important and who never did. I learned that you may not be best friends with every single one of your sisters, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be there if you called them at 2 a.m. in need. They taught me how important my real sister and family were to me. They taught me more about relationships than anyone else could have.

There is so much good that comes from being a part of a sorority. I have experienced these things and they were the highlights of my life. If you ever think your sisters don’t want you around, think again. It was once said to me “People may fail you, but Delta Zeta will never fail you.” My biggest regret is letting myself become one of those people.

So take this time to go back to your sisters and tell them how much they mean to you. Don’t let outside forces influence your decision. Going Greek was the best decision I ever made, and you should too.