Greek life has developed a negative stigma.
There always seems to be headlines about a chapter being disbanded from a university due to various reasons. Yet, there are more benefits to Greek life than negatives.
Coming to Pepperdine from Arkansas, I was very worried about making friends. It was scary to move halfway across the country knowing virtually no one.
For me, Greek life was the way to ease my nerves. After rush, I automatically had 70 new friends.
The women in my chapter invited me to do everything with them. Before I knew it, I always had someone to sit in the Caf with me or to study in the library with.
Greek life has a number of other benefits.
“Greek life is linked to high grades and community service,” Thom Patterson wrote in his article, “What to know before pledging a fraternity or sorority,” published Aug. 22, 2018 on CNN.
In Greek life, students are encouraged to keep their grades up and to focus on their academics. Some chapters have an officer position dedicated to ensuring the academic success of their members.
At the end of the year, Pepperdine Panhellenic hosts an awards banquet and one of the awards is the highest chapter GPA. This is a coveted award.
Delta Delta Delta, my sorority, was the most recent winner of this award.
Another benefit to Greek life is the connections it brings.
When I was in Washington D.C. two summers ago, I was able to connect with someone at an organization that I was fond of just because we both were members of the same sorority.
“Networking might be the most obvious factor of such a large body of people,” Taylor Sienkewicz wrote in her article, “How to Use your Fraternity and Sorority Affiliation to Further your Career,” published Oct. 5, 2018. “While you connect with your peers and build relationships in that way, you also are able to connect with alumni.”
As you advance in your college education and your career, these connections can become increasingly valuable for landing interviews, listing references or getting letters of recommendation.
Greek life has been a transformational aspect of my college career. It has helped me develop in many ways, but it has also given me valuable friendships.
__________________________
Email Hadley Biggs: hadley.biggs@pepperdine.edu
