Nine million college students are members of a Greek organization, according to USA Today.  And whether they join to make friends, to build their resumes, to go to parties, or to learn leadership skills, they each have an incentive to change some aspect of their life.

Greek life unfortunately has a negative connotation associated with it.  A common deterrent for joining are associations with hazing, drinking, and partying. Everyone thinks that Greek life is just one big party - which is hardly the case.  Sure, we have mixers and formals, but the amount of social events I have attended does not come close to the amount of services I have been to.   We're in college, everyone drinks and parties, not just members of Greek life.

I am constantly told that I don't seem like a "sorority girl," and am asked why I even joined a sorority. So I am here to tell you why joining Greek life was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Each Greek organization at the College of Charleston actively supports a national philanthropy and participates in events year round to raise money and awareness.  For Zeta's, during the entire month of October we eat, sleep, breathe Breast Cancer Awareness and Education.  According to The University of Akron's website, on average, “Greek Life raises more than seven million dollars and contributes around 850,000 hours to community service a year.”  We take pride in helping the community and in getting everyone on campus involved in our service work.

Membership in a Greek organization provides an excellent place to gain experience and knowledge, which is necessary for successful leadership. You will have many opportunities to obtain a leadership position, whether it is for your sorority/fraternity or for a different organization.  Many Greek life members are the driving force in Student Government, hold positions in honorary societies, other campus organizations, and athletics. Your college career will involve more than textbooks, classrooms, athletics, and social functions. As a Greek member, you will have the opportunity to serve your chapter as an officer, and you will be able to develop skills in organization, responsibility, communication, and decision making.  Being in charge of hundreds of girls will certainty give you the upper-hand in preparing for "real life" after college.

Getting good grades is one of the most important things in Greek life. Working hard and getting good grades allows you to do all of the fun stuff.  Mandatory study halls, social probation for slackers, and rewards for those who get high grades push people to do their best in school.  Every girl in my sorority wants to see everyone else succeed and do well.  Hours spent on study guides are "recycled" into the house's test bank to help girls study in future classes.

Friendships

You may hear people say this constantly.  But it's true, the friendships you make in Greek life are unlike any other.  The friends that I made through my sorority freshman year are the reasons why I did not transfer.  No one else is waking up at 5 a.m. with you to go to a philanthropy event, or lending you a towel after you come out of the dunk tank soaked at a fundraising event. 

Connections

Being a member in Greek life helps you become more prepared for life after college. It teaches you responsibility and how your hard work can accomplish great things (not to mention being involved in Greek Life looks great on a resume).  There are constant offers from alumni who have ties to community members or CEO's of major organizations.  I have been offered numerous job and internship opportunities through my sorority. There is always an older girl saying "email me if you want to know more about my internship or study abroad program!"  This is not an organization that focuses on getting trashed, hanging out with frat guys, or putting each other down.  Every individual wants to see each other succeed and will do anything they can to make that happen.

The Greek life community allows for a home-away-from home environment that you can always return to.  It is a chance to be a part of something greater than yourself and allows you to gain lifelong friendships, leadership, and memories.