An Open Letter To Anyone Considering Going Greek | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

An Open Letter To Anyone Considering Going Greek

Why should you consider joining Greek life?

40
An Open Letter To Anyone Considering Going Greek
Google Images

WE ARE PHILANTHROPIES. WE ARE LEADERS. WE ARE SCHOLARS. WE ARE ROLE MODELS. WE ARE FRIENDS. WE ARE GREEK.

When I was an incoming college freshmen I contemplated going through recruitment. I was never super outgoing in high school and my mom was concerned I would get dropped from recruitment or not make it into the sorority that I wanted. After being a member of a sorority for two years, I cannot imagine my life without my sorority sisters by my side.

Greek life has changed my life and if you give it the chance, it can change yours, too.

Yes, Greek life has a bad reputation, but Greek life is nothing like what is viewed in movies. It is more than parties and is nothing like what is depicted in the new movie, Neighbors 2. Do not let these negative views keep you from going through recruitment. Do not believe the negative stereotypes about Greek life because they are not true. Greek life is not bad. In fact, there are very strict rules that Greek chapters have to follow.

Along with providing the opportunity to make lifelong friends, Greek life also includes philanthropy hours, volunteer opportunities, leadership opportunities, study hours, and mixers with other Greek organizations.

As undergraduates, members of Greek life raise approximately 7 million dollars a year for charity. Every sorority and fraternity represents a different philanthropy (a certain community service), or a greater cause that each chapter helps spread awareness of.

Through becoming a member in a Greek chapter, you become a part of a sisterhood or brotherhood and become a part of an everlasting bond that will last a lifetime. When you feel like your world is crashing down, there will always be somebody that is by your side.

By becoming Greek, you will quickly recognize a support system and bond that is unlike any other. You will find your bridesmaids or groomsmen. You will learn how to network. Through the sisterhood or brotherhood that Greek life provides, you might even find your future job after graduation.

Greek life will help you expand your social group and allow you to meet new people outside of your high school friend group. I never had a super close friend group in high school, and I didn't know anybody at the college I chose to attend, but joining a sorority not only provided me with the super close friend group I had always been searching for, but a group of girls who quickly became a second family.

I cannot imagine life today without my sisters by my side. They are there for me to not only wipe my tears, but to celebrate my successes. Regardless of the situation, my sisters are always there by my side. Going Greek was the best decision I have ever made in my life.

Greek life will help make you a better person and will help you to get out of your comfort zone. Greek life offers many different leadership positions, allowing you the opportunity to gain valuable life skills.

Greek life will give you the opportunity to take a "Little" and you can become involved with your chapter's Executive Board. These leadership positions will look great on a resume for employers and higher education programs.

After the passing of one of my sorority sisters/best friends, I learned the true meaning behind sisterhood. I would not have made it through that semester as easily as I did if it weren't for my sorority sisters supporting me through everything and sticking by my side. From the cards I received, to always having someone to cry with when I was feeling down, to always getting a text from a sister checking in to see if I was doing okay, Greek life has had a huge impact on my life.

Academics are a main focus of Greek life and chapters have academic standards. These academic standards will help you to maintain a higher GPA and provide you the motivation to do so. Many Greek chapters even provide the opportunity to earn scholarships and incentives for getting good grades.

There is a mandatory GPA that each chapter requires, which is just motivation for you to keep your grades high. Greek chapters assign study hours based on your GPA. Mandatory study hours will help motivate you to study. You can also form study groups with members from your chapter and you will always be able to find somebody from your chapter studying in the library.

Greek life provides you an excellent opportunity to become involved on campus. There will almost always be something going on, so you will never get bored.

Even if you are unsure about joining Greek life, I would highly recommend going through the recruitment process. Going through recruitment will provide you the opportunity to meet countless members of Greek life. The members you meet during recruitment will remember who you are, and you might even become friends after recruitment, whether you are in the same chapter or not.

If you are still contemplating whether or not Greek life is for you, attend any info sessions that your campus holds for Greek life. If you do make the decision to go through recruitment, you will find your home away from home. Keep your mind open. It will help you find your home.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

1492
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4614
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2838
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

202224
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments