“So, what are you?”
This is always one of the first questions asked when a member of the opposite sex decides to engage in conversation with me.
There are so many answers, but I know only 11 of them will satisfy their query. Basically, what letters do you flaunt?
Greek life is only approximately 38 percent of this school, yet somehow it always seems to be in the spotlight – whether for positive reasons or negative reasons. I’m not dishing on Greek life at all, because I am affiliated, but there is so much more to college life than Greek letters. Yes, I support the social aspect, the philanthropies and the friendships that are born, but what really is the difference between the 11? Nothing, honestly. Every sorority is essentially the same, but with a different name. The tier system seems to only exist for the people that never left their high school clique-oriented mentality— or for many of the frat boys who have crossed my path.
In the minds of others, someone has to be “on top” and someone has to be “bottom tier.”
But who are people, involved in Greek life or not, to judge?
At every fraternity party my freshman year, the first question was always “What sorority are you in?” When I told them, some would say “Oh, do you know so-and-so? She’s a….”
Or they would immediately stop talking to me. What gives these Greek-affiliated men the authority to judge who I am and what I believe in based on what letters I wear or if I choose to wear letters at all?
Greek life does not define who I am. It doesn’t change my beliefs. It doesn’t change the way I grew up. It doesn’t change how much money I have. It doesn’t change the fact that I am who I am. What it does, though, is add to me. But if it were to be taken away, I wouldn’t be any less of a person than I was pre-rush.
College is all about discovering yourself, and some people just go about it in different ways. There are so many other different organizations that can help people meet and get involved, such as SAA, Ambassadors etc. Greek life is not the only way you can make connections. The beauty of college is that your opportunities are endless. You can make friends through many different kinds of outlets. I, personally, am not very close with many of my sisters— they’re all great, just not really my niche. Another reason as to where my letters don’t define me.
So basically, “What am I?” I am who I am regardless of what t-shirts I wear. I am who I was before you knew what letters I wore, and I still am the same person after you realize that my letters don’t “live up to your standards.” You know what? I might party too much, I may embarrass myself, I might not drive a Mercedes, but at the end of the day, every sorority has all types of different girls. Outside of Greek life, there are so many awesome young ladies who don’t sport letters, but are not any less of a person, either.
Yes, Greek life was one of the best decisions that I have made, but it is definitely not the only outlet that would have made me feel happy or important. Yes, it’s nice to have sisters that are always there for you and a community of people who share the same interests, but you can definitely find that elsewhere. Letters don’t define who I am. And yes, maybe I am in a “bottom tier” sorority, but in my heart they are “top” and that’s all that matters. No opinion of an ignorant frat boy, or otherwise, will ever take that away from me.
