Greek Life first came to my attention when my oldest brother joined a fraternity during his first semester at college. I had no idea what it really was, just that it existed and it was something he was part of. I remember my dad referencing something about Animal House but I had no idea what that was either.
A few years later, my other brother went to college and also joined the same fraternity as my oldest brother, who also became their president that year. I still didn't really have a sense of what Greek Life was actually like until I decided to check it out on my campus when it was finally my turn to go to college.
I was accepted into the Theta Nu Chapter of Delta Zeta. My own experience in my chapter these last 4 years has been wonderful. Frustrating at times, but so rewarding. So here are just a few of the blessings Greek Life gave me.
1. Confidence.
Anyone that knew me my freshman year knows that I was this timid girl who mostly sat in her room watching Netflix when I wasn't in class or at work. My chapter helped me grow and find confidence in myself. My sisters entrusted me with some pretty big roles right away in the chapter, which allowed me to build confidence that what I was doing was making a difference and that I was valued as a member of the Chapter and as a person in general.
2. Important Life Skills.
There are certain things that everyone needs to learn. Everyone should know how to pay bills. This is something I learned how to do by being the treasurer of my sorority for a year. I also learned how to make a budget and keep track of spending so I don't go over that budget, which is also a very important skill to have for the rest of my life.
3. A Best Friend In My Own Chapter.
My best friend is someone I met because she also joined the sorority at the same time I did. we were partnered together when we had to give Founders Day presentations, so we decided to dress alike for it as well. 4 years later and we are basically fused into one person and I could never imagine not having such a wonderful human being in my life. I never would have met her if it weren't for Greek Life.
4. A Best Friend In The Other Sorority.
There are only two sororities on my small college campus, so naturally there is a small sense of competitiveness between the two. So I was just as surprised as anyone to click so well with someone in the other sorority. We got so close so fast and then we became roommates who share closets. Some might say I was fraternizing with the enemy. But the beauty of Greek Life is that each Chapter could not exist on our campus without the other, so we instead want each other to do well with recruitment. I gained friendships with many other girls from the other chapter that I cherish. Greek Life is really just one big family.
5. A Wonderful Man.
Time for me to get a little sappy and I'm sure when my boyfriend reads this he will roll his eyes but I also know he will secretly love it. We met each other during a bowling social between his fraternity and my sorority. It honestly took me by surprise to find how much I actually really liked this guy because I didn't think he was my type at first. Turns out he should have been my type all along because he is an amazing guy. If it weren't for Greek Life I never would have met him and I never would have imagined being this happy in a relationship, with a guy that treats me so great.
6. Learning How To Work With People.
You can't do everything all by yourself all the time. Even if that is the only way to get things done right. And sometimes in life, you will come across people you do not like or who you find it difficult to work with. However, you still have to figure out how to set aside your differences and work with each other anyway. This is true for so many things, like school projects, planning events, or even for work in a professional setting. Greek Life taught me how to get along with people I normally wouldn't get along with and to truly respect the opinions of others that are different than my own. I also learned how to coordinate schedules for meetings and proper planning for the task at hand to be done well.
7. Learning How To Manage Other People.
Another one of the leadership roles I held in my chapter involved managing all the minor officer roles. I kept track of their progress in planning for events and made sure they checked in. I offered help whenever someone needed it and kept them accountable to themselves as well as to me.
8. Time Management.
Another one of the leadership roles I held in my chapter involved managing all the chapter's events to make sure we didn't over-schedule ourselves. I learned how to manage my own time and make sure I got things done and planned things in advance. I made sure to set aside time each week for the things I needed to accomplish and I made sure everything was on track for the sorority and had a calendar out a semester ahead of time so everyone knew when they had to be where.
9. Independence.
I have always felt pretty independent, but with Greek Life, I really came out of my shell and started to feel empowered in who I was and what I wanted for myself. It helped me be better able to rely on myself to get things done and to be a functioning member of society by giving back to others, too. The opportunities that have come from this have helped me reach many goals I never thought possible.
10. Sisters That Are Forever.
Although I have to be independent, sometimes it's okay to need help. And my sisters are always there when I need them, and I'm happy to be there for them, too. And just like any family, not everyone is going to get along all the time, but everyone is going to care. I have two littles who mean the world to me and make my heart so full of love. I have my support system in all my sisters and I wouldn't ever trade them for anything.
11. Networking System.
The ability to network is so important in getting a big kid job. They always say it's more about who you know than about what you know. Every job I have ever had, I got because someone else I knew worked there. It doesn't mean I couldn't do it on my own, but it gave me a leg up and I loved proving that I could work hard and live up to the higher expectations my employers had for me because of it. It's also cool to meet a random person because they saw my letters and were either in the same sorority as me or even were in a different one, but it's a really cool thing to be able to possibly have an instant connection with a complete stranger no matter where I go. It's amazing that I get to be a part of something so much bigger than myself!
12. Ability To Call My College Town Home.
If I would have told myself four years ago that I was going to call my college town my home by the time I was a senior, I probably wouldn't have believed it. I still feel at home when I do come visit my parents and I still have a room at my childhood house. But because of all these things Greek life blessed me with, I truly feel at home here and am proud to be able to call this place my second home, which would have never been possible without the love and support I get from the entire Greek community on campus.
Everyone has a different journey and different things that they take away from it. Joining Greek Life was a life changing experience for me. It helped me grow as a person and develop skills I can use for the rest of my life. And most importantly, it accepted me for who I was and it made me a better person. From the outside looking in, you can't understand it. From the inside looking out, you can't explain it.
