To the stigmas that society has created,

I am Greek and I am damn proud.

I’ll never forget the day my freshman roommate asked me if I was going to sign up for recruitment, and to that I replied with not just a causal “no” but a big “hell no.” Coming to college the only things I knew about Greek life came from movies like The Animal House, Blue Mountain State, and of course the notorious House Bunny. In my mind there was no way in hell I was going to pay for friends, I knew I could make them on my own. Later in my freshmen year, more than half of my friends wouldn’t quit talking about how ecstatic they were to finally be able to wear their letter shirts, and how much they loved their big. At this point Greek Life was still a hell no for me.

As my freshman year went on my best friend went ADPi, and was the sorority woman who I now strive to be. When there was a Philanthropy event she was selling those Boot Scoot and BBQ tickets faster then dresses on a Lilly Pulitzer rack. My fierce red head was proud of what her sorority represented and was confident with herself, and was always on the go doing whatever it took to thrive in ADPi. If you threw away a can without giving her the tab, you better look out because she was coming for you. Why? The answer was simple because she loved supporting her philanthropy and each tab made a difference in her eyes. I wanted to give back like she did, I wanted a family away from home like she had, and mostly I wanted to find my place here like she did. It wasn’t until I told this “little dumpling” (as she always called me) one day that I wanted more out of my experience here in college, and just like the firing cannon she was, she replied “GO GREEK” without a hesitation. This is when my journey started.

When Fall semester started so did formal recruitment. I was dressed up with my hair curled, along with hundreds of other women. On the first day I asked myself, “What did I just get myself into?” During the recruitment process, sorority girls would ask me questions about what my values were, what organizations on campus I was apart of, and what I did with my spare time. Normally I could talk your ear off, but talking to these women for an hour seemed to last a lifetime. My life isn’t that interesting? Do you really want to know what I do in my spare time? It’s a one word answer… Netflix. But, there were times I met girls who loved the Vampire Diaries as much as I did and there is a lot you can learn from a girl when you ask “if you had to choose between Damon or Stephan who would you pick?” I’d pick Damon every time, because he’s challenging and adventurous. That is what I wanted out of a sorority, one that would challenge me to be the best and to grow as a person. I didn’t understand when my best friend told me that she had found a home in her sorority. As I went from room to room I started to feel a certain sorority that tugged on my heart strings, but as the days of recruitment drew to an end I had this feeling that I can still feel in my gut today. I was “home.”

Here I am now strong, confidant, and an active member not only on my campus or community but across the world. My sorority has given me the tools to see these qualities in myself, and an outlet to do something with them. We don’t have a house bunny who teaches us boob tricks that make us look like our boobs are two cup sizes bigger or who teaches us how to use baby oil to make our stomach look more appealing. In the Greek community, college isn’t just one big party where students “turn up” and “hook up.” Sororities and Fraternities aren’t filled with a bunch of rich snobs whose mommy’s and daddy’s pay for everything. I work my ass off to pay my monthly dues and put gas in my car; if I’m lucky, I’ll have enough money to go get Mexican food at my favorite restaurant with some sisters. Keep in mind we normally would get the cheapest combo off the menu and split a bowl of queso, because queso is the best part.

Society, you’ve gotten it all wrong. If you take a look into what Greek life is actually about, you would be amazed.

Instead, we are leaders who hold each other to a higher standard, and even compete to have the highest GPA on campus. On our days off from our jobs and heavy course loads we do community service hours on and off campus, and hold extravagant events that raise money to give to organizations that are bigger than ourselves. Even when no one wants to donate money or buy our tickets, we as a Greek community still find a way to raise thousands of dollars for our philanthropies. We go to conferences to learn how to be an even better member of society or a better leader at that. We work hard, study hard, and value our relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime. We Greeks didn’t pay for friends; we paid for tools that will help us for the rest of our lives. We will be your children’s teachers, doctors, CEO’s of businesses you might later work for, politicians, maybe even your president, and lastly, your neighbors.

So here’s to you, society.

Greek life is a HELL YES.

And to you my Little Dumplin, thank you for breaking those stigmas and being the sorority woman I now strive to be.