Going Greek: Personal Reflections

When I first thought about going Greek as a sophomore, I felt it was not only a plus to do all the research I could & in the process overcome any leftover stereotypes I may have had about fraternities & sororities as a whole. It was also imperative that I learn as much as I could about Greek life personally before taking the plunge headlong into the Greek system.

And to be honest, though it took some time to accomplish, going Greek was one of the most life-altering (as well as most rewarding) decisions I ever went about making & for all the right reasons too.

During my freshman year, I was pretty green & didn't quite have a grasp on what fraternity/sorority life was all about. Ironically enough, as a result of my indecision, the issue on going Greek didn't come up at all. It was only later, when I attended my first home game (& my first tailgating deal as an undergrad) where the initiative to delve into all things Greek really began in earnest. Academically, for my freshman year, my grades weren't the greatest by any means, so improving them exponentially was a huge priority once Fall 2002 rolled around.

So when Fall semester began, I decided to give Rush a go once & for all. Though I didn't get a bid, I saw a lot of positives about Greek life which I never saw before, and made sure that any doubts I had about going Greek were completely unfounded. Of course, it didn't hurt that I kept doing my homework when it came to fraternities & sororities. Unsurprisingly, there was a presentation for COMM 210 which I did that focused on all the superlative stuff about Greeks which I accumulated in such a short amount of time that sent the floodgates wide open for me. Then & there, I thought, I'm giving going Greek one more shot or bust.

After an awesome Fall 2002 semester grade-wise, that's exactly what I went about doing for Winter 2003. This is where Sigma Chi really entered the picture & rushing Sigs was one of the best calls I ever made. Also, going Greek in earnest really fueled my motivation in more ways than one: academics, seeing how I could get involved not only within the chapter but also outside it...the possibilities to get involved were endless. Even after initiation, which was one of the most defining moments ever for me from the standpoint of an undergraduate, Sigma Chi was the best thing that could have ever happened to me & at the right time as well.

There are those incoming freshmen who without a doubt will say, "Is Greek life really for me?" I'd say to them, without ever pressuring them to go rush this house or that, "Give it a try & see what you think." If they stay on as members of the Greek system, fully committed to their fraternities'/sororities' expectations & guidelines, chances are great that going Greek, such as my case confirms, could be one of the best choices they ever ended up making.