Growing up, I always knew of the stereotypes of fraternities and sororities. Movies, such as National Lampoon’s Animal House, showed the nature of the older fraternities. Movies, such as Neighbors, show a bit more of a modern fraternity lifestyle stereotype.Going into college, I had no interest in joining a fraternity, as I believed it to be nothing more than paying to have friends.

When you come to college, you’re probably going to go to an event fair at some point at time. Pretty girls will be doing these weird signs with their hands showing how they are best friends forever, and frat guys will be strolling the event handing out cards telling you to rush their respective fraternities. I’m willing to bet that these people will be wearing Patagonia Shirts, Vineyard Vines Shorts, and Sperrys. You are either going to be pulled in or pushed away by these people. I was pushed away at first. In fact, I wasn’t pulled in until I got to eat some fried food and tacos.

So let’s say that you were interested. You go to an event, meet some people and think that they are either really cool or really lame. These people will be some of the greatest people you ever meet. Everyone is totally different, but they share a bond that brings them together and makes them family. Unless you hated your time there (which I hope you backed out), this will be your family.

You're interested in Greek life. You get a bid put on you. You start the process of becoming a member of a great fraternity or a great sorority. This will turn into pledging. This is where it gets fun. The movies, like Animal House and Neighbors, show pledges going through hell to become members of their frats/sororities. Here at Capital University, I can guarantee it is nothing like that. Members of one group will go on Yik Yak and accuse another of hazing allegations. If anything were to happen, it would go through our school faster than an antelope in a dead sprint running from a lion.

You’ll go through this process and learn about your frat/sorority. You’ll learn about the great things that you stand for, and you’ll learn what you stand against. The people you go through this with will become some of your best friends.

So the day comes, and you’re going to be initiated into your fraternity/sorority. It is a day that you will never forget. It is the day you become a brother or sister. The day you become a part of something bigger. Something that is working towards the betterment of the world. The things the movies and local news don’t show you is that behind every frat or every sorority is a charity that they will work with to raise money for. Annually, Greek life raises around $7 billion for charity.

I sit here, at the end of my second semester of college, writing an article as a member of The Odyssey. Today, however, is more than a Monday. Today is the one year anniversary of when my fraternity, the Tau Mu chapter of Kappa Sigma, officially was chartered. I am forever grateful for the bond that I share with all of my brothers. Words can not describe the happiness that I feel to be a member of such an incredible group of men.

So to you reading this, I urge you to join Greek life. The benefits that come will overcome every negative you will ever hear.